Since March, the Olmsted Network has connected with seven partner organizations across three Southeastern cities through in-person visits, complementing our ongoing work supporting Olmsted landscapes and partners nationwide. Together, these visits represent more than a series of meetings—they reflect a growing network of partners stewarding Olmsted landscapes across the country.
In Columbus, GA, Victoria Vanhuss, Sr. Director of Programs & Partnerships, visited the Bradley Olmsted Garden at The Columbus Museum (COMU). Once an Olmsted-designed private estate, the garden is now divided by a road and exists in two conditions—one actively maintained and undergoing restoration by the Museum and the other largely unkept by the owner and closed to the public by a fence. Experiencing both underscored a core truth: stewardship doesn’t happen by accident. It is the result of sustained effort, informed expertise, and deep attention to original design intent—work reflected in the Museum’s horticultural team and garden committee, who are actively removing invasive species and guiding new plantings based on the historic Olmsted plan.
A week later, Sue Breitkopf, President, met Victoria in Atlanta for the 25th Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference, hosted by partner Park Pride at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The gathering brought together park leaders and landscape practitioners from across the Southeast to share best practices through 16 breakout sessions focused on resiliency. While in town, Sue had the chance to connect with partners and former board members, reinforcing relationships critical to ongoing work in the region. Victoria, who is based in Atlanta, continued to stay actively involved—spending time with Grant Park Conservancy, Piedmont Park Conservancy, Olmsted Linear Park Alliance, and Druid Hills Civic Association.
Soon after, Sue and Victoria reconnected in Louisville, KY, to meet with Olmsted Parks Conservancy and tour one of the nation’s most significant Olmsted park systems. The tour—led by Sarah Wolff, Director of Outreach & Advocacy—highlighted decades of collaborative, community-based work and a shared commitment to access for all. The day’s highlight was Women Who Shape the Landscape, a panel discussion at the Women’s Club of Louisville in honor of Women’s History Month. The panel featured four former female Conservancy leaders and was preceded by remarks from Sue on the importance of “difficult” women—those who advocate, persist, and help move this work forward.
Later in the program, the Conservancy awarded Sarah its prestigious Frederick Law Olmsted Award in recognition of her 21 years of dedicated service. A longtime friend of the Network, Sarah’s leadership (and the moment captured in her award recognition) offered a powerful reminder of the people whose sustained commitment shapes these landscapes over time.
From Columbus to Louisville, each one of these connections strengthens the shared work of preservation, advocacy, and care that sustains these places. Together, they build the momentum needed to ensure Olmsted landscapes continue to serve communities well into the future.
