Outdoor play is a big reason why we live here. It’s why so many come to visit, too. Our job as ecological landscape architects is to discover the recreational opportunities hidden in plain sight: underutilized parks and open spaces; flood-prone river corridors; green spaces between industrial zones; resorts that strive for responsible four-season activation. Often these places need revitalization, and rehabilitation. That’s our expertise: listening and responding to community desires, designing areas for recreational play, connecting neighborhoods to open space, connecting people to the natural world.
Sustainable recreational landscapes need more than engineering. They flourish within the balance between human activity and natural systems. Even in an urban setting, ballfields or walking trails offer opportunities to interpret those relationships. We elicit a community’s needs and cultivate its environmental sensitivity.
The goal? Outdoor realms that are resilient, accessible and mindfully enjoyable.
