Olmsted Network

Olmsted Network Parks. Places. People. Its concern is the legacy of landscape work left by Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. and the firm continued by his sons.

The National Association for Olmsted Parks (NAOP), established in 1980, is a coalition of design and preservation professionals, historic property and park managers, scholars, municipal officials, citizen activists, and representatives of numerous Olmsted organizations around the United States. For more than 30 years, NAOP has raised awareness of the importance of the Olmsted legacy among public o

fficials, community leaders, landscape design professionals, and academics. NAOP encourages scholarship, publishes key reference materials, supports local park restoration, and provides technical assistance to preservation efforts. The Olmsted legacy needs a strong national advocate. Historic parks and landscapes around the country face multiple threats from development pressure, shrinking municipal budgets, and lack of understanding about the breadth and importance of the Olmsted-designed landscapes. NAOP is the only national organization solely dedicated to preserving the Olmsted legacy by providing the advocacy, research, and education needed to protect, restore, and maintain these exemplary parks and landscapes.

2022 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Olmsted, social reformer and founder of American landscape architecture. Please join us, partners, friends and the public as we explore Olmsted's living legacy through Olmsted 200. Visit www.olmsted200.org to learn more.

In May, Olmsted Network President Sue Breitkopf and Senior Director of Programs & Partnerships Victoria Vanhuss traveled...
06/03/2026

In May, Olmsted Network President Sue Breitkopf and Senior Director of Programs & Partnerships Victoria Vanhuss traveled across seven cities in four states, from wildfire-impacted neighborhoods in Southern California to historic parklands in Boston and large-scale civic projects in Chicago.

These visits teach us that Olmsted’s landscapes are never finished stories. They burn, erode, and face pressures that no amount of good design can anticipate, and they need people willing to show up to protect them.

Read more in our latest "ON on the Move" blog: https://ow.ly/mpy650Z76aR

One week from today: Join us for a special webinar with landscape architect Daniel Chartier, exploring the rich history ...
06/02/2026

One week from today: Join us for a special webinar with landscape architect Daniel Chartier, exploring the rich history and vibrant legacy of Mount Royal Park!

Register for free at our website: https://ow.ly/b6VI50Z6G1Z

Last week, the Olmsted Network joined a coalition of leading preservation, cultural landscape, and design organizations ...
06/01/2026

Last week, the Olmsted Network joined a coalition of leading preservation, cultural landscape, and design organizations in signing onto the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s legal efforts to protect the integrity of the White House grounds in response to the proposed ballroom construction.

At the same time, we remain deeply concerned about broader threats facing other nationally significant civic landscapes, including changes to the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall and viewshed disruptions at the Lincoln Memorial in light of the proposed triumphal arch. Decisions made in Washington’s civic core establish precedents for how public landscapes across the country are valued, altered, and protected.

As an organization rooted in the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted—who understood public landscapes as essential to civic life and public well-being—we believe stewardship of these places carries profound national responsibility. Preserving them means protecting not only physical spaces but also the visible expression of our shared history and democratic values.

Read our full statement at our website: https://ow.ly/p1sJ50Z69Xu

American Society of Landscape Architects
Association for Preservation Technology
The Coalition to Protect Americas National Parks
Committee of 100 on the Federal City
The Cultural Landscape Foundation
DC Preservation League
National Mall Coalition
National Preservation Partners Network
Society of Architectural Historians

It’s been one year since Sue Breitkopf joined the Olmsted Network as its latest President, and she’s been keeping busy e...
05/27/2026

It’s been one year since Sue Breitkopf joined the Olmsted Network as its latest President, and she’s been keeping busy ever since!

From stewarding long-term supporters across the country, to advocating for countless threatened Olmsted landscapes, to shaping our next strategic plan, we’re grateful for her leadership advancing the Olmsted legacy. Thank you, Sue!

  in 1850, Frederick Law Olmsted visited Birkenhead Park—Britain's first park designed specifically for the whole public...
05/27/2026

in 1850, Frederick Law Olmsted visited Birkenhead Park—Britain's first park designed specifically for the whole public, supported by public funds for the free enjoyment of all people. Olmsted's future career and design philosophy were profoundly impacted by this visit to what he dubbed "The People's Garden."

Read more about about Olmsted's trip to Birkenhead in this blog by Marie Le Devehat of the Wirral Council, which oversees Birkenhead Park: https://ow.ly/GUgl50Z4Hfs

Missed last week's "Conversations with Olmsted" webinar? Watch the full recording on YouTube!Head to our channel for the...
05/26/2026

Missed last week's "Conversations with Olmsted" webinar? Watch the full recording on YouTube!

Head to our channel for the full conversation between Ian Scherling of Sasaki, Dr. Aretha Fuqua of West Louisville Tennis Club, Inc., Dr. fari nzinga of the Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Erinn McGurn of Smith College, and David Price of Bok Tower Gardens: https://ow.ly/xbEc50Z2set

Don't forget: Early-bird discount rates for our 2026 Annual Conference end one week from today on June 1!You won't want ...
05/25/2026

Don't forget: Early-bird discount rates for our 2026 Annual Conference end one week from today on June 1!

You won't want to miss this year's conference—set against the backdrop of Portland’s renowned park system and enduring Olmsted legacy. Secure discounted rates, register for first-come, first-served park tours, and reserve your ticket for our three-day conference experience today: https://ow.ly/JGOS50Z2rUO

  in 1876, Montreal's Olmsted-designed Mount Royal Park was officially opened to the public! For 150 years, the mountain...
05/24/2026

in 1876, Montreal's Olmsted-designed Mount Royal Park was officially opened to the public! For 150 years, the mountain has remained one of the city's most beloved features, and Olmsted's vision and design intent can still be felt today.

Learn more about Mount Royal's past, present, and future in our upcoming webinar on June 9, featuring landscape architect Daniel Chartier. Register: https://ow.ly/CozB50Z2pYX

ICYMI: the Olmsted Trail is a powerful new way to discover just how much Olmsted spaces have shaped our world today. Exp...
05/22/2026

ICYMI: the Olmsted Trail is a powerful new way to discover just how much Olmsted spaces have shaped our world today.

Explore the interactive map—featuring over 6,000 Olmsted projects—packed with photos, historic documents, original plans, and more that tell the story of how these landscapes connect us!

Explore today at our website: https://olmsted.org/olmsted-trail/

From fire-affected hillsides to coastal bluffs, Victoria Vanhuss, our Sr. Director of Programs & Partnerships, spent las...
05/21/2026

From fire-affected hillsides to coastal bluffs, Victoria Vanhuss, our Sr. Director of Programs & Partnerships, spent last week on the ground across Southern California—from San Diego to Santa Monica—listening, connecting, and making the case for why Olmsted landscapes need friends now more than ever.

The centerpiece of the trip was Palos Verdes Estates, the largest Olmsted-designed community in the country, where she presented to residents, met with city council members, and toured Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.’s own home—a property that has been impacted by the area's coastal erosion.

More insights from Victoria’s trip to come in our June 1 newsletter. Subscribe here: https://olmsted.org/subscribe/

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