Editor’s Note
We hope everyone is having an eventful and exciting summer! Please enjoy the latest update from the executive committee about what the chapter has been up to.
We welcome any feedback to continually improve the newsletter, and you can submit your own articles to address membership directly!
Inquiries can be made via email to: ia-asla@assocserv.com
Happy Reading!
John Aceto, PLA, ASLA Iowa ASLA Secretary
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
HelloGarret munch president shive-hattery
Iowa ASLA Chapter Members! It’s hard to believe it’s already almost July, and I am over halfway through my term as Iowa Chapter President. We have had a great year so far, with many of our events seeing strong partner support and membership turnout. We hope you’ve enjoyed everything as much as we have. As we head into the heart of our summer and fall programming, I wanted to take this time to remind members of the exciting things our Executive Committee has been working hard to plan.
Call for Awards Is Now Open!
In conjunction with the Fall Awards Gala, we’re pleased to announce the official Call for Entries for the 2025 Iowa ASLA Awards Program. As in previous years, Professional and Student Award Winners will be honored during the gala on September 25.
Based on feedback and experience from past years, we’ve made a few important adjustments to the schedule. The Call for Entries is being released a bit earlier this year, with submission deadlines moved up slightly to allow award winners to be notified three weeks before the event. This gives winners time to plan, invite clients, and ensure they’re included in the celebration—while also helping our planning team finalize the event headcount in advance.
We know this means submitting a bit earlier than usual, but we hope the added time on the back end makes it easier to attend and enjoy the event.
Awards Timeline:
• Registration & Payment Due: July 18, 2025
• Submissions Uploaded: August 1, 2025
• Award Winners Notified: September 2, 2025
• Awards Presented: September 25, 2025, at the Fall Gala
More information, entry guidelines, and submission links are available here: https://www.iaasla.org/call-awards
Mark Your Calendars for the 2025 Fall Event & Awards Gala!
The 2025 Iowa ASLA Fall Event and Awards Gala is just around the corner! This year’s celebration will take place on Thursday,
September 25, 2025, at Mainframe Studios—a vibrant local artist hub in downtown Des Moines. With its creative energy and central location, Mainframe will provide a unique and inspiring setting for our annual gathering.
This year’s theme celebrates the powerful intersection of public art and the built environment. Expanding on last year’s success, we are planning a keynote panel with LACESapproved HSW credit available. We’re working to curate a lineup of inspiring speakers whose work explores how art enhances placemaking and public space design.
More details about the awards gala, speakers, and registration will be posted soon: https://www.iaasla.org/fall-banquet
2025–2026 Executive Committee Ballot Coming Soon
Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations for the 2025–2026 Iowa ASLA Executive Committee! The nomination period officially closed on Friday, June 6, and we’re excited to share that the official ballot will be released soon.
We sincerely appreciate those who took the time to nominate a colleague, as well as the members who have graciously agreed to be listed on the ballot. Your willingness to
support and lead the chapter helps ensure a strong future for Iowa ASLA. Stay tuned for more details as we prepare to open voting in the coming weeks!
Looking Ahead: Strategic Plan Update Coming Spring 2026
Although we still have a lot of exciting things ahead this year, I wanted to put in an early plug to the membership for the Iowa ASLA Chapter’s Strategic Planning Session in Spring 2026. This effort will mark the first major update to our chapter’s strategic plan since 2018–2019.
While our past plan has provided a solid foundation, we know that our profession—and the needs of our members—have continued to evolve. As the world continues to change and with many factors continuously challenging our profession, we believe it’s time to take a fresh look at our goals, our programs, and how we serve landscape architects across the state.
As I transition from current President into Past President, I’ll be helping lead a strategic planning committee. We’ll be reaching out toward the end of the year to invite members who are interested in contributing to the strategic planning process. Whether you’re a long-time chapter member or new to ASLA, we welcome your perspective and your passion
for shaping the future of our organization.
As a reminder, here’s the mission statement and the four key initiatives that have guided our chapter over the past several years:
Iowa ASLA Mission Statement
The purpose of the Chapter shall be the advancement of knowledge, education, and skill in the art and science of landscape architecture as an instrument of service in public welfare. To this end, the Chapter shall promote the profession of landscape architecture and advance the practice through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship.
Current Strategic Focus Areas Committees: Advocacy & Awareness Committees: Public Awareness, Advocacy
• Promote the value of landscape architecture in Iowa.
• Advocate at the local, state, and federal levels.
Member Services & Support Committees: Emerging Professionals, Member Services, National Recognition
• Provide networking and educational opportunities
• Recognize member achievements
• Engage and grow our membership
Shaping the Future of the Profession Committees: Future of the Profession
• Support ISU students and emerging professionals
• Expand pathways into the profession Governance & Management Committees: Nominating
• Support volunteer leadership
• Strengthen internal operations and resource management
We’ll share more details about how you can get involved in the 2026 planning session after the National Conference in New Orleans, October 10–13, 2025. The strategic planning process is a great opportunity to get involved outside of the Executive Committee and help set the direction of the chapter—ensuring our work remains relevant, inclusive, and impactful. If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, keep an eye out for the call to participate—or feel free to reach out to us
directly to express interest!
As I close, I just want to thank my Executive Committee for all the hard work and effort they’ve put in throughout the year. As many of our members who have served on the Ex Comm know, it takes a commitment to balance our Iowa ASLA roles and our everyday jobs, and I truly appreciate the dedication this group has shown—this year and throughout the time I’ve been involved. Keep up the great work!
Cheers, Garret Munch, PLA, ASLA Iowa ASLA President
SUMMER SOCIAL 2025
Come Join us July 31st !
TopGolf
7680 Coachlight Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50266
4:00pm to 7:00pm
$25 for ASLA members
$35 for non-ASLA members
$20 for students
Payment & Registration will be due July 15th
Tickets
Thank
capping off the SCHOOL YEAR from the department of landscape architecture
carl rogers department chair, landscape architecture iowa state university
Greetings IA-ASLA Chapter members! We wrapped up another academic year here at Iowa State University in early May. I’m pleased to share several exciting updates from our Department of Landscape Architecture.
First, we are thrilled to welcome Assistant Professor Adina Cox to our faculty. Adina has been at ISU since 2021 as an Assistant Professor of Teaching, and we are excited to move her to a tenure-track position starting in August. Her hire marks an important step forward as we continue to grow our program and expand our impact across Iowa and beyond. Her expertise and enthusiasm will bring fresh perspectives into our studios, classrooms, and community engagement efforts.
We also have great news to share about our students’ achievements. This year, our department celebrated four ASLA Student Award recipients—three at the
undergraduate level and one at the graduate level. BLA graduates Nolan Hovland and Caeley Raede received Honor Awards, and Jenna Roeth received a Merit Award. At the graduate level, MLA graduate Naheyan Islam received an Honor Award for her graduate student achievements. All of the awards are a testament to the creativity, hard work, and critical thinking our students bring to their design work. Caeley Reade was also honored with the ASLA President’s Medal, a rare and meaningful recognition of leadership and service.
Additionally, we are proud to announce that this year’s Jon F. Crose Scholarship was awarded to Nolan Hovland. This award, created in memory of Jon Crose and his lasting contributions to the field of landscape architecture in Iowa, honors a student who exemplifies academic excellence, design talent, and a passion for the profession.
These moments remind us of the vital role landscape architecture plays in shaping our communities—and of the bright future ahead, led by the next generation of professionals. As faculty and students take a break from ISU over the summer, we look forward to August and their return, as well as all the new faces as we welcome the incoming first-year students.
Wishing all of you a relaxing and restorative summer. Thank you for your continued support of our students, alumni, and department.
Go Cyclones!
Sincerely,
Carl Rogers Chair, Department of Landscape Architecture Iowa State University
CALENDAR YEAR UPDATE:
LOOKING AHEAD WITH NATIONAL
MADISON DIERKS
president-elect confluence
In addition to all the chapter offerings, National ASLA has a lot of events and continuing education opportunities on the horizon. I can’t promise this is a list of everything, but here is a list of things on our radar:
June 17th | New Webinar Series: Making the Economic Case for LA - Free for members, $50 for non-members - First webinar available, more webinars to come:
https://learn.asla.org/products/makingthe-economic-case-for-landscapearchitecture#tab-product_tab_content
July 9th | ASLA CLARB Licensure Web Summit Virtual 3:00pm EST
July 17th | Deadline for National ASLA Committee Application Due More Information: https://www.asla.org/volunteerservice. aspx
July 31st | Emerging Professionals Design Competition Submissions Due o ee event details here: https://www.asla.org/ emergingprofessionalsdesigncompetition/
October 9-10th | Fall Chapter Presidents Council and Board of Trustees Meetings (New Orleans, Louisiana)
October 10-13th | National Conference on Landscape Architecture ASLA 2025 Beyond Boundaries (New Orleans, Louisiana)
October 10th | ASLA’s LARE Prep Workshops In Person and Virtual!
Location: In-person at National ASLA Conference or Virtual. Register for in person: https://www.aslaconference.com/ Register virtually: https://learn.asla.org/
October 11th | LABASH Block Party 2025 90 minute reception at the ASLA EXPO Hall
Spring 2026 | LABash
Location: Ohio State University
Kodah
Fond du Lac
MIDWEST PLAYSCAPES DESIGNING THE FUTURE OF PLAY
For over 30 years, Midwest Playscapes has been designing innovative, inclusive, and sustainable play environments that bring communities together. From local parks and schools to custom destination playgrounds, we create spaces where all kids can thrive.
Now, we’re proud to unveil a refreshed brand identity that reflects our evolution while reaffirming our commitment to community-centered, sustainable play. With a new logo, visual style, and website, the rebrand is rooted in our core values of innovation, inclusion, and environmental stewardship.
Check out our latest project: Turtle Island Playground in Beloit, WI reopens May 30, 2025 — featuring an accessible merry-goround, sensory play panels, and shaded nature-inspired spaces, all shaped by community input.
Discover the new brand and explore our work at midwestplayscapes.com
Turtle Island Playground | Beloit, Wisconsin Grand Reopening: May 30, 2025
“At Midwest Playscapes, we believe play is powerful.” — Andrew Pudwill, President
the typical longest putt to the (slightly unconventional) longest drive off a barstool. We hope to continue making the day something that can be fun and inclusive for everyone no matter what their skill level may be.
Looking ahead to next year’s outing, we hope to continue growing the event back to the grand day it used to be. We are well on our way as the turnout has consistently been going up each year! We are excited for next year and hope everyone will be able to join us once again to make the day another successful one! If you have any comments or ideas you’d like to share about the event, please send them to: excomm@iaasla.org
Thank you to everyone who was able to find the time in their day to join us and to all of our partners and event sponsors for their support in being able to make the day possible!
