Who owns the City? Reclaiming public spaces and Resources for all Communities

The Legacy of Robert Moses: Reimagining City Planning for Healthier, Vibrant Communities

Robert Moses, often hailed as the master builder of New York, left a legacy that profoundly shaped the city's landscape. Yet, beneath his towering bridges, sprawling highways, and iconic public spaces lies a darker truth: his vision of progress was rooted in exclusion. Moses used his power to design infrastructure that actively segregated communities, keeping marginalized groups—especially Black and working-class residents—from accessing the city’s resources. His discriminatory planning decisions, like building parkway bridges too low for buses to reach public beaches, were deliberate tools to limit who could enjoy the city's public spaces and opportunities. Today, the remnants of his plans continue to fuel inequality, denying many communities the "self-help" they need to thrive. In a city built on ambition and diversity, we must now reckon with the question: who has the right to the city? As we work to dismantle these historical barriers, we have the chance to rebuild more inclusive, equitable urban spaces that truly serve all residents.

While some anecdotes, like the infamous bridges to Jones Beach, might sound almost humorous (yes, Moses did prevent kids from swimming by limiting access), the truth is that his legacy is no joke. It’s a blueprint for how discriminatory planning can prevent communities from accessing the very tools they need to become healthy and vibrant. When we talk about community well-being, we can’t ignore how entrenched urban planning decisions have kept self-help solutions—like affordable housing, access to parks, and reliable public transportation—out of reach for many.

Take a moment to consider this: access to green spaces and recreation has been shown to improve mental health, physical well-being, and community cohesion. Yet, communities that were redlined or displaced by Moses’ projects often lack these essential amenities. This isn’t just a coincidence—it’s a consequence of discriminatory planning.

The remnants of Moses’ vision persist today, reinforcing the systemic barriers that keep certain neighborhoods at a disadvantage. The work of dismantling this legacy is crucial to creating cities that are equitable, resilient, and sustainable.

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5 Ways Robert Moses’ Legacy Still Divides Communities (And How to Fix It)

1. Highways That Divide Communities

- Moses' highway projects, such as the Cross Bronx Expressway, cut through thriving, predominantly minority neighborhoods, displacing residents and severing communities. Today, many urban highways still act as barriers, contributing to air pollution, noise, and a lack of social cohesion.

What you can do:

- Advocate for projects that cap or remove urban highways and replace them with parks or green spaces that reconnect neighborhoods. In cities like Boston (with the Big Dig) and Seattle, successful efforts have reimagined highways, turning them into public parks and pedestrian areas. Support initiatives like the "Freeways Without Futures" campaign by Congress for the New Urbanism, which is working to dismantle harmful highways and replace them with community-centered infrastructure.

- Engage in local community meetings and city council discussions about upcoming infrastructure projects, ensuring that historically underserved communities are prioritized in redevelopment plans.

- Participate in grassroots movements advocating for environmental justice and community repair, such as ReConnect Rondo in St. Paul, Minnesota, which aims to build a land bridge over I-94 to reconnect a neighborhood historically divided by highway construction .

2. Limited Access to Parks and Green Spaces

- Moses built some of New York’s most famous parks, but access was often limited for residents of lower-income neighborhoods. His focus on car access meant that those without vehicles—largely working-class communities—were excluded from enjoying these green spaces.

What you can do:

- Push for equitable investment in parks and recreation in underserved areas. Support initiatives like the Trust for Public Land's "10-Minute Walk" campaign, which aims to ensure every resident has access to a quality park within a 10-minute walk of their home.

- Engage with local park advocacy organizations to ensure that park funding and improvements prioritize underserved neighborhoods. Advocate for programs that bring amenities like playgrounds, community gardens, and walking paths to parks in low-income areas.

- Support policies and budget allocations that prioritize urban greening in redlined neighborhoods, such as The Green New Deal for Parks proposed by some local governments.

3. Public Transportation Gaps

- Moses’ emphasis on highways over public transportation contributed to today’s transit deserts, where many working-class residents face long commutes or unreliable transit options. This lack of access limits job opportunities and diminishes quality of life.

What you can do:

- Support efforts to expand public transit networks, particularly in low-income and underserved communities. Advocate for the integration of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems, which are more affordable and efficient to implement than light rail or subways but still offer significant improvements to transportation access.

- Participate in campaigns like Transit Equity Day and support groups that lobby for safer, more accessible, and more sustainable public transportation systems. Get involved in public hearings for transit budgets and improvements to ensure low-income areas are prioritized.

- Encourage employers and local officials to adopt transit subsidies and employer-sponsored transit programs, especially for low-income workers who depend on public transportation.

4. Zoning Laws That Perpetuate Inequality

- Zoning laws established under Moses’ tenure and beyond have prioritized single-family homes and large developments, often pushing out affordable housing options and even gentle density and other housing options. These laws have had lasting effects on housing affordability and segregation.

What you can do:

- Engage in local zoning reform efforts that encourage mixed-use development and affordable housing. Support policies like inclusionary zoning, which requires developers to include affordable housing units in new developments, or form-based codes, which emphasize the shape and use of buildings over rigid zoning categories. These can help diversify housing types and increase affordability.

- Join or form local YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) groups, which advocate for more housing, especially affordable housing, to be built in high-opportunity areas. Movements like California YIMBY have successfully pushed for legislation that increases affordable housing production.

- Advocate for policies that promote accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which can increase housing density without significantly changing neighborhood character, providing affordable options for both renters and homeowners.

5. Environmental Injustice

- Moses’ projects disproportionately affected low-income and minority communities with environmental hazards such as air pollution and lack of green infrastructure. Urban heat islands—where temperatures are higher due to dense development and lack of trees—are more common in these areas, contributing to health disparities.

What you can do:

- Advocate for urban greening projects, such as tree planting and green roofs, particularly in historically underserved neighborhoods. Programs like Tree Equity Score help cities identify areas most in need of green infrastructure, prioritizing environmental justice efforts.

- Support community-led environmental justice organizations such as WE ACT for Environmental Justice, which works to improve environmental health and access in low-income communities. Get involved in climate resilience plans that address heat, flooding, and pollution in vulnerable neighborhoods.

- Push for stronger regulations on pollution and industrial activities in residential areas, particularly in historically marginalized communities. Organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) often work with local governments to develop these policies.

In attempt to be open and transparent about my writings and thoughts, and to not "gate keep"- I have shared the sources, information (and websites) that I have referenced, so you too, can share in the wealth of knowledge!

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Sources:

- Caro, Robert. The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York. Vintage, 1974.

- Jacobs, Jane. The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Random House, 1961.

- Congress for the New Urbanism: "Freeways Without Futures" (www.cnu.org/highways/freeways-without-futures)

- Trust for Public Land (www.tpl.org)

- American Public Transportation Association (www.apta.com)

- WE ACT for Environmental Justice (www.weact.org)

- Tree Equity Score (www.americanforests.org/our-work/tree-equity/)