Approach is Popular with Communities and Legislators

Landscape Architects are weaving a tapestry of public works projects together in a way that is particularly appealing to lawmakers and communities. This design approach, known as green infrastructure, involves taking public works projects that traditionally were harmful or ambivalent to the environment and making them environmentally friendly. According to University of Minnesota Professor Robert D. Sykes, ASLA, the big payoff is that green infrastructure projects not only revitalize existing civic spaces but also create new green space.

Research indicates that homeowners favor green infrastructure design because it raises property rates; legislators favor it because it addresses multiple public works objectives. "This is about going straight to the lawmakers, talking to them, and explaining to them what we are doing," explains Sykes. "And they're excited because we are solving a whole constellation of problems with one project, rather than trying to solve just a water problem, a wastewater problem or a social services problem."