ASLA 2023 Central States Awards

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS 2023 CENTRAL STATES CONFERENCE Hosted by the Arkansas Chapter of the ASLA Professional and Student Awards April 20, 2023 The Graduate Hotel Fayetteville, Arkansas

Thanks to Our Jurors

FRAN BEATTY, ASLA, Topophilia Studios, Humbolt County, CA WILL BELCHER, ASLA, Ground Control, Philadelphia, PA ANGELA DYE, FASLA, A Dye Design, Telluride, CO

KONA GRAY, FASLA, EDSA, Ft. Lauderdale, FL MISA IUONE, ASLA, Ross Barney Architects, Chicago, IL HEIDI NATURA, FASLA, Living Habitats, Chicago, IL KEENAN SMITH, MAUD, AIA, City Lights Design Alliance & Professor, University of Texas at Austin, Dripping Springs, TX

Table of contents

COMMERCIAL DESIGN

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MARKET STREET HEADQUARTERS, DTLS Landscape Architecture - MERIT AWARD CAFÉ RUE DE ORLEANS, Hagen Rushing, Student, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas - HONOR AWAR

INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN

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RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT DESIGN

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RESEARCH: HISTORIC PRESERVATION

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UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE MASTER PLAN, O2Design - MERIT AWARD CENTER FOR NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, DTLS Landscape Architecture - MERIT AWARD NEBRASKA MEDICINE – DURHAM OUTPATIENT CENTER ROOFTOP PLAZA, RDG Planning & Design - MERIT AWARD

MHK LIBRARY PARKLET, ASLA Student Chapter, Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning, College of Architecture, Planning & Design, Kansas State University, Student - MERIT AWARD

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RE-CONNECTION: AGFC, Charles Goodgame, Student, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas – MERIT AWARD

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RECONCILE + RENEW: J.B. & JOHNELLE HUNT OZARK HIGHLANDS NATURE CENTER, Landyn Green, Student, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas - MERIT AWARD

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HABITAT LOOPS: REGENERATING THE URBAN MEANDERS OF THE RIO GRANDE / BRAVO, Joiner Dotson & Saba Rostami-Shirazi, Students, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas - MERIT AWARD

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GANS CREEK CROSS COUNTRY COURSE, City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department MERIT AWARD

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POP! HEIGHTS PARK, Lamar Johnson Collaborative - MERIT AWARD CHAPLAIN SCHMITT – VETERANS MEMORIAL, RDG Planning & Design - MERIT AWARD

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REMEDIATE & RENEW: THE CAMPUS RESOURCE FOR WATER, FOOD, AND ENGAGEMENT, Jessica Shearman, Cada Fischer, Emily Booth, Brett Paris, Reed Waters, Charles Goodgame, Kobee Wade, Aaron Schlosser, Landyn Green, Hagen Rushing, Dawson Oakley, Noah Geels, Celstene Sebag, Winnie VanLandingham & John Ivy, Students, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas - MERIT AWARD

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AQUATIC ARTISTRY – INTERSECTION OF CREATIVITY AND WATER MANAGEMENT AT THE EUREKA SPRINGS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, Oliver Right, Kaiden Couffer & Isaiah Wright, Students, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas - MERIT AWARD

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U.S. BIKE ROUTE 80 FEASIBILITY STUDY, Crafton Tull - MERIT AWARD

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WOLTER WOODS & PRAIRIES, O2Design - HONOR AWARD

COLER, Ecological Design Group - HONOR AWARD

IOWA’S LIVING ROADWAYS COMMUNITY, Iowa State University, Trees Forever & Iowa Department of Transportation - MERIT AWARD

RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS, Confluence, Inc. - MERIT AWARD

SUTURES OF THE RIO GRANDE / BRAVO: RESTORING ACCESS THROUGH HISTORY & ECOLOGY, Emily Finley & Lillyan Priest , Students, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas - HONOR AWARD

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

TRANSPORTATION DESIGN

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VACANCY TO VIBRANCY: A COMMUNITY GUIDE TO REVITALIZING ST. LOUIS, Arbolope Studio MERIT AWARD

ANALYSIS & PLANNING

BARRETT BOESEN PARK & NATURAL PLAYSCAPE, JBC Landscape Architects - MERIT AWARD BROADWAY SQUARE, Confluence, Inc. - MERIT AWARD

HISTORIC AMERICAN LANDSCAPES SURVEY CANE RIVER CREOLE NATIONAL PARK, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas; National Center for Preservation, Technology & Training - MERIT AWARD

COMMUNICATION

PARKS, RECREATION & OPEN SPACE DESIGN

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SOUTH STREET COTTAGES, Flintlock LAB - MERIT AWARD

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TOWER GROVE PARK EAST STREAM RESTORATION, Lamar Johnson Collaborative: PARKS, RECREATION & OPEN SPACE DESIGN

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JACK C. TAYLOR VISITOR CENTER SPECIMEN PANEL, Missouri Botanical Garden, Arbolope Studio: COMMUNICATION

DTLS Landscape Architecture SITE AND CONTEXT INVESTIGATION Much of Saint Louis City is located within the combined sewer overflow (CSO) area, meaning that stormwater from the street is mixed with sanitary sewage. During large rain events, the system becomes overwhelmed, resulting in untreated sewage being discharged into the Mississippi River. In 2011, the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD)entered a consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency and is required to spend a minimum of $47billion to address the issue of overflows and other sewer system improvements, including $100 million for green infrastructure projects.

As a result of this consent decree, each new development within the CSO area is required to retain the 90thpercentile storm event on site (1.15”). Strategies to achieve this are site-specific but are often a combination of landscaping, permeable pavement, and bioretention. Existing homeowners and public agencies are also encouraged to retain stormwater on their property through grant programs provided by MSD. Over the past 10years, each of these entities, including engineers, contractors, and grant program participants have been required to visit MSD’s headquarters for plan review, approval, and continuing education. In addition, some members of the public choose to pay their bills and resolve disputes in person.

The MSD Headquarters Building was not purpose-built for this organization, and as a result, MSD did not appear to "practice what they preach” - requiring visitors to pass through impervious parking areas, past non-native planting areas, and along a route with very limited ADA-compliant accessibility. Representing the organization’s mission became a major goal for the renovation of their entry landscape and parking areas, and the plan incorporated many green infrastructure best practices recommended in the guidelines adopted by MSD to reduce stormwater runoff. These main approaches included: lawn reduction, bioretention, permeable pavement, bioswales, greenroof, and water harvesting.

In addition to the stormwater management best practices, a critical component to the plan’s success was pedestrian connectivity and accessibility. The building's pre-existing elevated front entry was not accessible, and therefore visitors and employees who were unable to navigate the entry stairs were directed through the building's rear employee door.

In addition, there was no access to the city sidewalk on either street adjacent to the building. New accessible parking spaces, connections to perimeter sidewalks, and a dedicated ramp were incorporated into the design to create an accessible design in all locations.

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DESIGN PROGRAM The design process included stakeholder review and feedback sessions which were facilitated by the landscape architect via polling and in-person design workshops. Although physical accessibility and green infrastructure were early drivers of the project, public education became a front-of-mind goal as a result of direct feedback from this engagement process. This is because MSD recognized the importance of demonstration and education for successful green infrastructure adoption in the future. Accordingly, nine educational signs were designed by the landscape architect to illustrate the flow of water through the site, explain each stormwater management method, illustrate measurable benefits of design solutions, and to identify native plant species and their use in visitors' personal landscapes. The Landscape Architect was responsible for all aspects of design from initial project conceptualization and master planning, through design and construction, including construction administration. The Landscape Architect directed the architectural pavilion design and programming, including the rooftop planting and stormwater collection elements.

MATERIALS AND INSTALLATION METHODS The material palette was focused on regional sources and utilitarian elements which reflect the district's responsible stewardship of public funds. Limestone walls were sourced from southern Missouri and the plantings are entirely composed of local native species. Thermally-modified wood from ash trees were selected for wood furnishings, cladding, and decking in order to patina uniformly with minimal maintenance inputs. City standard concrete and galvanized steel elements reflect the utilitarian nature of the District ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE Green infrastructure is often relegated to new construction. This project is an exciting example of a campus retrofit of a standard office building using a variety of stormwater best practices. In addition, this project has allowed MSD to transition into a leader in green construction, creating an example for what is possible for existing sites to capture stormwater and public interest alike. Following completion and occupation, the Landscape Architect has continued the relationship with the Client, developing a maintenance manual that will guide future efforts for the upkeep of the space and influence the budget cycle.

MARKET STREET HEADQUARTERS, St. Louis, Missouri

Commercial Design - MERIT AWARD

Hagen Rushing, Student Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas This site is 0.7 acres in Fayetteville Arkansas off of the busy highway 71B. The whole highway corridor has become a river of concrete, strip malls, and asphalt. This placelessness has led to a push for a revamp for the corridor. The City of Fayetteville completed a corridor master-plan to increase active transportation, affordable housing, and culturally intense atmosphere as it is one of the highest volume roads in of Fayetteville. The specific site for this project is designed for this master-plan as it is adjacent to the 71B corridor.

storm water from the buildings and re-uses it for the landscape irrigation. The landscape is not constrained to the ground; it scales the facade and up to the roof creating a vegetated atmosphere that takes advantage of the glass facades and uses biophilia as a way to enhance the experience for the users. When vegetation is introduced onto the facades and the roof, it has the opportunity to provide insulation and shade that can reduce heating and cooling energy usage, a factor to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and carbon emissions. On sloped roofs where it would be unsuitable for a green application , solar panels are proposed to generate electricity on site to even further reduce reliance on fossil fuels. More vegetation will allow for a more proper and fully functioning local ecosystem and connect with adjacent green areas.

This design Introduces adaptive re-use, urbanism, and sustainability into the future of this highway corridor. The site consists of three businesses and three buildings, each of which are unique and serve different purposes. The first building houses the Cafe Rue Orleans, a Cajun restaurant and grill, a small architecture firm on the first floor. The second building holds a wing of an old motel which is in the process of being renovated and rebuilt as a small eco flat motel. The third building was part of the old motel and is still being re-purposed to host another business. This design will serve many purposes as many different types of people would come to the site for different reasons; some would come to work, some would come to eat, and some would come on retreat, or as a business stay.

This design is a testament to the possibilities of a site just a tad bigger than half an acre and how much it can make a difference in terms of aesthetics and its contribution to energy conservation and ecosystem services. This design shows how a mid-century modern development has potential to perform better than most contemporary developments with a few additions such as updated technology that is more efficient, gray water harvesting and LED lights.

The landscape design turns these three different buildings into a single cohesive piece of land that would work as a system. This design is a showcase of how we can design spaces that can serve the environment as well as the people that use the space. In terms of environmental sustainability, this landscape is a machine that harvests gray water and

This landscape design is beneficial to the client and their consumers because it has a unique aesthetic in relation to the surrounding buildings and could attract more visitors. This design also provides learning opportunities for visitors to explore green infrastructure and ecosystem services.

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CAFÉ RUE DE ORLEANS & HIWAY INN MOTEL, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Commercial Design: Student - HONOR AWARD

O2Design 25 YEAR PLANNIG AND DESIGN AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE

“(The buildings and campus improvements) are the results of people who believed in something beyond themselves and wanted to invest in the University, in this building, to impact the lives of students, then, now and in the future.”

Jeffrey Bullock University of Dubuque President (1998 – Present)

“I’ve been on the board since 1992. We’ve had a number of projects…that have really enhanced the quality of student life…This transformation of campus has been such a positive influence for the culture and pride that current students and alumni have for the University of Dubuque.”

Joseph Chlapaty (C’68) University of Dubuque Chairman of the Board of Trustees

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The client, University of Dubuque, is a private university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church offering undergraduate, graduate, and theological seminary programs. The landscape architect has collaborated with the client in campus planning and site design since 1998. The 25-year partnership legacy paves the road to evolution of the University and its surrounding community, both in physical environment and life-long learning culture.

This submission captures the transformation of campus and summarizes the master planning efforts; highlights the site design projects lead by the landscape architect following the master plan principles; and culminates with the design impact on student life.

UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE MASTER PLAN, Dubuque, Iowa

Institutional Design – MERIT AWARD

RDG Planning & Design SITE/CONTEXT INVESTIGATION Outside the Nebraska Café on level three of Nebraska Medicine’s University Tower, the 0.2-acre Rooftop Plaza had fallen into disrepair. Initially built in the early nineties, the space was closed due to a lack of shade opportunities, uneven pedestal paving, plugged drains, and the deteriorated roof membrane. Nebraska Medicine’s campus is an urban environment with multiple medical towers and parking garages, lacking direct connections from the buildings to the natural environment.

Nebraska Medicine recognized this project as an opportunity for staff, patients, and visitors to interact with the outdoor environment, demonstrate sustainable practices, and provide an engaging, artful plaza space. As an intensive green roof, opportunities for demonstrating native prairie environments in raised beds create layers of intimate, varied seating options.

DESIGN PROGRAM/DESIGN INTENT The guiding principles of the project included: • Providing shaded, protected areas from University Tower’s southwestern exposure • Creating layers of intimate spaces that focus inward while still maintaining visibility • Incorporating a variety of seating types • Serving as an extension of the Nebraska Café eating area • Updating the perimeter fencing to factor safety into the design by acting as a barrier to keep users away from the building edge • Planting for color and variation that can be enjoyed in any season MATERIALS AND INSTALLATION METHODS • Porcelain tiles on a roof pedestal system allow for seamless transitions between stepped roof elevations, lessen the structural load, and provide a durable, high-quality finish.

• Tapered board insulation was used to build up the landscape against the curvilinear concrete retaining walls and lessen the load on the roof structure.

• The planting design and finish grades had to ensure that there was necessary roof media soil depth and lessen and survival of the landscape.

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND CONCERNS The native prairie landscaping had to be resilient to the roofs’ intense southern exposure, wind uplift, and be able to thrive in the soil media mix.

ROLE OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT /COLLABORATION • Develop a design vision to reinvigorate the rooftop plaza adjacent to the Nebraska Café.

• Collaborate with Owner, Architect, Structural Engineer, and MEP Engineer to replace the roof membrane system, utilize the existing structure and drainage system, design lighting systems, and develop a shade canopy and retaining wall system that would limit penetrations into the roof membrane.

• Engage a green roof consultant to assess and guide appropriate soil media mix, soil depth, and planting palette incorporating native landscaping that thrives in an intensive green roof environment.

• Generate construction documentation for the roof deck pedestal paving system, planting area wall system, layered taper board insulation and depth of soil media, planting design, and custom integrated seating options.

• Observe the installation process with Construction Administrator and collaborate with manufacturers and Contractor for seamless system integration.

SPECIAL FACTORS AND PROJECT SIGNIFICANCE The new plaza design functions as an intensive green roof, creating opportunities for a biodiverse demonstration of prairie environments. Further benefits include reducing overall stormwater runoff and noise, improving stormwater and air quality, urban heat island mitigation, and providing year-round aesthetic interest for users of the Nebraska Café.

The incorporation of ornamental trees was achieved by coordinating their location with the building’s columns and utilizing tapered board insulation to create planting pits for the proper depth. In contrast, the surrounding landscape’s soil media depth and plant selection were chosen for individual plant health success and to lessen the weight of the raised plantings on the building structure. The improvements to this space will also hold research-backed wellness advantages, such as stress reduction and lessened perceived discomfort, thus reducing recovery time for patients and decreasing fatigue for staff and families. The variety of outdoor seating options offers users the autonomy of choice in finding a space that meets their desired needs, encouraging increased usage and engagement with nature within the hospital campus.

NEBRASKA MEDICINE – DURHAM OUTPATIENT CENTER ROOFTOP PLAZA Omaha, Nebraska Institutional Design - MERIT AWARD

DTLS Landscape Architecture SITE AND CONTEXT INVESTIGATION The St. Louis Community College at Forest Park campus is a well-preserved example of late 1960s brutalist modern architecture. The design began as a winning competition entry and close partnership between Architect Harry Weese and Landscape Architect Dan Kiley. Their concept was nearly realized with the exception of the eastern edge of campus, now the project area. For this reason, the east end of campus became the logical location of anew, advanced teaching space for Nursing and Allied Health programs.

The project landscape architects who performed Schematic Design through Construction Administration and LEED Services, conducted a study at the onset of the project and prior to siting the building. It was realized that several large-scale campus challenges could be addressed through additional improvements to the east edge of campus. These recommendations created a long-term plan for the campus and this document has become a driver of subsequent projects in future capital cycles.

The campus is directly adjacent to Interstate 64/40 to the north. However, the previous campus orientation and architecture projected a fortress-like façade to the community. This project provided an opportunity to address this issue by opening the campus visually, creating a new entry, expressing program through architecture, and creating outdoor spaces for students to gather. Siting the new building at the highly-visible campus entry and adjacent the Interstate activates the architecture to become a campus “billboard to the city”.

The project created a shift in campus culture which deemphasized interior passageways between buildings and encouraged the use of outdoor walkways. As a result, accessible east-west pedestrian connections became a crucial driver for site development. These connections were strengthened with sculpture. The ten light walls, originally designed by Peter Walker and Associates, now act as a 4th “wall” to the newly created campus quad and provide lighting. The Jim Dine sculpture “Weathered Venus” was relocated to the campus entry and now serves as additional seating and an obelisk marking the terminus of viewsheds and walkways.

DESIGN PROGRAM The site program primarily supports the needs of nursing and allied-health students - whose needs are similar to those of most students - gathering zones, direct campus connections, cycle parking, beauty. In addition, a health and dental

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clinic program also utilizes the building. With visitors arriving in need of healthcare, access to ADA parking and a direct drop-off zone were important. Visitors also desire a sense of professionalism in the entry sequence, something that is echoed throughout the building in the design and finishes. Students are training here for real-world applications and the design team aimed to make the building feel as close to a healthcare facility as possible - less education and more healing.

MATERIALS AND INSTALLATION METHODS A high-performance landscape design was necessary in order to achieve LEED Silver for this project, including the maximum credits for stormwater management, native plants, and irrigation. The landscape architect utilized a plant community approach to the planting design to maximize species diversity and resilience while lowering future maintenance costs. High diversity landscapes often come at the expense of design and tend to be "naturalistic” because of the difficulty in documentation and installation. In order to facilitate better design control, the landscape architect pioneered a new approach to the planting plan which documented the design and layout process in a layered system. This methodology preserved design integrity while meeting the original goals for diversity and performance.

ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE Approximately 98% of the stormwater falling on this project site is treated in three bioretention areas where pollutants are removed and groundwater is recharged. Plant species native to the Saint Louis region create the primary palette for over 17,000 sq ft of planting areas including ornamental beds and bioretention. Native species support biodiversity while their design arrangement reduces maintenance and reliance on irrigation.

SPECIAL FACTORS The project was awarded LEED Silver, and credits were given for sustainable landscaping best practices including all regionally native plant species, no irrigation, reflective pavement, reduction of light pollution, and capturing the maximum amount of stormwater runoff. The planting design adopted a designed plant community approach for much of the plantings in order to maximize resiliency, increase diversity, and minimize maintenance.

CENTER FOR NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, St. Louis, Missouri Institutional Design - MERIT AWARD

ASLA Student Chapter, Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning, Kansas State University PROJECT IDENTITY AND DESIGN INTENT The “Pop-up Library Parklet” was a PARK(ing) Day display in collaboration with the Manhattan Public Library that engaged kids and families through interactive educational activities rooted in Landscape Architecture. This partnership was inspired by the ASLA 2022National PARK(ing) Day theme, which encouraged landscape architects to "use a parking space in front of a school, library, or community center to help students discover how to improve our public spaces, strengthen social connections, and boost health and well-being.” The Manhattan Public Library is located on Poyntz Avenue in historic downtown Manhattan, KS. There are many activities happening inside the library but the street area in front of the building is mostly inactive. The parklet was placed in front of the library occupying two parallel parking spaces, maximizing the visibility, proximity, and programming opportunities.

PROGRAMMING The parklet had three main activities for visitors. First, they could learn about landscape architecture through reading the books on display or using interactive educational apps developed by students. At the second station, visitors expressed what they love about parks through drawing or writing. Finally, they practiced being a designer building model of their dream park.

DESIGN PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTION The design process was an inclusive and engaging experience for students in the Student ASLA Chapter. The students collaborated with representatives from the library to include their design considerations and suggestions. In order to reduce environmental impact from material waste, display pieces from previous PARK(ing)Day events were upcycled to fit the new site and program. The parklet was designed for easy transportation and could be packed into a single trailer. Books, bookshelves, furniture, plants, and other elements were provided by the library and were already on site.

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PARTNERSHIP WITH MANHATTAN PUBLIC LIBRARY The partnership was mutually beneficial for both the library and the Student ASLA Chapter. The library was excited to have students plan and sponsor an event that would bring new activity to the site.

PROJECT BENEFITS The event allowed students to share the potential of landscape architecture with families that visited the display. The experience was also a great opportunity to engage new landscape architecture students in ASLA. Student volunteers learned about fabrication, marketing, how to host a community engagement event, and how to advocate for the landscape architecture profession.

SOCIAL MEDIA Students involved, alongside the library, used social media to promote the event and engage with people beyond those who attended PARK(ing) Day in-person. The event was advertised in advance on Instagram, Facebook, and the library’s emailed newsletter.

LEARNING OUTCOMES The lessons learned during this project can be used to improve future PARK(ing) Day displays. Students found that the biggest takeaways were: 1. Partnering with a local organization provides mutual benefits for both groups.

2. Upcycling materials reduces environmental impact, construction costs, and time.

3. Creating adaptable, flexible designs allows for future reuse.

MHK LIBRARY PARKLET, Manhattan, Kansas

Parks, Recreation & Open Space Design: Student - MERIT AWARD

Charles Goodgame, Student Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas The JB and Johnelle Hunt Family Nature Center, ran by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, is an establishment that is not only trying to restore Bobwhite quail habitat through the integration of prairie land, but to restore the connection between people and ecology. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas's fish and wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use, public understanding, and support. Re-Connection, located in Springdale, AR, seeks to enhance the creek habitat, restore prairie habitat, and establish a place for Hispanic community members in Northwest Arkansas.

Through the analysis phase, looking to the extent of the watershed the Nature Center resides in, it proved a challenging task migrating the bobwhite quail to the site due to the disappearance of their preferred habitat; grasslands and agricultural land. The proposed design dissects prairie land to understand how the ecosystem functions. With the addition of creek restoration, this will provide another form of wildlife habitat.

Group discussions with the Hispanic/Latinx community brought to light some of the social issues that resided. The Hispanic community does not understand the role of the AGFC and believes that the nature center’s building is cold, and unwelcoming.

Revitalizing the front of the building with community artwork and interactive built works are some ways that will make the site feel welcoming. Food is an important part of Hispanic culture. Implementing a community garden is a great way to establish a sense of re-connection to the wildlife.

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RE-CONNECTION: JB AND JOHNELLE HUNT FAMILY NATURE CENTER Springdale, Arkansas Parks, Recreation & Open Space Design: Student - MERIT AWARD

Landyn Green, Student Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas The JB and Johnelle Hunt Family Nature Center is one of many nature centers owned by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The center’s mission is to conserve and enhance Arkansas’s fish and wildlife and their habitats while promoting sustainable use and public understanding and support. Although public education and understanding is a key goal in the nature centers’ mission, when it comes to performance, the mission and reality don’t necessarily lineup. This is partially due to the Ozark Highland Nature Center being built so recently (in2020) and its location in remote proximity in relation to the rest of Springdale.

Research, analysis, inventory, and conversations were vital when answering questions related to ecology on and around the Spring-Osage Creek Watershed, potential users of the nature center, what types of land uses are in the area, and how the site is connected to Springdale and the Northwest Arkansas region.

A key element in the design process was recognizing and truly understanding the area that surrounds the Ozark Highland Nature Center. Group discussions were held on site with members of the Hispanic/Latinx community as well as field biologists and stream habitat coordinators from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. These conversations were extremely valuable for the fundamental phases of design. Reconcile + Renew specifically emphasizes ecotones and restoring the Osage Prairie, Bob-White quail habitat, and the aquatic ecosystem within Spring Creek, while simultaneously working to create a connected network among different demographic communities. Habitat restoration is essential in renewing the relationship between the prairie, woodland, and creek flora with the charismatic fauna of the region. This design is a blended blueprint of continuous conservation efforts by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and research done in collaboration with the Springdale community: reconciling people and ecology.

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RECONCILE + RENEW: JB & JOHNELLE HUNT OZARK HIGHLANDS NATURE CENTER Springdale, Arkansas Parks, Recreation & Open Space Design: Student - MERIT AWARD

Joiner Dotson & Saba Rostami-Shirazi, Students, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas This project provides a framework to restore and revitalize urban meander habitats in the Lower Rio Grande/Bravo Delta. The project aims to create an ecological network connecting high-value natural and cultural landscapes responding to the local community's economic, social, and cultural needs. The network created by the project will have the potential for economic growth by creating new ecologically oriented businesses. The greenway to be created engages urban areas and creates patches and corridors of natural habitat and paths also running through rural areas, therefore producing a socio-ecological integration. The systems of flood control, cut and fills, agriculture programs, and a series of trail networks invite people to experience the activity of nature and birdwatching, and habitat revitalization, while helping neighborhoods and sister cities to grow economically and socially.

The Lower Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Valley hosts 10.4 million people. The population and the territory and inextricably linked in an intense but contested relationship. Here, an economic dynamism is confronted by a growing scarcity of natural resources, most critically including water, and shrinking habitats. This delta contains multiple oxbow lakes (resacas), former meanders, in the river's previous historical flows. During the winter, the valley's moderate environment attracts many retirees from northern states and Canada to the Texas side of the river for seasonal living.

At any season, the Mexican border towns cater to American and Canadian medical, shopping, and leisure tourism. The Lower Rio Grande Valley (Delta)maintains an unusually high diversity of plants and animals. There are 1,200 species of plants,300 butterflies, at least 520 birds, and 180 other vertebrates in Texas's Lower Rio Grande Valley.

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The proposed and designed phase of this project focuses on the recovery, regeneration, and activation of agricultural, vacant, and flood-vulnerable land along the Rio Grande/Bravo, stretching from Resaca de la Palma State Park on the western edge of Brownsville to the Sabal Palm Sanctuary Birding Center on its southeastern edge. A design demonstration of possible interventions along the river corridor is presented in a typical meander-resaca site in the neighborhood of Los Pinos, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, that can be applied to other urban meanders in the future.

The project will recover its environmental flows service with connectivity, sustainable earthworks, and programming.

The connectivity will be presented by a network system that links to public transportation. The earthworks will facilitate the recovery of environmental flows, allowing for bio-physical processes truncated by the military engineering of the river to be reclaimed; and the programming will include the preservation of agriculture, parks, greenspaces, mixed-use lands, hiking and biking trails, and nature and birdwatching infrastructure.

The network created by the project will have the potential for economic growth by creating new ecologically oriented businesses. The greenway to be created engages urban areas and creates patches and corridors of natural habitat and paths also running through rural areas, therefore producing a socio-ecological integration. The systems of flood control, cut and fills, agriculture programs, sports facilities, and a series of trail networks invite people to experience the activity of nature and birdwatching, and habitat revitalization. This project will help neighborhoods and binational, sister, cities to grow economically and socially. This mission will engage both countries to develop an equal opportunity and balanced pattern that affects both people and habitat.

HABITAT LOOPS: REGENERATING THE URBAN MEANDERS OF THE RIO GRANDE / BRAVO Brownsville, Texas & Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Parks, Recreation & Open Space Design: Student - MERIT AWARD

City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department The purpose of this project was to provide the City of Columbia and the University of Missouri Athletics with a championship cross country facility able to host a variety of race events. The project was funded by a combination of revenue from the 2015 City of Columbia Park Sales Tax and funding from the University of Missouri Athletics.

Located at Gans Creek Recreation Area, a 320-acre property purchased by the City of Columbia in 2007 was originally meant to be developed into a multi-sport park for tournament soccer and baseball to serve Columbia’s large southward population growth. Now, the Gans Creek Cross Country course is reimagining the sport.

As Phase I of the multi-sport park was underway in 2015, regional trends in large tournament soccer facilities began shifting to a preference of artificial turf fields, leading to a reimagining of the park. By the spring of 2016, Columbia Parks and Recreation entered into a unique partnership with the Missouri State High School Activities Association and the University of Missouri Athletics to race to the front of the growing trend of dedicated cross country courses with the development of a championship facility as a stand-alone park amenity that can host a variety of running events for all skill levels and be the first dedicated cross country course open to the public.

The Landscape Architect worked alongside University of Missouri Track and Field and Cross Country coaching staff to lead the planning and design process to create a unique event facility for athletes and spectators. Working with the

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partially developed site was a significant challenge to create a looping course that would allow different race distance events. Typical high school athletes all run a 5-kilometer race, while NCAA women run a 4k and 6k, and NCAA men run an 8k and 10k. It was decided that a 2k and 3k loop would maximize the possible race events, allowing athletes to return to the large spectator area multiple times during a race. The involvement of the landscape architect was vital during construction, measuring and remeasuring the alignments, slopes, and turns, with the final plan resulting in a competitive, spectator friendly, and environmentally sensitive facility for future generations.

Course layout, timing structures, and timing tower planned and designed by Parks and Recreation Landscape Architect with the support of University of Missouri Athletics coaching staff. Site grading, seed & sod completed by local contractors and Parks and Recreation Sports Turf staff. Construction of all permanent structures and installation of fiber/electric conduit completed by Parks and Recreation Construction staff. Irrigation designed and installed by Parks and Recreation Sports Turf staff.

Gans Creek is the first of only two cross country facilities planned by landscape architects in the U.S. It is the only facility with permanent infrastructure that not only produces world class competitive races, but provides an unmatched spectator experience.

GANS CREEK CROSS COUNTRY COURSE, Columbia, Missouri Parks, Recreation & Open Space Design - MERIT AWARD

Lamar Johnson Collaborative PROJECT SCOPE POP! Heights Park is a 21,780-square-foot community park in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood and is the fourth park implemented as a part of the City’s Public Outdoor Plaza (POP!) program. The program helps community-based organizations revitalize underutilized land along neighborhood retail corridors. Far South Community Development Corporation (Far South CDC) partnered with Sheldon Heights Church of Christ to develop this multi-use outdoor space on one of Chicago’s busiest commercial corridors, South Halsted Street. POP! Heights Park transforms underutilized vacant land into a large, bright, and welcoming open public space for the neighborhood through the use of painted hardscape, sweeping planted berms, and community artwork. The design focuses on creating a multi-functional spaces where each use supports the health and physical well-being of residents. Furthermore, residents engage in placemaking and ownership of this new park amenity through participation in the Community Paint Day effort.

SITE AND CONTEXT INVESTIGATION Roseland is firmly grounded in rich history and family values. However, it lacks engaging, dedicated public open spaces that encourage residents of all ages to connect. POP! Heights Park is the first new park in this neighborhood in 5 decades. This project presents new opportunities to unite community members in accessible, creative, and exciting ways. Activating this vacant parcel increases residents’ access to arts, culture, and nature. Currently, the site is surrounded by community-oriented businesses such as a day care, restaurants, youth group organizations and nonprofit organization. The intent is that this new park will help boost and activate such adjacent businesses along Halsted - one of Chicago’s busiest commercial corridors.

DESIGN PROGRAM AND INTENT The park includes six activity zones, all linked by a vibrant-painted walking ribbon that meanders around the site, the curvature accentuated by natural-planted berms and shade trees. This ribbon can be used as both a walking and rollerblading path. This organizing feature connects the entire site, reaches out to the community, and draws people into the various points of interest. This project benefits area residents by providing inspiring, beautiful, and culturally relevant programmed community spaces. Visitors can enter the site from two points on South Halsted Street. The main entry features colorful concrete blocks and painted signage. The entry to the south pulls people along the ribbon past an outdoor classroom with colorful block seat walls. A bosque of trees in between these entries creates a dappled shade area to sit and relax. Placed beneath the bosque are brightly painted concrete blocks from the Community Paint Day effort. A basketball court encourages play and physical activity, including a custom-painted court and hoop. The court doubles as a place for farmer’s markets or parking for food trucks. As visitors continue towards the north, the ribbon pathway gently winds along a large planted area, leading to a playground designed for younger children’s play and learning. Finally, a stage centered on a new community mural at the north property line is used for performances, classes, or relaxation. The mural anchors the north end of the site and provides bright splashes of color in the same color palette as the ribbon pathway and court. Movable seating blocks line the park edge, block vehicles, and act as signage. The entire site is organized around a central lawn accommodating large crowds or everyday community quiet moments. All is surrounded by playful colors in the mural, ribbon path, community-painted elements and natural plant palette.

MATERIALS AND INSTALLATION Material selection prioritize durability while respecting budget constraints. MMA-painted asphalt brightens up the majority of the hardscape. The concrete blocks utilized in the design provide an economical solution for seating throughout the site, enhance perimeter security against vehicular traffic, and provide an opportunity for residents to

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engage in our Paint Day. Installation was completed by local contractors utilizing local trades. Native and adapted planting break up the hardscape and provide soft buffers throughout the site.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND CONCERNS Because the site is located in an urban environment, soil tests were conducted to confirm that the soil was not contaminated. Stormwater is managed on site utilizing a dry well system. The project adds invaluable green space that improves physical and mental health, reduces heat island, provides shade, sequesters carbon, adds habitat for pollinators, and improves aesthetic appeal to an underutilized vacant site.

COLLABORATION WITH THE CLIENT AND OTHER DESIGNERS The Landscape Architect led the design of the park, collaborating with the client, Far South CDC, mural artist, pavement artist, and various City agencies, vendors and contractors to deliver a low-budget project with immeasurable community impact.

SPECIAL FACTORS POP! Heights Park was developed with a local non-profit, Far South CDC through Mayor Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West initiative, specifically the Public Outdoor Plaza Program (POP!). The DPD’s Public Outdoor Plaza (POP!) program is designed to help community-based organizations revitalize underutilized land along neighborhood retail corridors. Far South CDC was awarded this grant in order to provide a much-needed informal gathering place for Roseland’s residents. The park development is part of Far South CDC’s larger vision of the “Bringing Communities Back Initiative” (BCBI),which aims to repurpose vacant and/or blighted areas into thriving community anchors that will spur economic growth and repopulate communities on Chicago’s far southside that have experienced decades of chronic disinvestment. The project was further supported by funds from DCASE who sponsored the mural commission. The Far South CDC facilitated collaboration between the artist and the landscape architect, they worked together to integrate the mural with the site’s overall ribbon theme and other design elements.

POP! HEIGHTS PARK, Far South Chicago, Illinois Parks, Recreation & Open Space Design - MERIT AWARD

RDG Planning & Design SIZE/SCOPE The landscape architect led a four-month planning process resulting in two acres of park improvements that unify four existing memorials installed at different times, restore a portion of the adjacent pond shoreline, integrate new artwork, and create a place for people to reflect, connect, contemplate, and reconcile. Schmitt Island consists of 265 acres of land on the Mississippi River and is a stone’s throw from downtown Dubuque. Once an airfield and city dump, Schmitt Island is now home toa varied mix of public amenities.

DESIGN PROGRAM/DESIGN INTENT Reconfigure, reimagine, and expand a Veterans Memorial by carefully preserving significant portions of the memorial while creatively connecting and merging nearby monuments into one cohesive experience.

MATERIALS AND INSTALLATION METHODS Much consideration was given to the selection of new materials to integrate with the existing palette of black granite walls and benches and limestone obelisks. Existing pavers engraved with veteran’s names were gently removed, stored, and subsequently reinstalled into a more unified pavement layout. Following the golden mean, an everunwinding path of charcoal concrete is introduced into the matrix of pavers. This path leads from an immense existing granite globe at the center of the memorial to the boardwalk and culminates at “Skyward”.This23-foot tall, nine-ton sculpture, made of 1” thick milled and welded stainless steel, was fabricated near Des Moines and transported in one piece190 miles to the site. The final placement required a large construction crane that moved the piece to its final resting place suspended 20’ feet over the water at the prow of the boardwalk.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND CONCERNS Due to the site’s previous use as a city landfill, the project required deep footings to place a 160’ long boardwalk on the pond that concludes with a substantial art piece, “Skyward”. The shoreline along the length of the project site was planted with native mesic prairie and aquatic species to create wildlife habitats and help beautify the pond’s edge.

COLLABORATION The landscape architect led a multi-disciplined team of civil, electrical, and structural engineers and a broader team of artists, lighting designers, irrigation specialists, graphic designers, and landscape architects to create a unique,

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revitalized, and enhanced veterans memorial. The landscape architect provided principal design and leadership of the consultants and served as the primary point of contact. In addition, we prepared the construction documents and administered the construction process. Community involvement was an important aspect of this project. The landscape architect coordinated conversations and input meetings with veterans, community stakeholders, and regulating agencies to build consensus and inspire philanthropy. Gathered from conversations with many veterans from many wars and conflicts were the words respect, honor, sacrifice, serenity, and gratitude. It was from these foundational words that the design was advanced.

SPECIAL FACTORS AND PROJECT SIGNIFICANCE The site is home to Dubuque’s Veterans Memorial Plaza, the Tri-State Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and an existing memorial honoring local veteran Father Aloysius H. Schmitt, a chaplain of the United States Navy aboard the USS Oklahoma during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Chaplain Schmitt gave the ultimate sacrifice after he hoisted multiple sailors to freedom through a small porthole as the ship sank. The restructuring and expansion of the Veterans Memorial Plaza were subject to multiple political perspectives, differing veteran voices, and significant regulatory requirements.

This required a complex process for decision-making, consensus-building, and design integration.

The art piece “Skyward” was primarily designed by two landscape architects on the team and conceived as a solemn tribute to all veterans calling the Dubuque area their home. This pinnacle element culminates one’s journey through the memorial along the spiraling pathway with an invitation to enter a stainless-steel fold. It honors those who gave of themselves, and for some, gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. Pierced with openings that suggest falling rain—tears from the heavens, it symbolically rests over water to suggest a suspension between earth and sky, the piece implies the moment between life and death. Once inside Skyward, the guest is met with WI veteran Edward Thomas's poem “Rain” etched into the surface, the stanzas woven among the descending raindrops.‘...Blessed are the dead that the rains rain upon/But here I pray that none whom once I loved / is dying here tonight or lying still awake...’As the piece unfolds and ascends, guests lift their eyes to the sky.

CHAPLAIN SCHMITT ISLAND VETERANS MEMORIAL PLAZA, Dubuque, Iowa

Parks, Recreation & Open Space Design - MERIT AWARD

JBC Landscape Architects PROJECT SCOPE AND SIZE Completed in Summer 2022, this 3-acre site was designated by the City of Urbandale as a natural playscape. The design team was tasked with designing a comprehensive, phased master plan for the park as well as Phase 1 construction documents and construction administration. area.

DESIGN PROGRAM, SITE AND CONTEXT The park was designed to create pockets of play that continually change and keep kids curious about what’s next, extending their play time. It was also imperative to design a space that is convenient for caregivers, incorporating a restroom and shelter, shade both from existing trees and tree plantings, easy visual and mobility access, and places to rest while kids are playing. The entrant designed the parking lot directly across from the existing entrance drive to Waterford Park, creating an efficient and safe intersection while using existing context and infrastructure to inform design. This intersection and crossing provides access to the Walnut Creek Trail, which connects the park to the larger park and trail system throughout the City and Metro area. Future phases also provide connectivity to adjacent neighborhoods to create a true sense of place.

DESIGN INTENT / MATERIALS AND METHODS The design was intended to incorporate the existing features of the undeveloped space and using natural materials to every extent possible to create a destination park that would elevate nature play in the Des Moines Metro ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND CONCERNS Designing this space at Barrett Boesen Park for children to appreciate nature through water quality, native plants and trees, insects and animals, seeing the life cycle in action, and learning how natural materials are made and used begins a lifelong journey of dedication to the natural world. Landscape architects have an important role to play in connecting children with nature to nurture the next generation of advocates.

COLLABORATION WITH CLIENT AND OTHERS As lead designer on the project, the entrant brought innovative nature play to life at Barrett Boesen Park. The entrant designed an online survey which helped to inform the design process and received over 1,300 respondents from the community, representing 2,550 children. The popularity of the park shows that the design team listened, heard, and executed on what users of the park wanted to see. A civil engineer assisted with parking lot design, utilities, and local stormwater requirements on this project.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES AND SPECIAL FACTORS While accessibility and inclusivity were identified as important elements in the online public engagement survey, there are no specific inclusive design standards for nature play. To combat this, the entrant adapted standard playground inclusivity standards to the natural elements used on site to ensure accessibility and inclusivity of Barrett Boesen Park’s play features. This project also provided significant positive PR for the City of Urbandale and the landscape architecture profession in five separate publications and news outlets. All publicity regarding any park that was designed by a landscape architect serves to benefit and elevate the public perception of the entire profession.

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BARRETT BOESEN PARK & NATURAL PLAYSCAPE, Urbandale, Iowa

Parks, Recreation & Open Space Design - MERIT AWARD

Confluence, Inc. This project represents a massive investment in building a stronger sense of community in Downtown Fargo. As part of the large Block 19 mixed-use development containing ground floor retail/restaurants, anew signature hotel, and upper floors of condominiums and office space, Broadway Square provides a signature flexible destination space for the public to enjoy located directly in the heart of the Downtown District.

This project transformed an existing surface parking lot and small pedestrian plaza space into a large public plaza featuring hardscape and landscape amenities that appeal to those working, visiting and living in Downtown Fargo. The plaza features extensive site furnishings and seating options, a fountain element for the summer months, and a large plaza space with a stage structure and integrated lighting, sound and electrical service to allow the plaza to host numerous festivals and events of all shapes and sizes.

This space has quickly become the "go to” spot for locals wanting to enjoy Downtown’s atmosphere and offerings and is the spot residents take their friends to brag about what’s new and happening in their community. It’s also become home to a signature outdoor ice skating rink in the winter months, which extends these and appeal of the space as a year-round destination.

The team of Landscape Architects led a multi-disciplinary team to design and implement Broadway Square. This included managing the design and coordination efforts with that of the adjacent building design team, while also engaging the City of Fargo during the design process to work through logistics of various events, infrastructure needs, and streetscape elements that blend this project into the surrounding downtown context.

The community has quickly adopted this space as Downtown's front yard, and a series of programmed events is held throughout the year to activate the space and drive additional attendance and economic development in the surrounding blocks of downtown. Events include musical performances, ice skating lessons and hockey tournaments, summer yard games throughout the space, areas for food trucks to support weekday lunchtime and weekend events, and a variety of festivals and community gatherings.

This project has also highlighted the importance of landscape architecture’s contribution to making Downtown Fargo a cool place to hang out and enjoy time with friends and family. It has revitalized the heart of the Downtown District and catalyzed additional investment in revitalizing several nearby storefronts and buildings.

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BROADWAY SQUARE, Fargo, North Dakota

Parks, Recreation & Open Space Design - MERIT AWARD

Ecological Design Group COLER is a holistic environment for everyone in today’s quickly developing world. This spring-fed valley became a homestead during the early 20th century. With the introduction of cattle damming, the creek created a pond. This pushed the native ecosystem to the fringes of the valley, not accessible for grazing. Development was inevitable, and a delicate transformation was necessary. This transformation would need to allow visitors while preserving and restoring its original ecology. A trail acts like a ribbon on the valley floor transporting the public while seamlessly interacting with the stream. From stream restoration practices to ecological restoration of the meadows, all life in COLER intertwines in a harmonious way.

COLER is encompassed by a pristine 500-acre valley within the Ozark Mountain ecoregion just west of downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. An area of Northwest Arkansas that has seen incredible growth over the past handful of years.

In the wake of that growth, urbanization has also begun to consume one of Arkansas’ most beautiful regions. The development of COLER has played a considerable role in balancing this process by creating a natural place for people to enjoy just a mile outside of the city of Bentonville.

Our team conceptualized a system of multi-purpose and mountain bike trails that are expertly woven through the landscape, floating like a ribbon in the woods. These trails cross the stream six separate times in order to preserve the natural landscape while simultaneously immersing the visitors in the environment that seeks to embrace them. The Landscape Architect was responsible for orchestrating the narrative and crafting the design strategy for combing the public, incorporating mountain bike trails, and preservation of the ecology of the system.

The Landscape Architect prepared construction drawings and performed construction administration throughout the entirety of the project. Of course, close collaboration with other design professionals was integral to the success of the project.

Before any work started, we performed an ecological assessment to provide us with a comprehensive list of native plants for restoration purposes. One of the projects we utilized this assessment for was repurposing the cattle pastures into pollinator meadows populated by plants native to that area.

Other notable parts of this project include the 22 campsites that blend into the landscape. With a minimalistic design that differs from other commercial camping, the campsite also has one of the few access points to the café. The Airship at The Homestead is only accessible by using one of the many multi-use or mountain bike trails, with the closest parking lot being less than a mile away.

Finally, the significance of eliminating all vehicular traffic from the park plays an enormous role in the unique nature of this project. This action helps protect and preserve the natural qualities of this valley for future generations.

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COLER, Bentonville, Arkansas

Parks, Recreation & Open Space Design - HONOR AWARD

Iowa State University, Trees Forever & Iowa Department of Transportation The purpose of this statewide planning program is to help rural communities in Iowa create plans to improve walkability, cycling, access for all people, stormwater functions, and ecosystem performance as it relates to transportation infrastructure. Sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation, the program integrates skills and knowledge from landscape architects in public and private practice with support from private nonprofit partners. This team project is led by a public-sector landscape planning office, in cooperation with landscape architects and transportation planners from the public and private sectors. The planning process is structured to lead communities through a decision-making process about transportation system improvements using evidence-based design, public engagement, and facilitated implementation planning. We work with 10 communities a year and have assisted more than 250 communities to date.

Serving communities with populations under 10,000, this transportation planning program provides planning to address critical deficiencies rural transportation system design and construction. Issues facing Iowa’s 850+ rural communities include an aging population, poor infrastructure quality, loss of urban tree canopy, exurban development of schools and other institutions, limited funding from local taxes, and increased impacts of climate change. Because few communities have planning staff, our team provides decision-making support to help towns envision projects.

Implementation relies on the coordinated effort of knowledgeable elected leaders and community volunteers, as well as effective communication and partnerships to secure additional design services and pursue construction activities. In our program, residents are guided through an investigation of landscape patterns and historical development of the town and infrastructure using a story map; a study of user needs using focus groups of varied user types as well as a community survey; an inventory of existing system conditions and future plans; community transportation goal setting; and a design workshop and follow-up dialogues to develop concept plans. We also provide guidance for effective project implementation. Each fall, an annual conference welcomes 10 newly selected communities into the planning process, while communities completing the program present their plans, providing opportunities for peer learning and mentoring.

The program has been substantially revised since 2008 to introduce evidence-based assessments and take advantage of online platforms such as story maps. We found through interviews with participants that the focus groups and

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surveys help to enlighten people about the breadth of user needs and the level of community support for transportation system upgrades and enhancements to improve environmental quality. Local officials have been more willing to invest in projects to enhance access and meet health needs. Because community sentiment tends to be very strong in rural Iowa, understanding these needs and desires has a huge impact on the will to pursue connectivity and access projects. In addition, in post-disaster communities our planning process facilitates communicative decisionmaking about resilience. Our ability to visualize and communicate about how infrastructure, water, and vegetation provide alternatives to traditional, expensive engineering solutions. Our clients have successfully pursued projects such as infiltration trenches, urban reforestation, rain gardens, and roadside conservation to mitigate increased runoff from intense storms.

We also have created a community of rural practitioners over time, as we engage with 3–5 firms per year with each employing 1–3 interns with program funds. Our central planning team employs 7–10 interns every year to develop story maps and conduct focus-group and survey research in client communities. Having the experience and connection to be comfortable in this practice niche has made rural design more accessible to both design firms (connections) and for rural communities who in the absence of the program might otherwise never have a chance to work with landscape architects.

We evaluate whether projects are built after planning by monitoring the media, following up with steering committees, and tracking grant awards to client communities. We have found that more than 98% of communities complete at least one project and more than 50% complete four or more projects. From 1998 to 2021, 31.6% of Parks and Open Space grants from Iowa DNR-Reap funds small-community section went to our projects for a total of $4,864,174. A total of 55.2% of funds awarded by the Iowa Economic Development Authority to towns with under 10,000 people went to our clients from 2001–2021, for a total of $16,149,493. Since 2015, Wellmark Foundation has awarded $2,094,434. In short, our collective effort has empowered communities to make infrastructure and open space improvements, fueled by great evidence, facilitation, and fitting plans.

IOWA’S LIVING ROADWAYS COMMUNITY VISIONING PROGRAM

Transportation Design - MERIT AWARD

Flintlock LAB The South Street Cottages neighborhood in a small infill project in Fayetteville, AR, fully designed and developed by one team. The project is being constructed in multiple small phases, with three of five phases completed to date. The project’s long timeline has allowed for a range of neighborhood advocacy projects. Highlights have included the city’s first approved tactical urbanism project, improving a dangerous intersection adjacent to the project with the design input of the Yvonne Richardson Community Center’s after school kids program. The entitlement process began with a pop-up petting zoo with the Greedy Goats (who had been onsite for the month to clear invasive honeysuckle. Locally made Pedal Pops were given out as a way to estimate attendance and support the neighboring small business.

The neighborhood’s custom street section promotes walkability, neighbor connection between pedestrians and front porches, and slower traffic speeds. Custom street tree plantings are informed by the data yielded from the Bartlett Tree Laboratory Field Testing for urban tree soil options, optimizing a buildable, affordable, low-tech solution. It provides adequate cubic footage of native topsoil for Overcup Oaks, combined with root paths from the tree wells into the adjacent residential landscapes. Elimination of the typical structural soil detail had yielded nearly double the foliage volume of similar street tree plantings elsewhere in the neighborhood.

Each home’s front garden planting is unique and designed within a tight color palette coordinated with the house to provide year-round interest and variety for pedestrians. The site's heavy clay soil presented a challenge to selecting a wide range of low maintenance mostly native plant selections. Evergreen structure is provided throughout the gardens via a mix of native hollies (Foster Holly, American Holly, and Eagleston Holly), magnolias (Little Gem, Alta, and Sweetbay), and junipers (Taylor Juniper and Moonglow Juniper). The formality of the garden designs varies between houses, ranging from hydrangea hedges to a perennial and tallgrass mixed bed. Turfgrass is used extremely sparingly, with side yards provided with large native gravel for stormwater storage and filtration that can withstand the wear and tear of pets in small urban yards. The 1.5-acre site is designed to mitigate a steep existing slope (18% across the site) with a series of terraced spaces among the homes. A central spine new alley allows rear loading of all the units to preserve the street frontage for front porches and pedestrians.

This project shows the potential for more intentional and elegant landscape design as a value add to spec development at a range of price points. The high-performance landscape elevates the beauty and functionality of the public realm of the project, with an equal focus of design attention to neighbors’ enjoyment and comfort in the streetscape as to residents’ use of the spaces themselves.

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SOUTH STREET COTTAGES, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Residential Development Design – MERIT AWARD

Kimball Erdman & Jordan Cook Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas, Megan Suzann Reed, National Center for Preservation, Technology & Training The roots of Magnolia Plantation trace to a French land grant received on the Red River by Jean Baptiste LeComte I in 1753.

Initially, tobacco was the property’s principal crop, but technological advances such as the cotton gin in 1793 (for seed removal) and the screw press in 1801 (for baling) soon led to a boom in cotton production in the region. Shrewd decisions by LeComte family members led to their prominence in the area’s labor-intensive cotton industry, fueled by a rapidly expanding enslaved workforce. Magnolia Plantation, established in 1835, was one of several plantations owned by Ambrose LeComte II, greatgrandson of Jean Baptiste. Ambrose II’s unrivaled financial success came at the expense of the largest enslaved labor force in Natchitoches Parish. In 1852 Ambrose II gifted a 40% share in Magnolia to his daughter Atala and her new husband, Matthew Hertzog. A survey conducted in 1858 depicts numerous structures within Magnolia’s core, including the main house with a treelined allée, 24 two-room slave cabins, slave hospital, smith shop, cook’s house, two stables, two mills, pigeon house, gin barn, and baled cotton barn, among others. While most of Magnolia’s fields were devoted to cotton, about one-third of the acreage under cultivation was planted in corn. Corn was not a market crop but, along with hay, was used to support plantation operations.

Sweet potatoes, cowpeas, beans, and sugar cane likely supplemented the corn. Ambrose II also raised livestock, most notably racehorses, but also cattle and hogs, along with oxen and mules for use in plantation operations.

Although the Civil War(1861-1865) ushered in the end of slavery and resulted in the destruction of the original main house, cotton farming continued at Magnolia Plantation with the aid of sharecroppers, tenant farmers, and day laborers, many of whom had formerly been enslaved. During this time the Magnolia Plantation Store was built and became a hub of social activity in the area.

Following Ambrose II’s death in 1883,Atala and Matthew acquired most of the rest of Magnolia’s land, equipment, and livestock.

In the 1890s, the couple rebuilt the main house and installed a new gin in the gin barn. Theirs on Ambrose Hertzog assumed ownership and operation of the plantation after Matthew’s death in 1903.

The 20th century brought a host of challenges and a crescendo of change to Magnolia Plantation. A brief cotton boom created by World War I was quickly offset by agricultural depression. In the 1920’s compounded by a boll weevil infestation affecting all American cotton farms and followed by the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Black Americans from the rural

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South seeking financial opportunity and relief from racial prejudice began immigrating to northern and western cities, initiating a population shift that became known as the Great Migration. Magnolia Plantation continued operations through these changing times under the direction of Ambrose until he died in 1921 and then under his son Matthew Hertzog II. Advancements in agricultural mechanization offset the shrinking labor force, and 1930’s New Deal policies and programs helped Magnolia Plantation continue producing cotton, corn, hay, cattle, mules, and even racehorses. Out-migration and mechanization continued in the 1950s, resulting in the departure of most sharecropper families at Magnolia. The last family living in a former slave cabin moved out in the 1970s. Following Matthew II’s death in 1973, the Hertzog family transferred the land containing the store, slave quarters, and gin barn to Museum Contents Inc. in 1976. The overseer’s house, blacksmith shop, and pigeonnier were also included in the transfer, but the land they stood on was not; the museum planned to move these structures to the property they had received. This plan was not carried out, and in 1993 this land was also gifted to Museum Concents Inc. All of the museum’s holdings except the parcel containing the store were transferred again in 1996 to Cane River Creole National Historical Park (CARI).

The store followed in 1998. In 2018 the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development closed LA-119 at the store due to a partial collapse of the Cane River Lake embankment. In August 2020, Hurricane Laura destroyed several trees at Magnolia, emphasizing the need to document the landscape more thoroughly.

The 2006 and 2021 Magnolia Cultural Landscape Reports (CLR) determined the property was nationally significant based on three criteria defined by the National Register of Historic Places, including Criterion A: Association with events that have made a significant contribution to our history; Criterion C: Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; and Criterion D: Has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to history or prehistory. Criterion A encompasses a broad swath of North American history, from the French and Spanish colonial periods, US antebellum slavery, the Civil War, reconstruction, tenant farming, agricultural industrialization, the Great Migration, and the struggle for Civil Rights.

Criterion C addresses Magnolia Plantation as the epitome of a French Creole cotton plantation in the Red River region. Criterion D relates to the archeological potential of the former slave quarters area in particular, but also the site’s former structures, features, and functions.

HISTORIC AMERICAN LANDSCAPES SURVEY (HALS) CANE RIVER CREOLE NATIONAL PARK, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana

Research: Historic Preservation - MERIT AWARD

Arbolope Studio The City of St. Louis has a serious vacancy challenge, with nearly 25,000 vacant and abandoned properties. Since 1950 the City has experienced a 63% decline in population, resulting in one of the highest rates of vacancy in the nation.

While many associate vacancy with empty buildings, in fact most of St. Louis’ vacant properties (57%) are vacant lots—open parcels of land that usher in their own host of problems for nearby residents. When vacant lots are abandoned or poorly maintained, they attract illegal dumping and violent crime, suppress community pride, and place added burdens on City departments and nearby residents.

The Vacancy to Vibrancy Guide was created by more than a dozen contributors as a joint project of the Vacancy Collaborative, Green City Coalition (City of St. Louis, Missouri Department of Conservation, Metropolitan Sewer District’s Project Clear, and the St. Louis Development Corporation), and the Landscape Architect (LA), as a tool for neighbors and community organizations who might be interested in revitalizing a vacant lot in the City of St. Louis. While each vacant property presents an opportunity for community-led reinvestment, even small investments can feel as difficult to navigate as large-scale developments. Using this Guide, neighbors can make informed plans, and weigh the potential of a project against the reality of any additional burdens—from the investment of people’s time and energy to property acquisition and ownership. The Guide contains project descriptions, sample site plans, budget suggestions, worksheets, lists of tools, local resources—everything needed to hit the ground running with a successful revitalization project.

The prevalence of vacant and abandoned properties today can represent a significant opportunity to equitably reinvest in the future of our neighborhoods. Site improvement projects can be relatively cost-effective and quick interventions that provide a variety of social, environmental, and economic benefits. Moreover, site improvement projects are adaptable to individual budgets, capacity, and level of experience. Increased access to green spaces can reduce stress, anxiety and even crime; prevent illegal dumping; encourage social interactions; increase property values; and improve physical and mental health. Improved green spaces may also help catalyze additional development and increase a community’s ability to withstand the impacts of climate change.

Not only was the Landscape Architect involved in the curation and creation of a number of aspects of this Guide, they also designed the Guide itself, provided copy editing, copywriting, and branding services; as well as creating all of the custom illustrations, icons, and diagrams, designing the layout, providing creative direction and photography services, and finally providing quality control during printing administration.

The Landscape Architect was also responsible for creating all sample planting designs, as well as the appendices, including the Appendix D: Missouri Native Plants.

A comprehensive resource available for download and in print (sized to fit in a pants-back pocket), it is a free resource for everyone. More importantly, it places the initiative and the power to enact real tangible change back in the hands of individuals and communities. Far from advocating against or acting as a replacement for thoughtful landscape architectural design, this guide is part activism and part resource – conveying key site design, construction, and programming ideas in simple and concrete terms as a way to provide communities with access to useful and approachable methods for stabilizing and improving their own neighborhoods without succumbing to external gentrifying forces, or waiting for larger civic improvement projects to garner enough funding or support.

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VACANCY TO VIBRANCY: A COMMUNITY GUIDE TO REVITALIZING ST. LOUIS’ VACANT LOTS, St. Louis, Missouri COMMUNICATION - MERIT AWARD

Jessica Shearman, Cada Fischer, Emily Booth, Brett Paris, Reed Waters, Charles Goodgame, Kobee Wade, Aaron Schlosser, Landyn Green, Hagen Rushing, Dawson Oakley, Noah Geels, Celstene Sebag, Winnie VanLandingham & John Ivy, Students, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas Remediate & Renew: The Campus Resource for Water, Food, and Engagement is located on the campus of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. The redesign of the landscape surrounding the existing building, as well as its existing green roof and two new green roof opportunities, engages two issues related to campus and the region: stormwater mitigation and food insecurity. The current site has few places to intercept stormwater runoff. There are two primary objectives: 1. reduce stormwater runoff through mitigation efforts such as green roofs, rainwater collection, and infiltration, 2. provide opportunities for food production and distribution by designing a food forest on the south lawn and raised beds within the new green roof.

Several secondary but important objectives can be realized through the proposed design: 1. alleviate urban heat island effect by introducing more extensive vegetation on the roof, 2. inhabitable spaces with biophilic benefits, and 3. enriched ecosystem services through planting and water retention.

Design of the south green roof and portions of the south lawn reduces food insecurity in the surrounding community while the entire system works to minimize stormwater runoff on the two buildings.

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Remediate & Renew simultaneously provides solutions for environmental and social issues of the site, campus, and surrounding community. The design implements stormwater catchment basins to reduce runoff, increase infiltration, and irrigate plantings and raised beds. This stormwater is stored in several design elements such as benches, ramps, and cisterns. Native plantings throughout the design encourage infiltration and habitat. Biophilia is seen and experienced from every aspect of the design. Food insecurity is combatted through the design of accessible raised beds on the east roof as well as a food forest on the south lawn. A relationship with campus and community food distribution organization connects the design to its larger context.

The design resulted from a multi-disciplinary collaboration between different schools, professionals, and the City of Fayetteville. The landscape architecture students’ role was to incorporate the social, environmental, and design factors gained from the collaboration into a comprehensive design project. This role also included presenting the design in a way to promote community and campus engagement.

REMEDIATE & RENEW: THE CAMPUS RESOURCE FOR WATER, FOOD, AND ENGAGEMENT, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Analysis & Planning: Student - MERIT AWARD

Oliver Right, Kaiden Couffer & Isaiah Wright, Students, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas The Eureka Springs School of the Arts is located deep within the Ozark mountains in Northwest Arkansas. The school lies 10 minutes west of Eureka Springs and 50minutes east of Bentonville. The school provides classes in woodworking, iron & metals work, clay pottery, and 2D art. They also expect to expand their number of classes by adding new studios in the near future. Because of this sudden expansion, they were looking for an increase in parking as well as new locations for those studios.

The focus of the ESSA Site Revitalization is to reconnect faculty and students through better designed circulation, while utilizing designed outdoor spaces and controlling stormwater runoff. Collaboration and interviews with the Eureka Springs School of the Arts board members introduced key problem areas on the site, and personal ideas about how they see the future of ESSA functioning.

The problems established on site included (1) major erosion issues due to the Ozark’s notable steep terrain, (2) weak establishment of place and poor pedestrian connection, and (3) lack of stormwater management throughout the site.

In order to remediate the issues on site, the design team at the University of Arkansas collaborated closely with board members and one another to gather a comprehensive site inventory and analysis. Historical elements of Eureka Springs were used to inspire designs that spoke to the natural landscape of the Ozarks.

Through the information obtained from site analysis, we were able to produce a comprehensive site design focused on improved circulation and stormwater control.

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AQUATIC ARTISTRY – INTERSECTION OF CREATIVITY AND WATER MANAGEMENT AT THE EUREKA SPRINGS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Analysis & Planning: Student - MERIT AWARD

Crafton Tull VALUE TO CLIENT, PUBLIC & OTHER DESIGNERS Few regionally significant planning projects are conducted, vetted, and see implementation shortly after completion.

Even fewer address both urban and rural challenges that directly improve the quality of life for residents and tourists through grant funding that spurs change in not only in the built environment-, but also communities’ way of thinking.

The U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) is a developing national network of bicycle routes connecting urban and rural communities via signed roads and trails, according to Adventure Cycling, the organization that has aided in the growth of USBRS. The system will eventually encompass 50,000 miles of routes and open new opportunities for cross-country and regional touring, as well as commuting by bike. This system benefits communities by providing new bicycle routes, enhancing safety, and increasing tourism and economic activity. The USBR feasibility study in central and eastern Arkansas was conducted to determine the safest and most interesting route for cycling tourism from North Little Rock to West Mem-phis, which is a crucial piece of USBR 80.

“The designation of USBR 80 from North Little Rock to the Tennessee state line is the first USBR designation in Arkansas and the first segment of USBR 80 designated in the country.” — Rex Vines, ArDOT Deputy Director and Chief Engineer and member of the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering.

QUALITY OF ANALYSIS & PLANNING EFFORT Two potential routes were identified in the Arkansas Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan that was adopted by Ar-DOT in 2017. The USBR80 feasibility study scope included: • • • •

Data collection and base mapping Development of route criteria Identification of stakeholders Development of fieldwork and scoring forms

• • • • •

On-site verification of routes Community Assessments Route evaluations and comparisons Field verification of select route Compiled final report

Both the northern and southern route options were each approximately 160-plus miles. To understand which of the two routes to select, criteria for roadway characteristics and character of the communities along the route needed to be analyzed. Roadway quantitative factors were assessed, such as aver-age daily travel on each route, posted travel speed, shoulder, land and bridge width, topography, connectivity to other routes. Qualitative factors were analyzed during fieldwork, such as pavement condition, truck volume, visibility/safety, roadway lighting and view, as well as sheds and vistas. Community character quantitative factors were assessed such as lodging and camping, food and convenience, -cellular service, distance between communities, urgent care and walk-in clinic locations, and county health rankings. Qualitative factors were analyzed during fieldwork , such as variation of landscape, availability of shade, as well as historical and cultural points of interests near the routes. An online survey for input from the cycling community in Arkansas as well as identified stakeholders was conducted to verify the analysis findings before the route selection was finalized. Once the criteria scoring was tabulated, the 165-milesouthern route was chose.

RELATIONSHIP TO CONTEXT The steering committee worked on implementing the HUB community guidelines, introduced in the statewide bicycle and pedestrian plan, which rates each town’s amenities available to support cycling tourists using a numeric scale.

During the analysis phase of the study, on-site fieldwork helped verify and analyze communities on the USBR 80 route assessing these essential amenities. The goal is to house the HUB community matrix on the Arkansas State Parks website to allow riders traversing the state to plan their stops by each town’s1-4 diamonds rating (Arkansas is known for unique access to diamond mining).Communities, may over time, strive to add or upgrade amenities to improve their

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diamond rating. These upgrades will not only benefit the tourists but have already made direct benefits to the town’s residents.

RELATIONSHIP TO CONTEXT The steering committee worked on implementing the HUB community guidelines, introduced in the statewide bicycle and pedestrian plan, which rates each town’s amenities available to support cycling tourists using a numeric scale.

During the analysis phase of the study, on-site fieldwork helped verify and analyze communities on the USBR 80 route assessing these essential amenities. The goal is to house the HUB community matrix on the Arkansas State Parks website to allow riders traversing the state to plan their stops by each town’s1-4 diamonds rating (Arkansas is known for unique access to diamond mining).Communities, may over time, strive to add or upgrade amenities to improve their diamond rating. These upgrades will not only benefit the tourists but have already made direct benefits to the town’s residents.

ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY & SUSTAINABILITY Health and physical activity has continued to be the focus in the small rural towns along the USBR 80 route since engaging with each town’s leadership during the study. After introducing the need for safe active mobility, access to healthy foods, and availability to urgent healthcare, many of these town have made marked progress to their mobility network through citywide master plans. Additionally, the quality of their downtowns has been improved through grantfunded open space projects. These improvements have connected the community in ways previously unimagined.

ArDOT was alerted to the poor condition of a key bridge discovered during the fieldwork that resulted in moving its replacement up to an immediate phase and added bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. Sustainability for many residents in rural communities can be a foreign concept when not related to agriculture. By showing how the economic health of the town as well as physical health of the residents can be im-proved through upgrades to accommodate a different type of tourists, the importance is soon understood. This also makes the community more sustainable in its ability to maintain and support this improved quality of life over time.

LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION The USBR 80 feasibility study, adopted by ARDOT in November 2022, became Arkansas’ first nationally recognized bicycle route and the first segment of the USBR 80 route that will one day stretch from the coast of North Carolina to Oklahoma City. "This round of designations marks exciting progress for this project. I’m particularly excited to see the first-time designation for Arkansas, a state I called home for many years.” —Jennifer O’Dell, Executive Director of Adventure Cycling This regional feasibility study was a great example of how multiple state agencies working together can have an impact on small Arkansas towns. The partner agencies that collaborate as a steering committee included University of Arkansas Medical Science (grant recipient for study), Arkansas Department of Transportation, Arkansas Department of Heritage Parks and Tourism, and Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Each town and county along the route was required to pass a city resolution to officially acknowledge support of the route. ArDOT reviewed and approved the feasibility study route se-lection then submitted it to Adventure Cycling for approval. That approval was ultimately granted in November 2022.

U.S. BIKE ROUTE 80 FEASIBILITY STUDY, West Memphis to Little Rock, Arkansas

Analysis & Planning - MERIT AWARD

Confluence, Inc. On August 10, 2020, a straight-line windstorm, called a derecho, swept across Iowa and Illinois. The storms highest windspeeds, exceeding 140 MPH, were recorded in Cedar Rapids. The unprecedented damage left very little of the city untouched and devastated the urban tree canopy. Early estimates indicated some 669,000 public and private trees were lost, equating to nearly 70% canopy loss, in a little over one hour as the storm passed through the city. This project’s purpose is to bring it all back.

Within a week of the storm, City leaders initiated a plan to bring back its trees. An interdisciplinary team of landscape architects, city/urban planners, and graphic designers was formed to create a replanting plan and public education tool that is now known as ReLeaf Cedar Rapids. It is presented online and was widely distributed throughout the community in magazine form, full of information about trees, their value, and the benefits they provide to citizens and the community as a whole. The plan identifies best practices for the planting and care of trees, but also challenges conventions in urban forestry, particularly as they relate to localized diversity and tree spacing.

ReLeaf Cedar Rapids is exemplary in several important ways: • It responds to probably the greatest urban storm tree-loss event in modern history.

• It incorporates the latest best practices in urban forestry, attempting to correct some misunderstandings that have proliferated nationwide.

• It leverages tremendous amounts of data and analysis to carefully prioritize replanting in a way that reflects a set of principles defined through public process, including equity and habitat preservation.

• It uses a magazine format, highly engaging graphics, and novelistic writing to reach the widest possible audience.

• It was created through a public/private/nonprofit partnership that led to its quick acceptance and adoption.

• It is extraordinarily ambitious in both the number of trees to be planted and its timeline for doing so.

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Through a massive, and sustained, public outreach campaign, the planning team vetted thirteen foundational principles and based on public feedback, prioritized those principles to guide the planning process and the resulting recommendations of the plan. Much of this during the heart of a global pandemic utilizing both online and masked, inperson, outdoor polling in underserved parts of the community. Of the thirteen foundational principles, the community identified six principles–including habitat preservation, resilience, native landscape, climate action, and social equity–as highest priority. Combined with extensive and deeply researched investigations into best practices–the principles were formalized as the “ReLeaf Rules” to guide the rest of the planning effort.

The plan document follows the establishment of principles with an illustrated primer on What Trees Do, How Trees Work, and Urban Forestry 101, establishing in readers a baseline understanding of the tremendous value of trees as well as urban forestry fundamentals. It then is broken down into five parts: plans addressing All Trees universally, Yard Trees, Institutional Trees, Street Trees, and Park Trees. It then recommends certain counterproductive City ordinances for modification and ends with a chapter on implementation. And this is all included in the magazine component.

To facilitate the City’s public tree replanting efforts, the landscape architect and planning team, using GIS and other digital technologies, developed a year-by-year planting plan for street trees that was incorporated into the City's existing asset management system and that will guide the prioritized replanting of every tree planned. A similar, prioritized, approach was taken with park trees except that the landscape architect also designed and developed replanting plans for 38 of the City’s highest used park properties. Each of the plans included its own prioritized planting recommendations including individual tree locations and species recommendations.

ReLeaf Cedar Rapids – A Plan to Bring Back Our Trees, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Analysis & Planning - MERIT AWARD

Emily Finley & Lillyan Priest , Students, Department of Landscape Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas The Lower Rio Grande/Río Bravo Valley is one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, with a population of 10.4 million people, expected to increase by 175% before 2050. It is also one of the most important ecological zones in the world where more than one billion migratory birds pass through the region each fall, drawing thousands of recreational birdwatchers from across the globe. However, the Valley also faces struggles of social disconnection and ecological fragmentation. To address these challenges, we first studied the region’s history-a fascinating tale of booms and busts, war and peace, poverty and prosperity, belonging and isolation. From that history emerged a physical framework for reconnection, based on historic patterns, which we have named the ‘sutura’ network. We propose the sutura network, with its trails providing physical connection, rows of palms providing visual identity, and social nodes and ecological projects providing opportunities for equitable community access, will heal and reconnect the Lower Rio Grande/Río Bravo Valley region for a healthier and more sustainable future.

In a 1951 Landscape essay, writer and scholar J.B. Jackson makes a compelling claim: “Rivers are meant to bring people together, not keep them apart.” His claim is evidenced throughout history, across time and place, as the magnetic pull of water on human settlement, culture, and development are seen time and time again. The Lower Rio Grande/Río Bravo Valley is no exception. The banks of the Rio Grande have been home to indigenous peoples, Spanish conquistadors, Tejano natives, farmers, ranchers, soldiers, entrepreneurs, travelers, artists, and modern-day inhabitants who spend their lives investing in the place they live–all drawn to the waters of the Rio Grande at the very heart of the Valley. In addition to permanent residents, the population of the Valley increases by over 100,000each winter as thousands of “winter Texans” migrate to the Valley to enjoy warm winter weather, access to inexpensive dental and medical goods and services across the border in Mexico, and seasonal ecotourism activities such as birdwatching and wildlife viewing.

Despite its sustained population growth, the valley faces many long-term challenges. Its ecological systems have disintegrated over a century of subdividing and clearcutting most of the land to prepare it, almost exclusively, for agricultural use. Its social communities and sister cities that developed parallel to one another have been segregated

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across an international border, which happens to be represented by the river. Tall, threatening walls and security structures loom over the landscape on the United States side a few miles in. The region’s heavy economic dependence on agriculture and the water provided by thriver has added significantly to these issues.

This project aims to heal that regional divide by restoring and reconnecting access to the river through historic landscape geometries. ‘Porción’-Spanish for portion-lines form the foundation of many political boundaries throughout the region and so are still visible in town development and lot lines. Palm tree rows represent visual iconography of the Valley as well as were important in delineating agricultural fields apart from each other, the portion lines. In his paintings, locally well-known artist Gabriel Salazar represents palm tree rows, agricultural fields, rivers, resacas, brushlands, and many other landscape features which bring to light the history and culture of the Rio Grande/Río Bravo Valley. We borrow and intervene his paintings to communicate our concept. Restoring these rows with intention, including multiple species of native palm trees, which lead to the river provides an unconscious path for the people of the region to remember its roots at the river, moving toward it visually and physically. Trees are also important for shade in the hot, humid, tropical/temperate local climate so that people of all ages can safely walk, bike, or ride to the river. The river has served as the physical and cultural heart of the Valley since its very founding and must continue to do so. Therefore, the river remains at the heart of the sutura network, connecting each side to the other. Today, the river is highly patrolled, controlled, and over-allocated with few congested bridges connecting its banks; however, it can serve as a connector for its people again. The historical geometries of this place highlight the nature of the river and what its connection to it means.

Networks of social nodes, trails connection, and renaturalization can instill an old vision of the valley as new again. As regeneration happens locally in the cities and spreads through the region, the sutures begin to create larger healing for the region. From McAllen and Reynosa to Brownsville and Matamoros, socially and environmentally these places will once again be connected to the river as it exists in this larger system.

SUTURES OF THE RIO GRANDE / BRAVO: RESTORING ACCESS THROUGH HISTORY & ECOLOGY, Brownsville, Texas & Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Analysis & Planning: Student - HONOR AWARD

O2Design Wolter Woods and Prairies is 160 acres of unglaciated land in northeast Iowa along the Mississippi River Bluff. The client acquired the land to develop an education and research center for environmental science, biology and other natural resources.

The institution’s mission is to integrate science, education, and culture through the exploration of terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including woodlands, prairies, wetlands, waterways, and agriculture. It seeks to engage, inspire, and educate students in collaboration with the local and broader community to promote stewardship and increase the integrity of interconnected human-natural ecosystems.

MASTER PLAN GOALS • Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable Development • Enhance Experience of Unique Natural Resource through Planning and Space Making The master planning efforts start with recognizing and respecting the site’s natural resources and geological patterns.

The plan reserves majority of the lands for conservation, builds on existing prairie restoration work, and further restores the developed Mississippi River Floodplain to natural wetland and riparian. It prescribes sustainable prairie and forest management practice and sets up the framework for future sustainable development. Inspired by the unique geological setting of the site with an unmatched panoramic view toward the Mississippi River, the plan strives to enhance natural experience, create sublime natural moments with light design touch and a minimal construction footprint.

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WOLTER WOODS & PRAIRIES, Sherrill, Iowa

Analysis & Planning - HONOR AWARD

Lamar Johnson Collaborative DESIGN INTENT Located in one of the most beloved parks in the City of St. Louis, the Tower Grove Park East Streams project began as a stream daylighting project, but as the design process unfolded, it became much more. Careful design consideration went into every aspect of the project, from hydrology, existing tree canopy, understory planting design, nature play, and equity and inclusion.

DESIGN PROGRAM Restore the historic stream, bridges, and path alignments, and provide new connections to other structures.

Provide an area for recognizing the original history of inhabitants of this area.

Provide a nature exploration area.

Mitigate 100% of Tower Grove Park's stormwater requirements for future park development.

SITE AND CONTEXT INVESTIGATION The east stream, established as part of the original park plan from 1876, once continuously flowed across the park from south to north until the stream was buried in an underground pipe network in the 191Os. The design team utilized the information gathered on the historic alignment as a guide for the layout of the new stream. The new stream closely mimics the historic alignment and works to incorporate existing conditions, including bridge crossings, pathways, mature trees, landscape, and existing infrastructure. The more than 12-acre project site has many mature trees, most notably Bald Cypress, Sweet Gum, Oaks, and Elms.

MATERIALS & INSTALLATION METHODS Materials played an integral role in the design and construction of the East Streams restoration. A large amount of reclaimed historic park materials were integrated into the project. Granite curbs and reclaimed limestone became the Osage Village. Salvaged granite building components and stone blocks from decommissioned stormwater tunnels became spillways and bank reinforcement.

In addition to these and several other instances, new materials used on the project were carefully selected to match the historic palette of the park, while special care was taken to integrate them in ways that clearly distinguished the historic elements of the park from modern construction. Material palettes and detailing was carefully coordinated with the National Park Service to ensure the historic status of the park was respected. During construction it was imperative that the historic structures and existing trees within the park were protected. The design team consulted with History Restoration Architects to integrate modern infrastructure with the historic bridge crossings. The contractor, park staff and design team were closely coordinated throughout the construction period to address any issues that arose during the project, such as the discovery of stone drainage tunnels that were previously undocumented.

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND CONCERNS Environmental impact is the primary driver of the East Stream restoration. Utilizing public park space to treat over 40 acres of stormwater runoff and the tributary sewer system from the adjacent neighborhood, the project increased water quality and mitigates flooding down stream. Furthermore, the project is used an outdoor classroom to educate on the historic ecosystems of Missouri, and the impacts of natural systems on our environment. The project is being used as a demonstration to determine the impact of urban environments on native plant materials, leveraging native prairies within the region where seed was collected for the plantings as the control.

COLLABORATION WITH THE CLIENT & OTHER DESIGNERS The Landscape Architect served as the prime consultant on the design of the East Stream Restoration, leading a dynamic team of environmental engineers, civil engineers, historical architects, cultural consultants, and artists. In addition to the design team, the National Park Service, Missouri Department of Conservation, The Osage Nation, and the St Louis Metropolitan Sewer District, joined the Tower Grove Park team as key stakeholders involved in the design and implementation process.

SPECIAL FACTORS Tower Grove Park is one of seven National Historic Landmark Parks. This designation is under the purview of the National Park Service (NPS). As such, the design team collaborated with historians from NPS to maintain the integrity and historical significance of the park while achieving the modern goals set out by the stream restoration process. The unique opportunity to create resilient stormwater infrastructure independently of development but rather because it is the right thing to do, is a testament to the park and community. The integration of such an impactful project in the heart of a civic treasure in St Louis has brought resilient design, equitable design, and ecology to the forefront.

Landscape Architecture has taken a large stage with this project exposing the profession to a large and diverse transect of the city and visitors to the park.

TOWER GROVE PARK EAST STREAM RESTORATION, St. Louis, Missouri

Parks, Recreation & Open Space Design - AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Arbolope Studio The Missouri Botanical Garden is the United States’ oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and a global leader in plant science research. Entering a new era, the Garden engaged a collaborative team to design a new visitor center– the primary gateway for more than one million annual visitors. Within the new Visitor Center is the Sassafras Cafe, the Garden’s main eatery. To amplify the Garden’s emphasis on species diversity, the Garden’s Horticultural department commissioned the Landscape Architect (LA) to design a suite of permanent artworks for display in the Cafe, simultaneously providing an inspiring backdrop for visitors and showcasing the Garden’s history, research, and collections. This dual role - to inspire and educate - became the core mission of the project. It was determined that the most effective way to produce this artwork while still allowing for selective translucency, would be to encase plant specimens within a series of glass and resin panels. These panels could then be used as room dividers within the Cafe interior. The Garden Horticultural Staff was tasked with collecting and drying plant specimens from across the Garden, which the LA then used, along with digital scans from the Garden's Herbarium, to create a suite of 9 panel tableaus.

Each panel graphically interprets a specific research theme or garden typology. A speciality fabricator then used a proprietary process to fuse and encase the plants and prints within the resin and glass.

TREE DIVERSITY Organizing leaves from a number of rare and native deciduous trees into horizontal organized strata to form a gradation of color from green to gold to brown to red, this panel explores both the cyclical quality of color change in a deciduous forest, as well as the long-term formation of soil within a layered forest floor.

THE HERB GARDEN Referencing the symmetrical geometries of a traditional English walled herb garden, the dried specimens of various herbs and edible plants are organized in a patterned, planometric style, highlighting the formal arrangement of species in relation to each other and creating a composition that is graphic yet spatial.

RARE PLANTS Utilizing flowers and leaves from rare plants throughout the Garden’s active greenhouses, this panel was designed to evoke a sense of wonder and discovery - reminiscent of the feeling scientists might get working in the field. The layout is designed to perspectivally place the viewer at the center of a rich, dense and wild ecosystem.

WILD CROP RELATIVES Taking advantage of tall stalks and thin leaves, this panel was designed to celebrate the height, vertically, and density of grasses and cereals, and evoke a sense of walking through a field or prairie.

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SEED DIVERSITY This panel, which took over 3 months to complete, features large fractal-inspired forms made up of over 5,000 individually placed swirling seeds. The result is a gestural, almost painterly artwork, evoking the way that wind can disperse and carry seeds across the landscape.

THE HERBARIUM Herbarium Specimens are used in a number of key ways at the Garden, most notably, they represent the official “Type Catalog”, or record of plants as they are discovered, collected and named. The paper backgrounds that the specimens were taped to were digitally removed, with care taken to retain tape and other connective visual elements, stamps, and handwritten notes. Visitors standing in front of this panel get a uniquely immersive view of historic plant specimens from research areas around the globe.

MISSOURI GRAPEVINE TRIPTYCH The Garden played a central role in the use of Missouri grapevine rootstock to save the French wine industry. This panel was created by stitching together hi-res scans of Herbarium grapevine specimens, forming a vineyard garden layout. Underneath the specimen images are frosted reproductions of historic woodcuts depicting the harvesting of grapes. Together, the specimens and woodcuts allude to the story of winemaking in America's oldest certified “Viticultural Area”. Unique in its use of art to facilitate science communication, the Specimen Panels at the Missouri Botanical Garden are already a visitor favorite, due in large part to their ability to function as art, science, education and communication at different distances. Passersby see patterns of color, texture and herbaceous shapes, while those sitting at the cafe booths or standing in line to order can see the venation of the leaves and read the informational placards underneath each panel. In this way, the panels mirror the experience of visiting the Garden (and other landscape architectural spaces) – providing curated layers of experience and embedded meaning and fostering an appreciation for our broader ecosystem and environment.

JACK C. TAYLOR VISITOR CENTER SPECIMEN PANELS MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN, St. Louis, Missouri Communication - AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Many thanks to our 2023 Awards Sponsors!

Prepared by the Arkansas Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects 2023