Charles Byrner Whitnall (January 21, 1859 – 1949) was a florist and banker who became the first Socialist city treasurer of the city of Milwaukee and the architect of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin's system of public parks. He served as Secretary of the Milwaukee County Park Commission from its inception in 1907 until his retirement in 1941. Whitnall was a critic of urban congestion and suburban sprawl. As de facto planner for the city of Milwaukee he sought to alleviate the negative effects of congestion and to prevent sprawling development from destroying the natural landscape. His plan of 1923 began the purchase and development of 84 miles of

greenways Greenway or Greenways may refer to: * Greenway (landscape), a linear park focused on a trail or bike path * Another term for bicycle boulevards in some jurisdictions People * Greenway (surname) Places Australia * Electoral Division of Greenway ...

along the course of streams and rivers, in order to preserve these waterways in a natural state and to provide city dwellers convenient access to the natural environment. Whitnall was critical of the prevailing urban park ideal of his day, which he described as, "an artificial attempt to create a natural influence." His parkway plan has been described as "decades ahead of its time."

Background

Charles B. Whitnall was born in Milwaukee on January 21, 1859, the son of a florist. He went into and eventually took over his father's business, and became active in the

floral industry The floral industry involves flower production, distribution, design, retailing, and other aspects of flower markets. Floriculture as an industry began in the late 19th century in the United Kingdom, where flowers were grown on a large scale on vast ...

. He helped organize a National Association of Florists and started the Florist Telegraph Delivery System (FTD) as a retailers' cooperative. Whitnall was a charter member of the

Socialist Party of America The Socialist Party of America (SPA) was a socialist political party in the United States formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party of Ameri ...

and also a co-founder of the Commonwealth Mutual Savings Bank of Milwaukee, a cooperative enterprise.

Whitnall Park Whitnall Park is Milwaukee County, Wisconsin's largest park and it is located in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. The park was named for Charles B. Whitnall and planning for the park began in 1924. Major work in the park was completed during the Great D ...

was named for Charles B. Whitnall Park. The planning for the park began in 1924.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitnall, Charles B. 1859 births 1949 deaths American bankers American socialists Florists Politicians from Milwaukee Socialist Party of America politicians from Wisconsin