Shared Spaces
Diverse voices exploring the Olmsteds' living legacy.
Field Notes
ON on the Move: California, Boston, & Chicago
In May, Olmsted Network President Sue Breitkopf and Senior Director of Programs & Partnerships Victoria Vanhuss traveled across seven cities in four states, from wildfire-impacted neighborhoods in Southern California to historic parklands in Boston and large-scale civic projects in Chicago.
Parks & Public Spaces
America at 250: Democracy and Public Spaces
In commemorating America’s 250th birthday, we must stand together for the public lands that define American life.
Conservation & Advocacy
The Olmsted Network Joins Coalition to Protect West Potomac Park
At stake is not only West Potomac Park but the principle that America’s civic landscapes must be shaped through transparent, lawful, and public processes.
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Recent News & Articles
Field Notes
Biltmore: The Birthplace of American Forestry
When George Vanderbilt began planning his grand estate in Asheville, North Carolina, more than a century ago, portions of the lush forest that surround Biltmore House now once was overworked farmland and overcut woodland.
Field Notes
Boston: White Stadium Update
Two local advocacy groups— the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and the Franklin Park Defenders— unite to protect Boston's Franklin Park from privatization efforts.
Reprints
Looking Southward
Originally published circa 2008, this blog by John Stauffer of Harvard University explores Frederick Law Olmsted’s trips to the South to research the institution of slavery.
Field Notes
Buffalo: Best Seat in the Universe
The eclipse was a once-in-a-lifetime event, but for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, planning took all year.
Field Notes
Park Pride’s Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference in Atlanta Attracts Hundreds
It takes many hands to build a parks system that meets everyone's needs.
Parks & Public Spaces
The Past and Present of Downing Park
Downing Park, the last collaboration between Olmsted and Vaux, continues to be a beloved asset in the Newburgh community.
Field Notes
Chicago to Drain Park’s Vital Wetland
Against the recommendations of the Midway Plaisance Park Advisory Council, Chicago is set to disfigure another Olmsted-designed park.
Field Notes
Honoring Joan Bozer, a founding mother of the Olmsted Network
Buffalo city leaders recently named the atrium of the former post office building after preservationist and longtime legislator Joan Bozer.
Field Notes
A Tale of Two Storms
When a 1979 tornado leveled 80% of Louisville's Cherokee Park, it launched the Olmsted Park Conservancy, but it also unleashed a new danger.
Advocacy
The Olmsted Network Joins Coalition to Protect West Potomac Park
At stake is not only West Potomac Park but the principle that America’s civic landscapes must be shaped through transparent, lawful, and public processes.
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.
White Stadium Case Heads to Massachusetts’ Highest Court
The Olmsted Network defends Boston’s Emerald Necklace—and public parks nationwide.
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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