The Arizona Chapter ASLA (AzASLA) is a professional association of landscape architects, associate, affiliates, and student members with (approximately) 180 professional members across the state of Arizona. The Association promotes the profession of Landscape Architecture through various outlets and venues in the focus of Advocacy and Public Outreach, aligning with the mission of the national ASLA organization and other state chapters.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, AzASLA was forced to cancel numerous events, such as Advocacy Day at the State Capitol, our Annual Awards Gala, and our Appreciation Event.

Despite going virtual for many events, we did manage to host a successful Park(ing) Day in September 2021.
Also in September, several of our members were involved in a Community Project for CLARB's (Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards) annual conference held in Phoenix in September 2021 (photos attached). The project involved the Peaces of Me Foundation, AzASLA, and CLARB, which toured a local public plaza space and discussed in detail the accessibility concerns beyond the American's with Disabilities act. Peaces of Me is committed to eliminating stigma associated with disability, physical difference, and chronic illnesses. The workshop was in-person as well as a nationally broadcasted live event.

Our members also worked with a local nursery grower to create a 'Plant Survey' to help wholesale growers align their production with our most commonly specified plant materials.

In 2021, our Chapter created a new committee focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This committee meets regularly and has hosted a virtual roundtable event.

 
Several of our members virtually attended ASLA's AMPLIFY. The first day focused on state licensure, and the second day focused on climate change.

We were delighted that one of our members, Jay Hicks, PLA, ASLA, was elevated to the ASLA Council of Fellows, and his induction will take place at the upcoming Conference on Landscape Architecture in Nashville this November. Fellowship is among the highest honors the ASLA bestows on members and recognizes the contributions of these individuals to their profession and society at large based on their works, leadership and management, knowledge, and service.

National ASLA made membership free for students in May 2020, and our two schools (Arizona State University and The University of Arizona) chapters have many student members!

To meet the growing demand for Landscape Architects, in April of 2020 the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) at the University of Arizona launched a new Bachelor of Landscape Architecture undergraduate degree starting in the fall. Along with the new degree program, the existing Master of Landscape Architecture program at the University of Arizona received a STEM designation. The new STEM designation better reflects the dynamic technical nature of the professional training these students receive.

Annual Awards Gala
Although we did not host an in-person Gala in the Spring of 2020 or 2021, we still recognized Professional and Student award winners in our annual program. The Chapter is currently working on a video presentation of the 2021 Award Winners. Our 2020 winning entries and their projects have been posted on our website.

2021 Student Award Winners
• Arizona State University
• BSLA Winners: Gianna Conrado, Madison Gidley, Kendra Milhone, Valerie Perkins
• MLA Winners: Elizabeth Ferguson and
• Amanda Trakas
• University of Arizona
• MLA Winners: Paige Anthony and Ramzy Bejjani
• 2021 Professional Award Firm Winners:
• Colwell Shelor Landscape Architecture
• TRUEFORM Landscape Architecture
• he Green Room Collaborative
• J2 Engineering & Environmental Design

PARK(ing) Day
PARK(ing) Day is celebrated globally and supported by ASLA, and occurs every year on the third Friday of September. Several of the AzASLA's professional and student chapters participated this year with installations in visible downtown Phoenix, Tempe, and Tucson. In downtown Phoenix, spaces were taken over by Trueform, Dig Studio, SmithGroup, Anderson, and the Design Lab as well as an ASU 3rd year studio class. In downtown Tempe, one parking stall was taken over by J2 and the ASU Student chapter. In downtown Tucson, one parking stall was taken over by Wheat Design and some U of A students.