Understanding the Concrete Jungle

When we first arrived in the city, I found being surrounded by concrete a little unsettling. Grass existed no where and trees were few and far between. Dr. O'Donnell's three day walking tour helped me appreciate the city by explaining just how the concrete jungle came to be and how it divided into different boroughs. Nothing evolved by chance; the city developed in a very methodical manner. The following are observations from May 30th to June 1st.

Photo by Dana Tuyls

Dr. O'Donnell revealed much information about the city that is not visible to the naked eye. Being a colony founded on trade by the Dutch, it made sense that some of the streets of New York were once canals. However, it is still strange to gaze down a blacktop road with cars and imagine waterways with boats traveling on the very same location. Not to mention, the shorelines we see today did not exist until settlers decided to expand the land and tamper with the landscape using landfill. Also, I had not thought about the evolution of the city once the country became independent, changing British street names to something more American to symbolize severing ties with the crown. "The Grid," a term for the layout of Manhattan streets, is another example of how the city developed very methodically as the streets were laid out in a very logical system where streets and avenues are numbered that makes it very easy to navigate. With the rise of skyscrapers, the city's landscape began to change more visibly in the early 20th century. In 1915, zoning laws were put in place to keep the skyscraper frenzy under control, ensuring that all building received proper lighting and air. Instead of allowing buildings to shoot straight into the sky, the zoning laws mandated that after a certain level the buildings had to go in and up like a wedding cake. Another interesting point when looking at skyscrapers is that the real estate value goes beyond the square footage on the ground; virtual real estate exists above the buildings to protect views for property value. The walking tour with Dr. O'Donnell caused me to think more critically about my surroundings and to realize that there is much more to urban development than what meets the eye.

I would like to challenge my students to do the same with areas in Colorado Springs. Although the architecture of Colorado Springs barely compares to that of New York, they can still develop questions about historical landmarks, parks, street names, school names, etc. Looking at a photo of the landscape before the city was settled sparks one huge question: Where did all trees come from? William Jackson Palmer put millions of dollars into making the bland plains look attractive to people out East, planting acres of trees and hiring architects to design elaborate gardens and parks. I would like to see what kind of inquiry my students could come up with, but here are a few ideas that come to my mind: Why is Palmer High School named after William Jackson Palmer and why is there an equestrian statue of him in the middle of the street downtown? Learners would investigate and learn about the city's founder. What is the significance of the Hilton/Antler's Hotel? Learners would investigate the location and discover that being right next to the train tracks, it was a railroad station along the Rio Grande Railroad where many people stayed when they visited. Learners would also discover the importance of railroads to a city's economy. And much like the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge with an unknown number of deaths that occurred in the process of building, learners would see the danger and controversy of immigrants working on the railroads. In conclusion, the walking tour opened my eyes to the development of New York and I would like to do the same for my students to enhance their understanding of the city they live in.

Source: Colorado Springs prior to settlement