National Association for Olmsted Parks

National Association for Olmsted Parks is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, renowned landscape architects who designed many iconic parks and landscapes, including Central Park in New York City and the White House grounds in Washington, D.C.. The organization was founded in 1980 by a group of preservationists, including Charles E. Beveridge, a leading expert on Olmsted's work, and Cornelia Hahn Oberlander, a prominent landscape architect. The National Association for Olmsted Parks works closely with other organizations, such as the National Park Service and the Trust for Public Land, to protect and preserve Olmsted-designed parks and landscapes, including Prospect Park in Brooklyn and the Boston Park System.

● History

The National Association for Olmsted Parks was established in response to growing concerns about the preservation of Olmsted-designed parks and landscapes, which were facing threats from urban development, neglect, and lack of funding. The organization's founders, including Ian McHarg, a prominent landscape architect and University of Pennsylvania professor, and Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, a preservationist and Central Park Conservancy founder, recognized the importance of preserving these iconic landscapes, which were designed by Olmsted and his firm, Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot. The organization's early efforts focused on documenting and promoting Olmsted's work, including his designs for Stanford University and the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The National Association for Olmsted Parks also collaborated with other organizations, such as the American Society of Landscape Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to advocate for the preservation of Olmsted-designed parks and landscapes, including Franklin Park in Boston and the Buffalo Park System.

● Mission and Goals

The National Association for Olmsted Parks is dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted and his firm, Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot. The organization's mission is to protect and preserve Olmsted-designed parks and landscapes, including Riverside Park in New York City and the Chicago Park District, and to promote their importance as cultural and natural resources. The organization's goals include advocating for the preservation of Olmsted-designed parks and landscapes, providing education and outreach programs, and supporting research and documentation of Olmsted's work, including his designs for Biltmore Estate and the United States Capitol grounds. The National Association for Olmsted Parks also works to promote the importance of landscape architecture and urban planning, as exemplified by Olmsted's work on the Boston Park System and the New York City Park System.

● Organization and Membership

The National Association for Olmsted Parks is a non-profit organization with a diverse membership, including landscape architects, preservationists, historians, and park administrators. The organization is governed by a board of directors, which includes prominent landscape architects, such as Peter Walker and Martha Thorne, and preservationists, such as Richard Moe and Stephanie Meeks. The organization has a small staff, including an executive director and program managers, who work to implement the organization's mission and goals, including collaborating with other organizations, such as the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials and the American Planning Association. The National Association for Olmsted Parks also has a network of regional chapters, which work to promote the organization's mission and goals at the local level, including in California, New York, and Massachusetts.

● Preservation Efforts

The National Association for Olmsted Parks is involved in a range of preservation efforts, including advocating for the protection of Olmsted-designed parks and landscapes, providing technical assistance to park administrators and preservationists, and supporting research and documentation of Olmsted's work, including his designs for Yosemite National Park and the Adirondack Park. The organization has worked to preserve iconic landscapes, such as Central Park and the White House grounds, and has collaborated with other organizations, such as the National Park Service and the Trust for Public Land, to protect and preserve Olmsted-designed parks and landscapes, including Prospect Park and the Boston Park System. The National Association for Olmsted Parks has also worked to promote the importance of historic preservation, including the preservation of Monticello and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Taliesin West.

● Notable Parks and Landscapes

The National Association for Olmsted Parks is dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted and his firm, Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot, which designed many iconic parks and landscapes, including Central Park, Prospect Park, and the Boston Park System. The organization has worked to preserve and promote other notable parks and landscapes, including Riverside Park in New York City, the Chicago Park District, and the Stanford University campus, which was designed by Olmsted and his firm. The National Association for Olmsted Parks has also worked to promote the importance of preserving historic landscapes, including the Biltmore Estate and the United States Capitol grounds, which were designed by Olmsted and other prominent landscape architects, such as Andrew Jackson Downing and Calvert Vaux.

● Education and Outreach

The National Association for Olmsted Parks provides a range of education and outreach programs, including workshops, conferences, and tours, to promote the importance of preserving Olmsted-designed parks and landscapes, including Franklin Park in Boston and the Buffalo Park System. The organization also provides technical assistance to park administrators and preservationists, and supports research and documentation of Olmsted's work, including his designs for Yosemite National Park and the Adirondack Park. The National Association for Olmsted Parks has collaborated with other organizations, such as the National Park Service and the Trust for Public Land, to promote the importance of historic preservation and landscape architecture, including the preservation of Monticello and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Taliesin West. The organization has also worked to promote the importance of urban planning and design, as exemplified by Olmsted's work on the Boston Park System and the New York City Park System.

Category:Park systems