Landscape Architect Articles

2016 ASLA Chapter Reports: Ohio ASLA Chapter12-06-16 | Feature

2016 ASLA Chapter Reports
Ohio ASLA Chapter

The first annual In-State Advocacy Day convened in Columbus in April. Members of the Ohio Chapter ASLA met with state representatives and senators to discuss the Sunset Review Committee, a bill governing landscape architect continuing education requirements, and water quality concerns.

The Ohio Chapter ASLA had member Alan McKnight elevated to the Council of Fellows in 2016. McKnight, of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, was nominated in the Leadership/Management category by the Ohio chapter. He is the first landscape architect to have served as director of the Recreation and Parks Department in Columbus. He was recognized at the ASLA Meeting and Expo in October.

The chapter's annual meeting in May brought together nearly 170 members for networking and education.

In April, members of OCASLA met in Columbus for the first annual In-State Advocacy Day. Six groups of volunteers met the offices of State Representatives Tim Schaffer (R, Lancaster), Louis Blessing (R, Cincinnati), and Ron Amstutz (R, Wooster), as well as the offices of State Senators Kris Jordan (R, Powell), Cecil Thomas (D, Cincinnati), and Bill Coley (R, West Chester). Members discussed their opposition of the Ohio Sunset Review Committee, support for HB 243 (which passed in August and governs landscape architect continuing education requirements), and water quality concerns. Members of the OCASLA Executive Committee also attended 2016 ASLA Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., in May.

At the 2016 OCASLA GALA, one Award of Excellence, three Merit and seven Honor awards were presented to firms and students throughout the state. MKSK took home the top award for Scioto Greenways in Columbus.

The chapter held their annual meeting in May in Columbus, where nearly 170 people gathered. The speakers this year were Thomas Balsley, FASLA, founder and lead designer of Thomas Balsley Associates; Jason Sudy, AICP, founder of Side Street Planning; Justin Robbins, AICP, senior planner, OHM Advisors; Rick Stein, AICP, principal and owner of Urban Decision Group; Steven Litt, art and architecture critic at The Plain Dealer; and James Urban, FASLA, ISA, founder and principal of Urban Trees + Soils. OCASLA also held the Student/Speaker Essay Dinner at Hubbard Grill in Columbus the night before the Annual Meeting, where student essay winners and the Annual Meeting speakers had a dynamic discussion about the status of landscape architecture.

Following the annual OCASLA Fall Educational on Friday, September 30th in Cincinnati, the OCASLA GALA was held at the Anderson Pavilion where the 2016 Award winners were announced. From 33 entries, the jury selected one Award of Excellence, three Honor Awards, and seven Merit Awards. MKSK was given the Award of Excellence for Scioto Greenways, Columbus.

As seen in LASN magazine, December 2016.