Urban Waterfronts

03/07/23

“What are urban waterfronts and how do they contribute to a city’s wellbeing?”

Many cities are built next to bodies of water, whether it be oceans, seas, rivers, or lakes. This creates a boundary that urban planners have to deal with differently than other parts of the cities. This ends up in the creation of Urban Waterfronts, or the interface between the city and a body of water. Urban waterfronts have a wide range of forms, from industrial zones to walking paths to commercial activity. Famous examples of waterfronts include Lake Merritt in Oakland, the Coney Island Theme Park in New York City, and Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro.

Image credit lakemerrittinstitute.org