ASLA Announces 2004 Community Service Award

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has announced the West Philadelphia Landscape Project as the recipient of its 2004 Community Service Award.

Washington, D.C (PRWEB) August 18, 2004 -- The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has announced the West Philadelphia Landscape Project (http://www.asla.org/nonmembers/publicrelations/pressreleases/press04/pressrelease081604a.htm) as the recipient of its 2004 Community Service Award, which will be presented during the ASLA Annual Meeting, October 29-November 2, in Salt Lake City.

The West Philadelphia Landscape Project has employed the knowledge, skills, technology, and methods of landscape architecture to redesign and rebuild the landscape of an inner-city neighborhood. Since 1987, numerous landscape architects and others, led by Anne Whiston Spirn, ASLA, have provided pro bono landscape architecture services to an under-served community as part of a larger action research project that integrates practice, research, education, and service. Making service integral to teaching and linking it to a larger research agenda has made it possible to sustain the project for 17 years, during which long-term partnerships have formed. For example, partnerships with a local school, a neighborhood coalition, and a community garden have spawned new projects within and among those groups and with city agencies. The program has been cited as a model of academically based community service by diverse institutions in Philadelphia, the United States, and abroad.

In selecting the West Philadelphia Landscape Project, the nine-member jury (http://www.asla.org/awards/2004/rules_entries/jurors.htm) said, the long-term nature of the effort is impressive; continual commitment is what distinguishes this effort above others. . . engagement with and impact on high school kids from inner city is outstanding."

The ASLA Awards Program is administered by the ASLA Library and Education Advocacy Fund (http://www.asla.org/aslafund/), a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization established by ASLA in 2001. The ASLA Fund is dedicated to expanding the body of knowledge of the landscape architecture profession, to promoting the value of landscape architecture, and to increasing public understanding of environmental and land use issues and principles.

Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects representing more than 14,200 members. Landscape architecture is a comprehensive discipline of land analysis, planning, design, management, preservation, and rehabilitation. ASLA promotes the landscape architecture profession and advances the practice through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship. Learn more about landscape architecture online at www.asla.org.

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