From October 23–25, more than 70 park partners from across the country gathered in our nation’s capital for three days of learning, connection and inspiration. Despite the backdrop of a government shutdown and ongoing demolition at the White House, the energy in the room — and the shared commitment to Olmsted parks — never wavered.
Thursday: Welcome & Common Ground
The conference opened with a warm welcome reception at First Congregational UCC. Though the planned Library of Congress visit was cancelled due to the shutdown, attendees made the best of the day — making the evening rich with conversation and camaraderie. Partners swapped stories, compared challenges and found “common ground” in their shared work — tackling issues from privatization pressures to creative collaborations with local zoos.
Friday: Deep Dives, Dialogue & Dedication
Bright and early Friday morning, participants gathered at the American Society of Landscape Architects’ Center for Landscape Architecture in DC’s Chinatown. Following brief remarks from Board Chair William Bell and President Sue Breitkopf, Lauren Meier, FASLA, delivered an insightful keynote, The Olmsted Firm in DC.
Next up, a working session with Anna McCorvey of River East Design Center and 11th Street Bridge Park set the stage for thoughtful discussions on equity and design in public spaces.
After lunch, we geared up for tours. Though shutdown restrictions kept the group from seeing the National Mall as originally planned, Olmsted Network Board Member Steve Livengood graciously offered a tour of the of the U.S. Capitol Grounds. His on-the-ground perspective and shared copies of The United States Capitol Grounds: Frederick Law Olmsted’s Legacy in the Nation’s Capital provided rich historical context.
When we arrived back at ASLA, Olmsted Network Board Member Spencer Tunnell introduced the next panel, where Lucy Lawliss, FASLA, moderated a dynamic discussion on innovative planning for historic parks with Svetlana Ragulina, RLA ASLA, of Prospect Park Alliance, Bill Reininger of Tower Grove Park and Peter Viteretto, PLA FASLA, of Heritage Landscapes.
The panel was followed by a presentation from Brian Gladstein, the new Executive Director of Chicago’s Friends of the Parks, as the organization gears up for its 50th anniversary. Olmsted Network Board Member Bronwyn Nichols Lodato, who also serves on the board of Friends of the Parks, introduced the session.
That evening, attendees reconvened for our 2025 Olmsted Network Awards Dinner — a moving celebration of leadership, legacy, and community.
Honoring Legacy & Leadership
Guests — including distinguished Olmsted scholar Charles E. Beveridge — mingled before a heartfelt welcome and the posthumous presentation of the Caroline Loughlin Volunteer Service Awards to Betsy Shure Gross and Ann Satterthwaite, two visionary founders whose dedication shaped the Olmsted Network from its earliest days.
Former Olmsted Network Board Member Arleyn Levee, who worked closely with both women in the early days of the organization, shared tributes before presenting the awards.
Piera Weiss accepted on behalf of Ann, honoring her legacy as a city planner and preservation advocate who helped transform the Georgetown waterfront into a vibrant park.
Betsy’s husband, Dr. Gary Gross, and son Andrew Gross Gaitan accepted on her behalf, offering warm reflections on her lifelong passion for public spaces before the Olmsted Network announced the creation of the Betsy Shure Gross Impact Fund, designed to offer rapid financial support to partners facing emergency needs.
After a delicious buffet dinner, the celebration continued with our Olmsted Stewardship Award and President’s Awards.
Anthony Oprisiu, Board President of the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation, received the Olmsted Stewardship Award for his dedicated care of the Olmsted Jr.–designed Garden City.
The President’s Awards, presented by Sue Breitkopf, highlighted three grassroots efforts:
- Voices of Keney Park (Hartford, CT), which documented community voices and histories through a groundbreaking online course, accepted by Thien “Thea” Nguyen ’26.
- Franklin Park Defenders (Boston, MA), who are mobilizing neighbors and advocates to protect public access to White Stadium in Franklin Park, accepted by Pamela Jones.
- East Side Parkways Coalition (Buffalo, NY), who are working to restore the historic Humboldt Parkway and heal communities divided by the 1960s Kensington Expressway, accepted by Candace Moppins and Alan Bozer.
Each story showcases the power of local advocacy and community leadership in keeping Olmsted’s democratic ideals alive.
Saturday: Advocacy, Innovation & Looking Ahead
Saturday began with a discussion on advocacy for parks of all sizes, introduced by Olmsted Network Board Member Janet Atkins and moderated by Robert Doyle, longtime leader of East Bay Regional Park District. Panelists Suzanne Bishop of Portland Parks Alliance, Dan Puskar of Rock Creek Conservancy and Sarah Wolff of Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy shared strategies for engaging communities and policymakers in the defense of public parks.
Next, Will Cook of Wyche Law Firm explored how laws and land use policies can protect — or jeopardize — public parklands.
Madelaine Momot, Olmsted Network Content Manager, then offered a preview of the reimagined Olmsted Trail, a new digital initiative launching in 2026 that will connect historic archives, maps and multimedia storytelling to illuminate the Olmsted firm’s national impact.
The final session, a fundraising panel led by Sue Breitkopf and introduced by Olmsted Network Board Member Salmaan Khan of Central Park Conservancy, featured experts Andre Burton of Mount Vernon, Layla George of Louisville and Eileen Toohey of Baltimore sharing creative approaches to sustaining parks and partnerships.
The conference concluded with a group visit to the Washington National Cathedral — a backup to the originally scheduled National Zoo tour — where attendees enjoyed an app-guided tour of the Cathedral’s Olmsted-designed landscape and gathered for one final group photo — a fitting symbol of connection and shared purpose.
Finding Strength in Community
Despite the weekend’s unavoidable hurdles, the event proved that when this community comes together, it’s unstoppable. From lively discussions to heartfelt tributes, every moment reaffirmed the power of partnership — and the enduring relevance of Olmsted’s vision of public parks as common ground for all.
We can’t wait to continue these conversations and collaborations next year at our 2026 Annual Conference in Portland, OR, on September 23–25.
Photos from our 2025 conference in Washington, DC, can be found on Flickr here.
