Landscape Architect Articles

LASN Stewardship June 200406-01-04 | News

Planting a Seed

By Brad Quarberg, associate director of University Relations,
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Jodie Carter, LASN regional editor

The community built Kids Coulee playground benefited from the stewardship of many volunteers including landscape architect Pete Bemis who donated his time and energy on the site planning committee, coordinated plant and landscape rock donations, and worked hands-on by sanding wood for the play structure. Photo by Bob Seaquist, UW-La Crosse University Relations

?EUR??,,????'??I believe that our profession has not yet taught the public about the benefits that are derived from quality planning and design and how early in the project this must take place. Landscape architecture, as a profession, has to continue to work in educating people about being involved at the very earliest stages of a project.?EUR??,,????'??–states landscape architect Peter Bemis.

The Kids Coulee community playground at Myrick Park in La Crosse, Wisconsin includes a variety of play structures, many framed in wood, and an amphitheater designed with a river theme. The park was built by the local community, including the Downtown Rotary Club, the City of La Crosse and many other community organizations.

Over 3,700 volunteers were involved in the project and more than $190,000 was donated to make the dream park a reality. Among those volunteers was Peter Bemis, a landscape architect with the landscape services division of facilities management at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, who began by assisting the site committee in selecting the location for the new playground.

Bemis not only assisted with the park?EUR??,,????'???s planning and design, he also coordinated tree donations from local nurseries and found a local quarry willing to donate large landscape rocks.

Kids Coulee is just one of the many community, civic or church projects Bemis has donated his time toward. In 2003, Bemis assisted with the installation of the pitchers mound and construction of the infield for the Northwoods League, La Crosse Loggers, at their new community baseball field in Copeland Park.

In 2002, Bemis donated his time (design and fundraising) as a member of the original steering committee for the new Lutheran Campus Ministry building to be constructed across the street from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. ?EUR??,,????'??The experience of working on volunteer projects is always meaningful, because you know that these projects will be improved due to your training and experience as a landscape architect,?EUR??,,????'?? says Bemis. ?EUR??,,????'??Typically my involvement is a small degree, or the involvement is at the very early stages, and I get to promote the need for site planning and design,?EUR??,,????'?? explains Bemis. ?EUR??,,????'??Other times I get to put the work boots on and teach how to plant trees and shrubs.?EUR??,,????'??

Bemis encourages professional landscape architects to become involved with volunteer opportunities, but he cautions them to be selective so they don?EUR??,,????'???t take projects away from firms. It?EUR??,,????'???s not unusual for Bemis to meet with park and school boards to discuss site planning, then help them with the process of selecting a private landscape architecture firm.

?EUR??,,????'??What I accomplish is teaching them that they will only get one opportunity to plan and build these facilities,?EUR??,,????'?? Bemis notes. ?EUR??,,????'??Park systems and school districts will never have the financial resources to overcome a lack of planning. These agencies will greatly benefit from some quality planning up front, and then, if necessary, phase the development. This way, the project may take longer to complete, but it will be successful when it is done and will be successful for the life of the project–which with park planning and site planning can mean decades of success.?EUR??,,????'??