Puente Hills Landfill Park Wins Global Impact Award from American Society of Landscape Architects and the International Federation of Landscape Architects
September 04 2024 - 11:20AM
Today the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the
International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) announced
that the Puente Hills Landfill Park Plan in Los Angeles, by the
landscape architecture firm Studio-MLA and their client the County
of Los Angeles Department of Parks & Recreation has won the
ASLA/IFLA 2024 Global Impact Award. The ASLA/IFLA Global Impact
Award is presented to a project in the Analysis and Planning
category of the annual ASLA Awards. The award is given to a work of
landscape architecture that demonstrates excellence in addressing
climate impacts through transformative action, scalable solutions,
and adherence to ASLA’s and IFLA’s climate action commitments.
Puente Hills Landfill is taking on new life as the future Puente
Hills Landfill Park, a visionary project by the Los Angeles County
Department of Parks and Recreation that is re-purposing what was
once the nation’s second largest landfill into a park for all. The
plan identified extreme heat and drought as the most likely climate
impacts over time. Situated just 18 miles from the LA downtown
skyline along the Pomona Freeway with breathtaking views of the San
Gabriel Mountains, this 142-acre park features multi-use trails, an
accessible elevated walk, nature play, a bike skills course, stair
climbs, outdoor classrooms, native plantings, and flexible spaces
for ceremony and performance. “This award winning vision is meeting
multiple needs by providing green space to local communities that
helps lower temperatures, conserves water, increases
well-being and supports biodiversity,” said Torey Carter-Conneen,
CEO of ASLA. “Studio-MLA has once again set a high bar for creating
iconic future-proof landscapes that bring people together. “Puente
Hills Landfill Park is a shining example of landscape
architecture's capacity to heal, transform, and empower. Reclaiming
a once-blighted site and co-creating a vibrant park with the
community allows for this project to showcase the unique ability
the profession has to weave together social, ecological, and
aesthetic threads into a tapestry of resilience and hope. These are
very important principles for the profession and both to the
International Federation of Landscape Architects and the American
Society of Landscape Architects.” Dr. Bruno Marques, President of
the International Federation of Landscape Architects. “This park is
more than just a green space; it's a testament to the power of
community-driven design and the enduring impact of landscape
architects as agents of positive change. In a world grappling with
environmental challenges and social inequities, Puente Hills
Landfill Park offers a beacon of possibility, reminding us that
even the most scarred landscapes can be reborn as places of beauty,
connection, and joy.”“This project is a good example of how we must
face the new realities resulting from the development of cities, as
landfills are. Through sustainable landscape design they can be
reconverted to mitigate the negative impacts they generate,” said
Monica Pallares, President IFLA AMERICAS Region. “The approach of
recovering the site through a plan with sustainable landscape
design contributes to improving the environment and to enhancing
healthy environments and communities.""Puente Hills stands as a
testament to the power of audacity and innovation. We didn’t just
design a park; we engineered a movement—one that empowers our youth
and redefines how we connect with our environment,"said Mia Lehrer,
FASLA, founder of the LA based Studio-MLA. "This is more than a
park - it’s a legacy of rebirth. We’ve turned a mountain of refuse
into a landscape of possibility and hope, powered by the relentless
energy of community voices and the trust of forward-thinking
leadership, and a very collaborative delivery team.""In the heart
of LA County, which serves 25% of California’s population, we’ve
carved out a space where history, community, and nature collide
with a brave vision for social and environmental impact,” said
Megan Horn, Principal-in-Charge, Studio-MLA. “The project’s
commitment to an unprecedented years’ long community engagement
process ensures that the park’s design captures the dynamism and
diversity of the community. This project underscores the profound
impact of collective effort. The Youth at Work program brought 50
young people into the heart of the design process, giving them the
unique opportunity to shape a park that reflects their community’s
spirit."The Global Impact Award was announced as part of the ASLA
2024 Professional Awards. This year, thirty-nine winners in
multiple categories showcase innovation and represent the highest
level of achievement in the landscape architecture profession. Read
more about all of the award winners here. Award recipients and
their clients will be honored in person at the awards presentation
ceremony during the ASLA 2024 Conference on Landscape Architecture
in Washington, D.C. on Monday, October 7th. Media are invited
to attend; please email press@asla.org for credentials. For more
information visit: www.aslaconference.com.Members of the media
please contact press@asla.org to request hi-res images.
The 2024 Professional Awards Jury includes:Jury 1: General
Design, Residential Design, Urban Design & Landmark Award
Chair Jury 1: Jennifer Nitzky, FASLA, Studio HIP
Members: Michelle Delk, FASLA, SnohettaKyle Fiddelke, FASLA,
OJBJohn Gendall, Chapter
Agency Devon
Henry, Hon ASLA, Team Henry Enterprises, LLCMarc Miller, ASLA, Penn
StateChelina Odbert, Hon. ASLA, Kounkuey Design InitiativeMichele
Shelor, ASLA, Colwell Shelor LALance Thies, ASLA, City of
RockportJury 2: Analysis & Planning ASLA / IFLA Global Impact
Award, Research, Communications & Landmark
Award
Chair Jury 2: Glenn LaRue Smith, FASLA, PUSH Studio LLC
Members: Luis Gonzalez, ASLA, EYA, LLCAnyeley Hallova, Adre
DevelopmentRebecca Leonard, ASLA, Lionheart StudioFrank Edgerton
Martin, Frank Edgerton MartinMary Pat McGuire, ASLA, University of
IllinoisRamon Murray, FASLA, Murray Design GroupMarion Pressley,
FASLA, Pressley Associates Darneka Waters, ASLA, Mecklenburg
County Park and Recreation
IFLA Representative: Monica Pallares, IFLA America Region
CELA Representative: Dongying Li, Texas A&M University
LAF Representative: Austin Allen, ASLA, University of Texas at
Arlington
About ASLA and the ASLA Fund
Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects
(ASLA) is the professional association for landscape architects in
the United States, representing more than 15,000 members. ASLA
Mission: Empowering our members to design a sustainable and
equitable world through landscape architecture. ASLA Fund Mission:
Investing in global, social, and environmental change through the
art and science of landscape architecture.
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- ASLA/IFLA 2024 Global Impact Award. Puente Hills Landfill Park
Implementation Plan. Studio-MLA
Jacquelyn Bianchini
American Society of Landscape Architects
(202) 216-2371
jbianchini@asla.org