As we approach the end of our current five-year plan, the Olmsted Network is excited to begin planning for the future with the formation of a new strategic plan. To kick off this process, a Strategic Planning Committee has been convened to guide our work—bringing together Board leadership, grassroots partners, and diverse voices from across our community to imagine what a stronger, more connected, and more equitable national movement for Olmsted parks can be.
At the center of this committee’s work is helping to articulate who we are at our core, how we show up for our partners, and how our mission resonates in a moment when public space, democracy, and environmental justice are at the forefront of national conversation. Grounded in Olmsted’s enduring principles—and informed by the realities facing parks across the country, like funding uncertainty and deferred maintenance—we will chart a path that strengthens our programming and partnerships, clarifies our governance and internal structures, and positions our fundraising and resources to sustain ambitious goals.
Our previous strategic plan, launched directly after the Olmsted 200 bicentennial celebrations in 2022, coincided with our rebrand from the National Association for Olmsted Parks to the Olmsted Network and several other organizational changes, including securing the Network’s financial future and hiring more staff. Looking back on the successes and challenges faced over this previous plan cycle, we aim to shape a strategic direction that both honors our decades-spanning legacy and responds boldly to the needs of today’s public landscapes.
“We are stewards of a legacy rooted in Olmsted’s conviction that thoughtfully designed public landscapes improve the health and well-being of communities. This strategic planning effort is about honoring that legacy while equipping the Network to meet today’s challenges with clarity, unity, and purpose,” said Sue Breitkopf, President of the Olmsted Network.
Over the course of 2026, the Committee will design an inclusive strategic planning process, engage new perspectives, and prepare the organization for decisions that will elevate our role as a convener, advocate, and trusted national voice. It will provide guidance in the development and approach to strategic planning, oversight throughout the process, and bring the planning deliverable to closure with rollout and monitoring recommendations to the Board. Together, we will build a plan that meets the challenges ahead and expands the reach and relevance of Olmsted landscapes for the next generation.
This process is already underway. Stay tuned for more information and opportunities to engage as we enter this exciting chapter and shape the next five years of leadership in Olmsted landscapes.
