Taconic State Parkway, Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, NY

Significance: The Taconic State Parkway represents an important development in the evolution of American transportation planning, park development, and roadway design. Conceived in the 1920s during the height of America's parkway-building boom, the post-war construction remained true to early parkway principles of promoting outdoor recreation, showcasing picturesque scenery, stimulating economic growth, and maintaining sensitivity to natural terrain and regional landscape qualities. Some observers characterized it as the culmination of classic parkway development strategies, extending parkway development to a regional scale and accommodating relatively high-speed motor traffic. The TSP has a national reputation as one of the most sophisticated interpretations of parkway and divided highway design in the United States.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N499
Survey number: HAER NY-316
Building/structure dates: 1931-1963 Initial Construction