What is Robert Moses known for?

Robert Moses is renowned for his significant influence on urban planning in New York City and the surrounding region, particularly through his extensive work on parkway systems. He played a pivotal role in shaping the transportation infrastructure, which involved building numerous highways, bridges, and parkways that facilitated the growth of suburban areas and altered the landscape of New York. His vision and execution of these projects contributed to the way New Yorkers accessed recreational spaces and defined the mobility of the city and its suburbs.

While he did not co-design Central Park, that honor goes to Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. The Garden City movement, which advocates for planned communities with green spaces, was developed by Ebenezer Howard, not Moses. Although Moses had some involvement with regional planning, he did not establish the Regional Planning Association of America. His legacy primarily revolves around the transportation systems and the physical infrastructure he championed, making his work on parkway systems his most recognizable achievement.