Landscape Architects Find Inspiration in Boston
This is the result of Boston’s “Big Dig.” A freeway once split the city in two. Sound familiar? Highway 5 does this job quite adequately in San Diego where it separates downtown form Balboa Park. Our Downtown Community Plan calls for a much simpler lid over I-5 one day. Anyone who has visited Boston and this new city green belt, or San Francisco's similar effort in the removal of the Embarcadero Freeway might ask, “What's the hold up?” Let's make this happen…NOW
In mid November, we packed our bags, got the business and household in order and went to the ASLA Annual Meeting and Expo “Gaining Ground” in the Cradle of Liberty…Boston. More than 6,000 professionals were in attendance, giving us a unique opportunity to interact with and be inspired by our colleagues from across the U.S. and beyond.
“The ASLA trade show is fascinating; it breathes life into our profession and offers the opportunity to meet some of the most talented people in the country. We came away from the event inspired and re-invigorated,” David McCullough commented.
Along with seminars and workshops, we spent time exploring Boston’s urban environment. Of particular interest was the “Big Dig,” a fifteen-year project that replaced the I-93 freeway bisecting the city with a three-and-a-half mile tunnel. The removal of the freeway allowed for the Rose Kennedy Greenway (see photo) that connects one end of Boston with a natural greenbelt environment.
Boston’s Big Dig resulted in its downtown becoming more livable. Sound familiar? In our own hometown of San Diego, the Downtown Community Plan calls for a much simpler lid over I-5 one day. Anyone who has visited Boston and this new city green belt might ask, “What's the holdup? Let's make this happen…NOW!”
“The usual city paradigm has people driving downtown to work and then drive back home,” David noted upon his return from Boston. “Urban landscape architecture can help change that routine by allowing people to live and work downtown, within enhanced city neighborhoods that feature living things such as trees, shrubs and gardens that connect people with nature and make a more walkable environment.”
“As professionals, we often get distracted with the business of getting things done–focusing on deadlines,” said David. “But when visiting the ASLA Expo your perspective is broadened and it helped me realize how impactful in a positive way this profession is—it’s very invigorating.”
Learn more about Boston’s Big Dig and other landscape architecture perspectives.
