Growing up in the Bay Area, near San Francisco, led me to become fascinated by the complexity of the world's cities and how they affect so many people. I love the idea that these cities were all planned and imagined by individuals working together for a larger goal. The planning of cities affects all of its residents in ways they probably don't even realize, which makes these plans and the planning process even more compelling. I'm also interested in what makes cities unique. Cities are all made up of pretty much the same things: city blocks, tall buildings, parks, cars, and people. Even though the basic elements of cities are the same, they all have their own unique character. I think one of the most distinctive factors about cities is how they have been designed to meet certain needs of their residents outside of where they live or work. Cities can easily be overwhelming or difficult to live in, so certain areas need to be set aside to provide some sort of escape. In addition to being a place to retreat, parks and recreational areas can be a distinctive feature of a city. In San Francisco, Golden Gate Park, Union Square, the Presidio, the waterfront and many other neighborhoods set it apart from all other cities in the United States and the world. The way San Francisco city planners thought about areas residents needed outside of work and home helps give San Francisco its individuality as a big city. Just as every city needs to be planned, people have planned every city park and recreation area that has such a wide-ranging impact. By examining Fredrick Law Olmsted and the approach to urban design and social context that he represents, one can learn more about landscape architecture in...... middle of article...... the urban and social context, closely examined surrounding world to help his creations. Olmsted's projects “had as much to do with his energetic involvement in the intellectual, political, and social discourse of the time” as with his “literary and artistic genius” (Howett, 109). This is a good summary of Olmsted's approach and the urban design and social context approach as a whole. His work could be considered inspired and artistic but it was also practical. He looked at the problems of his time and sought to solve them through planned landscape architecture. To Olmsted, parks were more than just beautiful scenery or a place to experience the wonders of nature. They were also a necessity for residents of large cities. Parks are lovely respites from city blocks without the emphasis being placed on either descriptive epithet..