City planning designs such as Burnham's Plan influenced modern urban aesthetics by promoting which features?

• A. High-rise towers without green space
• B. Car-centric sprawl
• C. Monumental cores, parks, and civic identity
• D. Abandonment of city centers

Answer: (C)

Burnham's Plan shows how city design can shape urban aesthetics by elevating public spaces and creating a unified civic image. It pushed for a grand, coordinated look: monumental public buildings at a central civic core, broad boulevards and sightlines, and expansive parks that weave through the city. This City Beautiful approach aimed to lift daily life by giving the city memorable places, orderly forms, and a sense of civic pride.

Because of that emphasis, the features promoted are monumental cores, parks, and civic identity. They reflect a desire to frame the city with significant public spaces and a recognizable character. This stands in contrast to car-centric sprawl, which prioritizes highways and low-density development; abandonment of city centers, which would erode public life; or high-rise towers without green space, which neglect the public realm Burnham highlighted.