IN-PERSON Manchester Livable Cities

Abstract

The mid-1970s were a time of social stress and political turmoil in the United States. However, as part of the nation’s Bicentennial celebrations, communities nationwide undertook activities as gifts to the country. The American Revolution Bicentennial Commission promoted Horizons ’76 projects to undertake at least one major project that reflected the pride, priorities, and hopes of a community. This paper examines one of these projects in Austin, Texas: Austin Creeks. Three contextual perspectives are presented: how the nation celebrated past significant anniversaries of independence; the specific context of the Bicentennial projects, focusing on Horizon ’76 activities; and discussions about urban challenges and environmental issues during that period. At the time, Austin was the second-fastest-growing city in America, and its small-town identity was undergoing transformation. It was also a period marked by several environmental initiatives, particularly around beautification. The authors of the Austin Creeks project saw opportunities to extend such efforts through larger-scale urban design. In part, the study drew on Austin’s comprehensive plans from earlier in the century, which called for parkland along the creeks. It also expanded the benefits of such ideas by incorporating the then relatively new concepts of urban greenways. The paper highlights how a commemorative moment catalyzed long-standing planning visions, advanced emerging ideas about urban ecosystems, and reflected the interplay between civic identity and environmental design. It also describes how the project’s momentum faded over the next decade, leaving a mixed legacy and questions about how positive urban images might be sustained.