The Olmsted Network invites you to join us for Defending Common Ground: An Olmsted Parks Intensive on October 23–25 in Washington, D.C.

This year’s conference will empower conservancies, friends groups and park supporters of all sizes with the tools, knowledge and inspiration needed to preserve and enhance Olmsted parks and places. Sessions will be led by experts and peers from across the country and will dig into shared challenges: fundraising, advocacy, community engagement, comprehensive planning and more.

Each ticket includes access to the welcome reception and event, two breakfasts, two lunches, our annual awards dinner (with an RSVP) and a swag bag.

Additional information about partner and student scholarships, meals, hotels and LA CES is available below. For other questions, please contact Ella Menees, our Engagement & Logistics Manager, at [email protected].

Registration ends 10/12.

Thursday, October 23

2 to 3pm: The Olmsted Collections in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress  
Library of Congress at 101 Independence Ave SE 

  • Barbara Bair, Historian & Curator, Library of Congress (Washington, D.C.)   
  • Loretta Deaver, Reference Librarian, Library of Congress (Washington, D.C.) 

*This event is not included with your conference registration. This event is SOLD-OUT.

4 to 6pm: Welcome Cocktail Reception | First Congregational UCC at 945 G St NW

Friday, October 24 | 9:30 am to 5 pm ET | ASLA Office at 636 Eye Street NW

9:30 to 10am: Welcome

  • William Bell, Board Co-Chair, Olmsted Network (New York, NY)  
  • Sue Breitkopf, President, Olmsted Network (Washington, D.C.) 

10 to 10:45 am: The Olmsted Firm in D.C.

  • Lauren Meier, ASLA Fellow-Elect, Historic Landscape Consultant (Concord, MA)  

10:45 to 11:15am: Case Study – The Role of Community Engagement & Capacity Building in Shaping Public Spaces 

  • Anna McCorvey, Executive Director, River East Design Center and Senior Equitable Development Manager, 11th Street Bridge Park (Washington, D.C.)

12:30 to 1:30pm: Walking Tour of the U.S. Capitol Grounds

  • James Kauffman, Executive Director, U.S. Capitol Grounds and Arboretum, Architect of the Capitol (Washington, D.C.)  

2 to 3pm: Walking Tour of the National Mall

  • Teresa Durkin, Executive Vice President, Trust for the National Mall (Washington, D.C.)  

3:30 to 4:30pm: Rooted in Legacy – Innovative Planning for Historic Parks

  • Moderator: Lucy Lawliss, FASLA, Historic Landscape Consultant (Bradenton, FL)  
  • Svetlana Ragulina, Director of Landscape Architecture + Preservation, Prospect Park Alliance (Brooklyn, NY)   
  • Bill Reininger, Executive Director, Tower Grove Park (St. Louis, MO)  
  • Peter F. Viteretto, PLA FASLA, Principal, Heritage Landscapes (Norwalk, CT)  

4:30 to 5pm: Case Study – A New Vision for Friends of the Parks

  • Brian Gladstein, Executive Director, Friends of the Parks (Chicago, IL) 

6:30 to 9pm: Olmsted Network Awards Dinner | First Congregational UCC at 945 G St NW

*Dinner is included in the conference ticket price but requires an additional RSVP. Additional tickets can be purchased separately for $65 each here.

Saturday, October 25 | 9:30 am to 2:30 pm ET | ASLA Office at 636 Eye Street

9:30 to 10:30am: Powerful Voices for Public Lands – Practical Advocacy for Parks at Every Scale

  • Moderator: Robert Doyle, Board Member, City Parks Alliance (San Francisco, CA)  
  • Suzanne Bishop, Convener, Portland Parks Alliance (Portland, OR) 
  • Dan Puskar, Executive Director, Rock Creek Conservancy (Washington, D.C.) 
  • Sarah Wolff, Director of Outreach & Advocacy, Olmsted Parks Conservancy (Louisville, KY)  

10:45 to 11:30am: Defending Democratic Spaces – Legal Tools to Protect Public Parks

11:30 to 12pm: Meet the Refreshed Olmsted Trail 

  • Victoria Vanhuss, Director of Communications & Outreach, Olmsted Network (Atlanta, GA)  
  • Madelaine Momot, Olmsted Trail Content Manager, Olmsted Network (Yorba Linda, CA) 

12:45 to 1:45pm: Funding Our Parks – Fundraising Strategies for Conservancies and Friends Groups

  • Moderator: Sue Breitkopf, President, Olmsted Network (Washington, D.C.)   
  • Layla George, Principal, byGeorge Consultants (Louisville, KY)   
  • Eileen Toohey, Managing Director/Fundraising Consultant, Carter (Baltimore, MD)   
  • Andre Burton, Major Gifts Officer, George Washington’s Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon, VA)

2:15 to 4pm: National Zoo Tour

  • Faye Harwell, FASLA, Director of Landscape Architecture, Rhodeside Harwell 

Partner Scholarships

The Olmsted Network strives to make our educational opportunities accessible to all of our partners. Discounted conference tickets are available to individuals of Olmsted Network partner organization, with priority being given to those who most need it. The organization must be listed on our partner directory to qualify. Please complete this form to apply.

Please wait to hear back about your application before registering. We will not offer partial refunds for tickets purchased in full. 

Student Scholarships

The Olmsted Network strives to make our educational opportunities accessible to the next generation of park advocates. Steeply discounted conference tickets are available to students. Please complete this form to apply.

Please wait to hear back about your application before registering. We will not offer partial refunds for tickets purchased in full. 

Food

When registering for the event, you will be required to notify us of any food allergies and select your lunch items for Friday and Saturday. The specifics of each item are included below.

Friday Lunch Options:
Chicken Salad Sandwich (gf*)
organic pulled chicken, celery, red onion, pea shoots, Dave’s 21-grain bread

Marinated Tofu Banh Mi (gf*v)
pickled vegetables, cucumber, chili aioli, cilantro, st. germain baguette

Saturday Lunch Options:
Fennel Poached Salmon Bowl (gf)
massaged market kale, quinoa, sorghum, dried cranberries, carrots, sunflower seeds, pickled red onion, easter radish, goat cheese, tzatziki, citrus dressing, dark chocolate mixed berry brownie

Grilled Organic Chicken Bowl (gf)
massaged market kale, quinoa, sorghum, dried cranberries, carrots, sunflower seeds, pickled red onion, easter radish, goat cheese, chimichurri, citrus dressing, dark chocolate mixed berry brownie

Falafel Bowl (gf,v)
house falafel, easter radish, cucumber, marinated white beans, sorghum, buckwheat, quinoa, shredded romaine lettuce, carrots, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, tahini, red wine vinaigrette, rosemary chocolate chip cookie (v) or coconut macaroon (gf)

Key:
gf – gluten free
v – vegan
gf* – can be made gluten free on request
v* – can be made vegan on request

Lodging

The Olmsted Network has secured two room blocks near the conference venue. These rooms are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. We realize that hotels in DC can be quite expensive, so we encourage attendees to book early and price against sites like Airbnb and VRBO.

citizenM Washington DC Capitol | 550 School St SW
$169 per night
15 minutes to conference venue via the Green Line train
Book using this link before 9/22

Motto by Hilton | 627 H St NW
$219 per night
Close walk to conference venue
Book using this link before 10/2

LA CES

The Olmsted Network is a LA CES™ approved provider, and this course has been approved for 9 PDH, LA CES/HSW. Attendees will be responsible for completing a learning outcomes survey in order to receive credit and a certificate. 

By registering for this event, you consent to receive occasional marketing emails from the Olmsted Network.