In the tradition of Frederick Law Olmsted's Emerald Necklace in Boston, MA, and Charles Elliot's 1920 open space plan for the state of Massachusetts, the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at the University of Massachusetts is coordinating the New England Greenway Vision Plan.

The project goal is to develop a regional Greenway System which preserves and links recreation trails, ecologically critical habitats and historically significant areas throughout New England. This plan promotes the use and enjoyment of these resources, but more importantly it will help protect the natural, cultural and recreational resources of New England.

This plan will be presented during the centennial conference of the American Society of Landscape Architects in September 1999. Furthermore, the greenway team hopes to coordinate their future efforts with the mayors, governors or their representatives, and the decision makers of New England to make the New England Greenway Vision Plan a reality.

The team responsible for the vision plan is co-chaired by Professors Julius Fabos, Mark Lindhult and Robert Ryan who coordinate the efforts of 10 graduate students, 30 seniors and over 40 professional landscape architects throughout New England.