The Greenway Imperative

“Practitioner, philosopher, and pragmatist, no one knows more about greenways than Chuck Flink. This book tells the story of communities that have transformed neglected places into prosperous places, but it also sets out a compelling vision for a national network of interconnected trails and greenspaces that can provide multiple benefits for people, communities, and our economy.”—Edward T. McMahon, coauthor of Green Infrastructure: Linking Landscapes and Communities



“From one of the preeminent greenway designers and planners of our generation comes an autobiography and comprehensive compendium about greenways: why they are important, how to plan and design them, and how to make them happen.”—Alana Brasier, operations and public space manager, Tampa Downtown Partnership



“Flink, one of the pivotal thinkers and doers of the modern United States greenways movement, tells of his life’s work with a swirl of enthusiastic generosity and a flood of detailed memories. Every page reveals his big heart and his unfailing optimism for a greener and more connected America.”—Peter Harnik, author of Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities



“Through the stories in this book, Charles Flink has given us a greenway imperative to apply in cities and towns everywhere, regardless of their physical, financial, or political makeup. Flink shows us that greenways hold the power to transform, making the places and people they touch part of that change.”—Jeffrey Ciabotti, Toole Design



“The Greenway Imperative offers insight into how greenway projects are transformed from concept to reality. The book is so engaging I couldn’t put it down.”—Sig Hutchinson, Wake County Commissioner

“[Flink] draws from his professional experience in greenway design and development to reveal the world’s growing need for such spaces and the processes used to bring them to life.”—Landscape Architecture Magazine

“Flink shares how his experiences across more than three decades of greenway planning and development shaped his understanding of what a greenway is and how these corridors can be used to help solve a host of challenges that communities face. . . . Demonstrate[s] how anyone can become involved in the greenways that shape our communities, our regions and, together, even our world.”—Rails-to-Trails Conservancy