ASLA: The Year in Review

By Leslie McGuire, regional editor

The past year has been one of change, growth and expansion for the American Society of Landscape Architects. April 2004 was declared National Landscape Architecture Month with the theme of Design for Active Living. In addition, in response to recent fears of terrorist attack, the ASLA posted abstracts from their Safe Spaces design symposium on the web. The ASLA has also continued working to increase the public?EUR??,,????'???s awareness of and appreciation for the profession of landscape architecture.

Olmsted?EUR??,,????'???s Bok Sanctuary garden was severly damaged by Hurricane Charley and the ASLA is working to restore it.

Many Challenges

There are many issues and concerns that landscape architects have and security design is of greatest importance to everyone. In the spirit of this feeling, ASLA Past President Len Hopper, FASLA reminded officials in Washington, ?EUR??,,????'??Security plans can be compatible with functionality and respect the beauty and accessibility of the public realm.?EUR??,,????'??

?EUR??,,????'??We can secure our cities without turning them into armed camps,?EUR??,,????'?? Hopper said, pointing to examples that combine aesthetics and security that were developed at the meeting in Chicago in July. Safe Spaces: Designing for Security and Civic Values was perfect preparation for this very important challenge. The symposium explored the latest practices, tools, techniques and building materials for establishing effective security that preserves the integrity of our buildings, public spaces and communities without losing the important values of an open and accessible society. Plenary and concurrent sessions focused on threat assessment, public process planning and historic preservation. Law enforcement officials found the information from the meeting extremely useful for planning security responses. In view of how important this information is to all, the abstracts from Safe Spaces are now up on the ASLA web site and available for downloading.

Yet another challenge, one that will be ongoing, was the damage Hurricane Charley did to Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.?EUR??,,????'???s garden at the historic Bok Sanctuary at Lake Wales, Fla. Considered a national treasure, the garden lies in ruins and work is now underway to clear storm debris and restore the garden to its original beauty.

A challenge which came from an unexpected quarter has been handled by CLARB who announced that those who took the LARE in August would have the opportunity to cancel their scores and retake the examination at no extra cost at a special administration of the test November 8 to 10, 2004. This decision came after problems with the computerized administration of the exam at some LaserGrade facilities. CLARB directly informed the candidates affected by the situation. The data from the candidates requesting re-examination was be expunged from the scoring system before a final analysis of exam difficulty could be performed and final exam scores released. This process unfortunately delayed the reporting of test results for the August examination until September.

Susan Jacobson, FASLA, President of the ASLA, feels the theme of the Salt Lake City EXPO ?EUR??,,????'??Natural Spaces, Public Places?EUR??,,????'?? will provide a range of educational opportunities.

Designing Living Space

In keeping with the ASLA?EUR??,,????'???s concern not just for the landscape but the people who live in it, the ASLA designated April National Landscape Month. The theme was Design for Active Living and highlighted the ways community design affects residents?EUR??,,????'??? daily activity levels as well as their overall health.

?EUR??,,????'??Today, we are often unable to walk or bike anywhere safely because out communities are designed mainly for car travel,?EUR??,,????'?? says Susan Jacobson, FASLA, President of ASLA. ?EUR??,,????'??The change from a pedestrian to a commuter lifestyle has fueled an epidemic of obesity in the U.S., particularly among children. We want to encourage everyone to look at their communities during April and become advocates for an environment that is more exercise-friendly.?EUR??,,????'??

Studies show that access to resources such as parks, recreational facilities, bicycle paths, walking trails and sidewalks can increase and promote physical activity among residents, lower obesity and improve health. The ASLA worked with students from local schools to assess safe walking and biking routes and the results of the students?EUR??,,????'??? ?EUR??,,????'??walkability and bikeability?EUR??,,????'?? report cards on their communities were reported in May.

The award winning Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania has been a 26-year revitalization project for Andropogen Associates for the design and implementation of the master plan.

Growing Awareness for Landscape Architecture

The ASLA?EUR??,,????'???s ongoing efforts to increase public awareness have ramped up and important articles were seen on invasive plants in the Washington Post, historic preservation issues in the Chicago Sun-Times, revitalization in the Denver Post, the plans for a National Geologic Trail on CNN.com, and reef restoration in an Environmental Network News report. In addition, there have been research papers, including one from the Pacific Institute on water conservation called Freshwater Resources: Managing Risks Facing the Private Sector which addresses numerous issues of concern to ASLA members such as growing water scarcity combined with rocketing demand, industrial water use and pollution and changes in water availability and quality stemming from climate change. A new report from the Center for Urban Forest Research focuses on the importance of large stature trees. A technical report from The National Park Service Social Science program on Managing Non-Native Plants and Animals in the National Park System: Analysis of Public Opinion was the first public opinion survey sponsored by the NPS in several decades.

The award winning West Philadelphia Landscape Project was a 17-year pro-bono landscaping effort to redesign and rebuild an inner city neighborhood.

Honorary Members, Awards Programs and Partnerships

This year the ASLA welcomed the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a private, non-profit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable, as a partner in selecting the Landmark Award recipient. The 2004 award will be presented during the annual meeting for the restoration of the Morris Arboretum.

The Professional Practice Library, sponsored by McGraw Hill Construction, features the Landscape Architect Registration Examination: A Guide for Professional Development, the Landscape Architecture Technical Information Series (LATIS), sample contract documents, Annual Meeting Proceedings, Desktop Seminars and the Landscape Architecture Directory among other wonderful informational resources.

An exciting example of growth seen by the ASLA was the increased number of submissions for the ASLA Awards program which attracted a record 550 entries, 20 percent greater than in 2003. A distinguished jury panel selected 35 projects to receive ASLA awards for 2004. The awards will be presented during the ASLAs annual meeting in Salt Lake City. According to jury chair Frederick R. Steiner, ASLA, ?EUR??,,????'??The best projects displayed great understanding of natural processes, considerable sensitivity to people and a high level of design acumen.?EUR??,,????'?? He went on to say that the jury was quite discriminating and anyone who won an award this year should be extremely proud.

The 2004 Community Service Award was won for The West Philadelphia Landscape Project for employing the knowledge, skills, technology and methods of landscape architecture to redesign and rebuild the landscape of an inner city neighborhood. The team, led by Anne Whiston Spirn provided pro bono work as part of a larger research project that integrates practice, research, education and service. Making service integral to teaching and linking it to a larger research agenda made it possible to sustain the project for 17 years, during which long-term partnerships have formed. For example, partnerships with a local school, a neighborhood coalition and a community garden have spawned new projects within and among those groups and with city agencies. The program has been cited as a model of academically based community service by diverse institutions in Philadelphia, the United States and abroad. In selecting the project, the nine-member jury said, ?EUR??,,????'??the long-term nature of the effort is impressive; continual commitment is what distinguishes this effort above others. The ASLA Board of Trustees also named seven new honorary members, one of the highest honors the society may bestow upon non-landscape architects. The new honorary members were inducted during the ASLA Mid-year Meeting in May. The new members are Philip J. Arnold, President and CEO of L.M. Scofield Company; the Honorable Earl Blumenauer, U.S. House of Representatives; Nancy Callister Buley, Director of Marketing, J. Frank Schmidt & Son Company; Clarence ?EUR??,,????'??Buck?EUR??,,????'?? Chaffee, Executive Director and CEO, Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB); The Honorable Richard M. Daley, Mayor, City of Chicago and Mary L. Hanson, ASLA Corporate Secretary and Executive Administrator for her dedicated service to ASLA since 1982.

Licensure Advocacy

The ASLA Licensure Summit was held in June and advocates from around the nation joined this annual session to provide advocacy training and information regarding licensure efforts. Across the USA, landscape architects are pushing for professional licensure standards. So far, seven states upgraded their laws from title acts to practice acts: Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon and Texas. North Dakota established a new law. The Vermont legislature is considering legislation to enact a new law. Colorado considered legislation in 2003, and will reconsider again in 2005. Maryland, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma and West Virginia have successfully extended their sunset reviews, and sunset legislation is imminent in California.

In 2005, the ASLA is again looking forward to carrying on its promotion of landscape architecture and advancing the profession through advocacy, education, communication and fellowship.