Robert Moses

About

New York urban planner who helped shaped the city's streets and roads. He became a highly polarizing figure among urban planners in part because his choices and priorities were re-created in large part in other metropolitan U.S. cities.

Before Fame

He gave New York thousands of new acres of parkland and built more than 600 playgrounds.

Trivia

He eschewed public transportation routes in favor of highways.

Family Life

He was born into a well-to-do family in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Emanuel Moses, a department-store owner, and his wife Bella.

Associated With

His reputation took a hit after the publication of his biography titled The Power Broker, by Robert Caro.