Shared Spaces - Olmsted Network

Frederick Law Olmsted

Life

Before age 43, Olmsted was a sailor, farmer, writer—then he pioneered landscape architecture.
Work

Starting with Central Park in 1858, Olmsted and his firms touched nearly 6,000 landscape designs.
Legacy

Olmsted’s ideas still shape how we design and value public space in America.

Our Work

Explore our roots and purpose.
- Mission, Vision & Values
Partner Directory

Explore our global partners.
Leadership & Staff

Meet the team driving our mission.
Annual Awards

Honoring the people and projects advancing Olmsted’s vision.
Financials & Annual Reports

See the impact we’ve made.
Contact Us

Ask questions or explore collaboration.

Become a Partner

Join our growing network of partners working to protect and promote Olmsted’s living legacy.
Partner Benefits & FAQ

Access tools, benefits, and support available to Olmsted Network partners.
Partner Directory

Explore our network of partners stewarding Olmsted’s legacy across the globe.
Emerging Professionals

Connect with students and early-career leaders passionate about parks, planning, and public space.

Olmsted Action

When Olmsted landscapes are at risk, we raise a national voice.
Advocacy Toolkit

Resources to help you advocate for a public landscape.

Olmsted Trail

The Olmsted Trail invites you to explore 6,000 landscapes designed—or envisioned—by Olmsted and his successor firms.
Olmsted Papers Project

Olmsted left an invaluable resource of personal and professional papers.
- Meet Charles E. Beveridge
Resources & Bibliography

Research is key to understanding the history and significance of designed landscapes.

Blog

Latest updates and stories about the Olmsted Network and our partners.
Calendar of Events

Upcoming programs, tours, and gatherings of the Olmsted Network.
Annual Conferences

Join our yearly conferences to connect, learn, and celebrate Olmsted’s legacy.
Webinars & Recordings

Access webinars on history, preservation, and Olmsted’s relevance today.

Recap: 2026 Annual Conference

Conferences & Events

Recap: 2026 Annual Conference

The Olmsted Network saw record turnout for our 2026 Annual Conference—The Power of Connection: Shaping Resilient Public Landscapes—and 2026 Awards Dinner in Portland, OR.

Olana: Frederic Church’s Vision of Art and Landscape

Conferences & Events

Olana: Frederic Church’s Vision of Art and Landscape

The hourlong history webinar marked the bicentennial year of artist Frederic Church.

Olmsted and Friends: Meet Donald Harris

Olmsted & Friends Interviews

Olmsted and Friends: Meet Donald Harris

The longtime Seattle park advocate discusses the founding of the Olmsted Network, the work of the Friends of Seattle’s Olmsted Parks, and more.

Explore Popular Categories

Recent News & Articles

Field Notes

Beloved Olmsted scholar’s library finds a new home

Tony Horwitz’s collection of Olmsted books was recently donated to the University of Virginia’s Center for Cultural Landscapes.

Field Notes

Battered, Biltmore Rises

As the Asheville, NC, region struggles to recover from the unparalleled devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, America’s largest home offers its neighbors aid.

Field Notes

Olmsted Legacy Shines at ASLA & PGMS Conferences

Last month, the Olmsted Network attended not one but two partner conferences.

Field Notes

A waterfall flows again in Harlem

The restoration of a cherished cascade in New York City’s Morningside Park unites city officials, neighbors and Columbia University staff and students.

Field Notes

Olmsted 101: A Class for Adult Learners

In October 2024, the Olmsted Network hosted a six-week course on the work of Frederick Law Olmsted and the Olmsted firm for older adult learners through Osher Online.

Field Notes

New Land Acquired for Olmsted-Beil House Park

After years of advocacy by Friends of Olmsted-Beil House and the Olmsted Network, the acquisition of an adjacent property restores a portion of Olmsted’s Tosomock Farm, protects against development and more.

Olmsted & Friends Interviews

Olmsted & Friends: Meet Janet Atkins

Janet Atkins, our newest board member and the founder and CEO of Ridgeway Philanthropy LLC, shares her passion for Olmsted with us in this brief interview.

Field Notes

Olmsted Linear Park playground gets a new look

In Atlanta, GA, Springdale Park receives playground and stormwater improvements.

Field Notes

Recap: 2024 Annual Conference

The Olmsted Network recently hosted our 2024 Annual Conference in New York’s Hudson River Valley. Landscape tours included Olana State Historic Site, Downing Park, Vassar College, Hudson River State Hospital and Springside National Historic Landmark.

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Advocacy

Section 106 at 60: What’s at Stake Now

Section 106 now faces a second threat: a Senate bill, with an initial vote expected November 9.

Court Revives Legal Challenge to Buffalo’s Kensington Expressway

A New York appeals court ruled that legal claims over the Kensington Expressway can proceed.

Defending America’s Civic Landscapes

The Olmsted Network joins the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s legal efforts to protect the integrity of the White House grounds.

Olmsted & Friends

This series of interviews highlights the people who have long championed Olmsted and the Olmsted Network.

Olmsted & Friends Interviews

Olmsted & Friends: Meet David Price

David Price is due to retire in June 2026 after 39 years of service to Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, FL, overseeing the most significant period of growth in the landscape's 100+ year history.

Olmsted & Friends Interviews

Olmsted & Friends: Meet Christian Zimmerman

Over the course of 35 years, Christian Zimmerman oversaw the restoration of Olmsted’s Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY.

Olmsted & Friends Interviews

Olmsted & Friends: Meet Layla George

Layla George, Olmsted Network board member and former Olmsted Parks Conservancy President, shares her appreciation for Olmsted in this brief interview.

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