Landscape Architect Articles

ASLA New York Upstate 01-02-20 | Association News

ASLA New York Upstate

2019 Chapter Report
by Mike Dahl, LASN

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual practitioner for their contributions to the profession over their career. This year the Executive Committee nominated award went to Richard S. Hawks, FASLA.

Distinguished Practitioner Award in Public Practice was given to Mark Mistretta, RLA, ASLA of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Peter Osborne, RLA, ASLA, of Appel Osborne Landscape Architecture received the Distinguished Practitioner Award in Private Practice.

And in Academic Practice, the Distinguished Practitioner Award was bestowed upon Anne C Godfrey, RLA, ASLA, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Lois Nguyen of Cornell University won the Distinguished Student Award award, which recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and service within the Department of Landscape Architecture or in other activities in the community related to the profession.

On May 2 a group of members had a "Fantastic day on Capitol Hill" where once again this spring they met for Advocacy Day to get the word out about legislation that supports the environment and the practice of landscape architecture. They talked about Alternative Transportation, Job Creation, National Parks/Infrastructure and Clean Water Revolving Fund.

The "Geneva on the Rise" education seminar included a walking tour along Seneca Lake.

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Profile: Founded on December 3, 1954, New York Upstate was the 13th chapter to be organized as part of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Among this year's events, Parkitects hosted an inclusive play learning academy on April 25 in Lockport, N.Y. At Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, the Upstate chapter joined colleagues from Downstate in meetings with Senators Schumer and Gilibrand, and a representative of Congressman Brian Higgins. This year the chapter's Lobby Day in Albany was on May 8. Their PARKing Day event in Syracuse was featured on NewsChannel 9 and included an interview with Robert Petrie. At the Annual Retreat, the Executive Committee and volunteers prepared for the year ahead; both for programs and member services. And an education seminar was held in Geneva, N.Y., titled Geneva on the Rise, which explored the various planning and development projects underway in the city. A social hour at The Loft at Carriage House in Ithaca, allowed Upstate members to interact with students from Cornell University. Leading up to the ASLA conference in San Diego, members were encouraged to register and bid in The Cultural Landscape Foundation's Fifteenth Annual TCLF Silent Auction at the conference. Once again this year, the chapter will create a coffee table book titled "Upstate Impressions: Year in Review," which will include places, spaces and landscapes members created in 2019. And the 2020 Reception & Awards Celebration is scheduled for Friday, February 28 from 4:30pm - 10:00pm at Arbor loft in Rochester.

As seen in LASN magazine, December 2019.