Thanks to everyone who attended our Annual Meeting at the end of September. The revised format of holding the event at a venue designed by a local Landscape Architect seemed to be a success, and we will most likely continue with a similar format next year. Big thanks to PJ Novick and Hank Moyers for sharing insight into the work they had done at Lake Olathe, it was a great setting for gathering with other chapter members!

Hopefully many of you are attending this year’s national conference in Minneapolis! Great to see the Midwest hosting the event again, and always fun to reconnect with old classmates and acquaintances. The Prairie Gateway and St. Louis ASLA Chapters are hosting a joint happy hour in Minneapolis on October 27 from 4-7pm. Check below for more info!

GO GREEN! Spread the word about Landscape Architecture and the Prairie Gateway ASLA Chapter by wearing one of the t-shirts designed by chapter member Scott Stefanc, winner of the recent t-shirt competition. Proceeds will support our Landscape Architecture initiatives in education and advocacy. Use this link to purchase a 2023 PGASLA shirt for $20:  https://forms.office.com/r/YCjdNnyp4g

If you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity to spread the word about the Landscape Architecture profession to students in Kansas City, tentatively mark your calendars for November 9. Northland CAPS students will be working on a site design project and are seeking Landscape Architects to meet with them to discuss their proposals. Details are being finalized, but the time commitment would be 1-2 hours. If interested, reach out to me at sean.ray@kimley-horn.com.

As we make the transition to our new PGASLA Executive Committee, I want to thank everyone for a great 2023. We tried a few new event formats and have been ramping up the number of educational LINKS sessions and happy hours, and hope to continue that momentum into 2024! We are in discussion with the St. Louis Chapter about ways to increase our advocacy efforts across Missouri, and we will continue to promote Landscape Architecture in Kansas.  We are excited to host ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen during next year’s KC Design Week.  Also, early next year we will be developing a chapter strategic plan to help guide Prairie Gateway for the next decade, and we hope all members can find a way to help with feedback and guidance as the plan is developed.  I’m excited to see what great things next year brings!

Until next time,

Sean Ray, PLA, ASLA

PGASLA President

Please join us for a joint happy hour while attending the National ASLA Conference in Minneapolis! STL ASLA and PGASLA members are invited to this free event. At The Local Restaurant, we have the Wilde’s Corner room reserved for our group.

Where: The Local, 931 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402

When: Friday, October 27th from 4-7pm

Questions? Contact Jackie Dietz (PGASLA) at jackie.dietz@forms-surfaces.com or Chris Moon (STL ASLA) at chrism@hydrodramatics.com.

October 27 | 4:00-7:00pm

The Local

More Details >

High school students at Northland CAPS are working on a project at the Platte County Courthouse, and seeking PGASLA member input on their designs. Project entails renovating the green spaces on the front side of the courthouse. Each project group has varied focuses to consider but will essentially come up with ideas to create a renewed green space that incorporates landscaping, seating, weather protection, lighting, and community style hosted events, etc. Students are preparing for a presentation to the Platte Co. Commissioner, Mr. Vanover, and his team. PGASLA volunteers are asked to provide feedback on project work completed so far, where to go from there, and any resources that may be helpful to gain better understanding of industry standards or norms that should be implemented.

Interested in volunteering? Please reach out to Jackie Dietz at jackie.dietz@forms-surfaces.com. 

November 9 | Morning Session - 9:00-10:00am | Afternoon Session - 1:30-2:30pm

Campione Interior Solutions: 103 W 26th Ave, Kansas City, MO 64116

Brian D Roth, Chapter Trustee

October 2023

I am writing this month’s trustee report as I’m attending the national Board of Trustee meetings prior to this year’s Conference on Landscape Architecture in Minneapolis. I’m always inspired to attend these meetings and hear all the updates from ASLA national staff and executive committee. I hope many of you will by the time you read this, will have taken the opportunity to attend the conference in Minneapolis. 

If you are interested in what ASLA national has been up too this past month and what opportunities ASLA is offering, please visit FULL TRUSTEE REPORT

Highlights:

• West Virginia University’s undergraduate landscape architecture program was saved from being cut through an appeals process thanks to the ASLA community support. WVU’s undergraduate and graduate landscape architecture programs were both recommended to be discontinued as part of university-wide cuts to remedy a $45 million budget shortfall. Thanks to the support of WVU alumni, local WVASLA members, and ASLA members across the country, the landscape architecture program was able to make a strong case for retaining the BSLA program while discontinuing the MLA program.  
• Government Affairs organized a committee to select the second cohort for the Women of Color Licensure Advancement Program. The program aims to increase racial and gender diversity within the profession and was inspired by ASLA’s Racial Equity Plan of Action. The program will provide the 10 outstanding women with $3,500 to cover LARE costs, along with exam preparation courses, resources, and mentorship from a licensed landscape architect.  
• President Emily O’Mahoney, FASLA, visited the faculty and students at the University of Georgia’s College of Environment and Design earlier this month.  
• CEO Torey Carter-Conneens delivered the keynote for the Oklahoma Chapter Annual Conference on September 15.