Getting People Outdoors with Technology Spirits and

NASLA NEWS
NASLANEWS November 2009 Vol. 13 No. 11
Getting People Outdoors
with Technology
Geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing) is a worldwide game of
hiding and seeking treasure blending technology and outdoor
activity, which involves a sense of discovery, getting folks out
into the open, promotes exercise, and can be a fun family
adventure.
A geocacher will place a geocache in the world, pinpoint its
location using GPS technology and then share the geocache's
existence and location online. Geocachers then hunt to locate
hidden containers outdoors and then share their experiences
online. Geocaches can include anything, but most always
include a log book for sharing information; they can also
include tracked items such as Geocoins or Travel Bugs, and
may include items for the finder to take if they leave something
behind in return.
Thanks to the tenfold improvement in GPS technology accuracy
in May 2000, anyone with a GPS device (phone or GPS unit)
can then try to locate the geocache. The original website
devoted to geocaching, www.groundspeak.com enables people
to create and share interactive location-based experiences in
the real world using a unique combination of technology and
the internet.
Nevada's oldest geocaching organization, the Great Basin
& Eastern Sierra Geocachers (www.gbesgeo.org) began in
January 2003 with the simple idea to create a group to promote
the exchange of ideas among geocachers in northern Nevada
and northeastern California.
Approximately 40 attendees took part in the wine tasting and
silent art auction; the three red and three white wine selections
wine from around the world were provided by Khoury’s Fine Wine
and Spirits.
Listed on the geocaching.com website, Clark County recently
concluded a geocaching hunt for 10 caches relating to history
or culture were hidden throughout the County as part of the
Clark County Centennial celebration.
Thank you very much to the following people for donating the
21 pieces of artwork: Amie Wojtech, Bill Rowe, Carrie Becker,
Danny Ortega, Diane Peterson, Eric Wiegardt, Erin Reiswerg, Jeff
Grandy, Lindzay Green, Lynnette Meagher, Marsha Jones, Sean
Coulter, Tina Stergios, and Tracey Ford Perry. The event would
not have been a success without your kind donations!
Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a
strong sense of community and support for the environment.
For example, A roadside cleanup of SR159 going towards Red
Rock Canyon NCA on November 14 is sponsored by Nevada
Geocaching (www.nevadageocaching.com).
We would also like to thank AIA Las Vegas for their hard work in
the collaboration of the event with NASLA this year. The proceeds
will be used to support both NASLA and AIA efforts.
Pink Flamingo
Here's a great idea for using the new economy to your
advantage: enjoy the Pink Flamingo reception for the 2009
NASLA Awards as your firm's holiday or year-end celebration!
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By Carrie Becker, ASLA
NASLA and AIA Las Vegas collaborated on the second annual
“Spirits and Culture Event” event together this year, which was
held at the Historic Fifth Street School in downtown Las Vegas
on October 23.
A complimentary assortment of cheese, fruit, and desserts was
provided by Emery's La Barrista Catering. There was a wide
variety of art ranging from photography to jewelry to a living
terrarium table available for auction.
Look in the December issue of Landscape Architecture
magazine for a more in-depth feature article on Geotagging.
[email protected]
President’s Message
Luncheon
Happenings
Letters
Letters
N.Nev. Section
At The Podium
Legislation
Campus
In Memorandum
Calendar
Happenings
Happenings
Stone Scribbles
Design
Spirits and Culture
Most parks & recreation departments support geocaching, as
long as the geocachers follow the guidelines posted on the
national website at www.geocaching.com regarding placement
of caches on public lands. Contacting the land manager before
placing a cache on public property is recommended because of
the potential danger to archaeological sites and petroglyphs.
Cache In Trash Out is an ongoing environmental initiative
supported by the worldwide geocaching community. Since
2002, geocachers have been dedicated to cleaning up parks
and other cache-friendly places around the world.
INSIDE THE ISSUE
Wine Tasting. Photo by Carrie Becker
We've done all the party planning, making the Pink Flamingo
an easy and affordable solution: our reception provides a
great early evening opportunity to mix and mingle with your
fellow professionals and supporters; admission costs have
been reduced by 38% to $40 per person; and, Angel Park
is conveniently located just off the Summerlin Parkway at
Rampart near numerous excellent restaurants.
Kick-off 2010 with a celebration of award-winning designs,
tasty hors d'oeuvre, and great company RSVP for your tickets today!
As a tangible part of ASLA’s mission to bring allied professions
together, this was definitely a step in the right direction and we
look forward to working more closely together on future events.
By Danny McElmurray, ASLA
Although I had already agreed to be a campus liaison for the
Chapter, incoming President Amie Wojtech asked me if I wanted
to help instead by editing the newsletter. I jumped at the chance,
because I believe NASLA News can be a great digital resource
for the advancement of our profession.
[email protected]
NASLANEWS November 2009
Working to Make It Better
As you can tell, we’re already making changes to better exploit
our digital format and maximizing use of the printable area
for text and pictures. Many of these changes were suggested
through feedback from the recent chapter-wide online survey,
which had a 38% response rate this year. Since we aren’t
limited by printing costs, we’re also expanding the content to
encompass coverage of the design programs at UNLV, TMCC
and CSN; we’ve added a Northern Nevada Section update,
penned this month by new section chair, Dan Kovach.
Our Calendar will need to be filled in with your event and
deadline information; I encourage you to also send your articles
and professional announcements to [email protected] for
sharing with your fellow professionals in upcoming issues.
We’re also adding recurring feature articles on design,
legislation, and critical thought. We’ve developed a working
editorial calendar to outline where we’re going during 2010; the
calendar was put together with the help of Amie Wojtech, Cecilia
Schafler, Erin Reiswerg, Lindzay Green, Elizabeth Jones, and
our NASLA News intern, Greg Holley.
Next month we will primarily focus on the winners of the
2009 Landscape Architecture Awards; starting in January
2010, we explore: how to get more involved in the profession;
Modernism in the desert; bike paths and connectivity; lessons
from LABASH; National Landscape Architecture Month; Water;
Parks and SNPLMA; Fall Planting; the LAM Centennial; and
Ephemeral Landscapes.
We can expand our knowledge base by including at least
one continuing education article every quarter, if not every
month. We’re looking for submittals from members and related
professions, perhaps synopsis papers from their master degree
thesis or doctoral papers that make us think, teach us something
new, or provide a new perspective on a challenging issue we all
share. Although Nevada doesn’t currently require CEU’s, this
Bear Creek Dog Park Manitou Springs, CO
Photo by Lindzay Green
will be a welcome addition for the ASLA members licensed in
those states that do require them.
The first step toward meeting the challenge of getting more
involved issued by Trustee Ellis Antunez at the October luncheon
is as easy as forwarding the link to the NASLA News to allied
professionals, interested clients, organizations, entities, and
politicians in your email address book. Engage them in a dialogue
to foster a better understanding of how we can work together to
our mutual benefit and help them recognize our contributions to
design in Nevada.
LaBASH 2010: outLANDish!
Themed “outLANDish”, LABASH 2010 Las Vegas is a celebration
of the 40th anniversary of this annual student conference. Chaired
by Samantha Fuller, the event promises to be unlike any other, with
a not-so-typical Las Vegas experience planned for participants.
LABASH 2010 will be March 28-30 and will primarily take place
in the UNLV Student Union. Registration for anyone who wants
to attend is $175 until December 31, with regular registration at
$200 and late registration $250 after March 1. The registration
fee covers the lectures, program materials, refreshments, socials,
lunch on Monday and Tuesday, the Tuesday banquet, and tours.
Footnote speakers include Dale Chihuly, Mark Rios and Walter
Hood; session speakers include Pamela Burton, Andy Cao, Daniel
Ortega, Jerry van Eyck, Don Brinkerhoff, Margaret Crawford,
Matthew O’Brien, Mia Lehrer, Peter Yeadon, and Roberto Rovira.
Tours will include the Springs Preserve, Hoover Dam and Lake
Mead, Wetlands Park, as well as the Strip and downtown Las
Vegas. outLANDish events include three evening socials: out on
the ranch on Sunday; creative and impressive Vegas club wear on
Monday; and an undisclosed theme as yet for Tuesday evening.
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Submit your articles,
information, events,
updates, and
photos to
[email protected]
If you want to be a sponsor and participate in the Expo, contact
Fidel Solano at [email protected]; if you have questions
about LABASH 2010 or would like to volunteer to help, contact
Samantha at [email protected] or go to the website at
www.labash2010.com – check out the information on the website
and register online today!
Does everyone know that we had a couple of special colleagues
retire this year? Ellis Antunez retired from Truckee Meadows
Community College in Reno after 20 years; Bill Rowe retired
from the City of Henderson after 19 years.
2010 NASLA
Executive
Committee
Amie Wojtech
President
Caryl Davies
Vice-President
Justin Lindblad
Secretary/Treasurer
Ellis, who was our speaker for October (see “At the Podium”),
officially retired from Truckee Meadows Community College
(TMCC) on June 30, 2009; a graduate of Cal-Poly Pomona,
he received his Master degree from the University of Nevada
in Reno. Upon graduation he started his career as a Campus
Planner for CAL-TECH in Pasadena, moved to Washoe County
working in the parks department as a golf course and park
planner, then became the Acting Planning Director for Carson
City. He moved on to the City of Reno as the city’s Landscape
Architect.
Venturing into the private sector, Ellis formed his own firm, the
partnership of Cruitt & Antunez, where he both taught and
maintained the practice until his partner decided to retire. From
there he continued his journey to TMCC. Retirement has not
slowed this guy down! Ellis is keeping plenty busy with his
travels, his involvement with ASLA as our Chapter Trustee, his
involvement with the Council of Landscape Architecture Review
Board (CLARB), and of course, teaching.
As a Professor Emeritus, he continues to teach at TMCC – but
not on the subject you might think: motorcycles. The love of the
motorcycle began at an early age when his mom taught him
how to ride! Ellis loves nothing more than the sweet smell of the
open road and the imagery you can really see while riding down
the highway on a hog (he owns a Harley Davidson)! Ellis says
his ride is not nearly over, “Life is not a journey to the grave with
the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved
body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally
worn out, and loudly proclaiming WOW”.
Bill Rowe officially retired from the City of Henderson on October
15, 2009. Some of his guiding thoughts include, “Share your gift
with others. Be passionate about what you do. Savor your time
here. Work hard but play harder. If you have the option to dance
or observe, DANCE! Live well, be happy. Life is good.”
Ellis Antunez, FASLA Bill’s journey started after graduating from Utah State University
in 1980. He began working for Land Design and was there for
Trustee
two years – then was laid off due to the economy. He regrouped
and went back to school to learn how to be a mud engineer. He
Mike Duran
was able to determine what mixtures needed to be intermixed
Immediate Past
with the drilling fluids for drilling equipment. He did this for six
President
months before he accepted a position as Park Planner with the
Dr. Lee-Anne Milburn City of Phoenix.
UNLV Liason
After eight years as Park Planner he accepted a position as
the Assistant Campus Planner for Arizona State University.
When he walked in to accept the position the Campus Planner
quit, making Bill the Acting Campus Planner. He remained
there for three years and during that time the school underwent
Jon Jones
UNLV Student Chapter its greatest building phase in the history of the school. After
leaving Arizona State University he spent time doing free lance
President
work and sales.
Dan Kovach
North Section Chair
Michael Plansky
TMCC Student
Chapter President
Helen Stone
Executive Director
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Job Announcement:
By Amie Wojtech, RLA, ASLA, LEED-AP
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
NASLANEWS November 2009
We Salute You
Submit your articles,
information, events,
updates, and
photos to
[email protected]
One day Bill came across a job opening with the City of
Henderson; he filled out the application, had an interview and
nineteen years later, we celebrate his accomplishments. He
was active in the planning and construction of over 30 parks
and trails in Henderson. Even after retirement Bill maintains
active in our community; he was recently seen planting trees at
TreesHenderson on October 24.
Thank you both for contributing your many years of service to
the profession and your continued efforts to our Chapter. We
salute you!
Amie Wojtech, RLA, ASLA, LEED-AP
[email protected]
The Nevada Division of State Parks is recruiting for a new
Chief of Planning & Development. Applicants must be licensed
as a landscape architect, architect, or engineer in the State of
Nevada, or eligible for reciprocal licensing within six months of
appointment.
At least three years of post-licensure experience involving the
planning, development and/or management of a public park
system program, including park master planning, park facilities
construction, project budget management, and establishment of
project goals & objectives is required. The position will be based
in the Division’s headquarters office in the state capital of Carson
City, but will have statewide responsibilities with related travel
throughout the state.
The Chief of P&D is responsible for managing all planning,
development, grants and acquisition functions for the 25 unit
Nevada State Park system, including: periodic revision of the
Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP),
State Park System Plan, feasibility studies for new/proposed park
sites, conducting comprehensive General Management (Master)
Plans for individual parks, the Nevada State Trails Plan, and other
related planning studies and user surveys.
Of equal importance is management of the division’s multi-million
dollar capital improvements program, including a dedicated $27
million state bond program and procurement of various matching
grants; A/E design services and construction of new facilities,
facility renovations, historic preservation projects and technical
assistance for field staff.
The approved salary ranges from $61,950 - $93,187 with an
additional 5% possible due to supervisory responsibilities for one
or more staff at the same pay grade.
Applicants must submit an electronic application for job
announcement #10326 via the Nevada State Department of
Personnel website: http//dop.nv.gov. Inquiries concerning the
application process may be directed to Sheri Dunn at (775) 6840129 or email [email protected]. Applicants are also invited to
send resumes to Steve Weaver, Deputy Administrator, Nevada
Division of State Parks, 901 S. Stewart Street, Carson City, NV
89701 or email [email protected]. Applications will be
accepted at least through the end of November.
go to dop.nv.gov for the full job description
John is the founding principal and president of Horticulture
Consultants, Inc. which was established in 1979 and co-owner
of Fertilizing Specialists, Inc. established in 2000.
LUNCHEON
John’s work experiences have included working as a
greenskeeper, high school agriculture instructor, geologist/lab
and field technician for Western Technologies, and Professor
of Horticulture at College of Southern Nevada. John developed
the horticulture program at College of Southern Nevada in
1981 where he also served as full-time professor and program
director until his retirement in June 2009.
SPONSORED BY HUNTER INDUSTRIES
NASLANEWS November 2009
John P. Smith
John is registered in the state of Nevada as a Landscape
Architect, Certified by the Irrigation Association as an Irrigation
Auditor and maintains a Principal Pest Control License with the
State of Nevada Department of Agriculture.
John P. Smith with Lisa Ortega. Photo by Helen Stone
Hunter Industries
In today’s world water crisis, conservation requires innovation.
Responsible water management is no longer simply a good idea;
it is now a necessity. Our quality of life and our industry depend
on it. Hunter Industries maintains a focus on conservation,
remaining ahead of the curve. Every day, the company
demonstrates and further strengthens these beliefs for reasons
both practical and principled. It’s the right thing to do.
That’s why Hunter has invested tremendous resources in
developing products that exemplify our water-conserving
core values. Take the MP Rotator. This highly water-efficient,
multi-stream rotor is made to fit any conventional Hunter spray
head body or shrub adapter, making it a high functioning, low
precipitation rate sprinkler with outstanding uniformity. It provides
a perfect match with the MPR40 sprinkler body, designed with
exacting standards to deliver optimal performance at 40 PSI
with, the MP Rotator.
I-Core’s flow monitoring capability provides overflow protection
and flow totaling to minimize the potential for water waste. With
Cycle and Soak and Water Window Manager™, the I-Core is
powerful tool for regulating irrigation use.
It is not enough to believe in water-conservation; our actions must
match our words. To that end, Hunter Industries continues its
quest to research and develop products that demonstrably save
water. Further, we look to you as our primary source of input. After
all, you’re out in the field, installing and using the products daily
that must deliver.
With the MP Rotator, the water applies slowly and evenly to
dramatically reduce runoff and wasted water. Because of its
strength, you get superior wind resistance with tight, highenergy streams that stay the course, in all types of weather.
The MP’s matched application rates work with any arc, any
radius. You get better uniformity after radius reduction; there’s
no diffuser screw to cause stream distortion. And you can make
quick, easy arc and radius adjustments. With options from a 4’
strip to a 30’ radius, the MP offers maximum design flexibility.
Plus, any model can be combined on the same zone.
Now more than ever, Hunter is also committed to developing
water-conserving drip irrigation products. Among them, you’ll
find the Professional Landscape Drip Line. The new generation
of products boasts in-line, pressure-compensating, nondraining emitters, to help prevent emitter clogging and water
waste. Micro irrigation waters plants with unparalleled accuracy,
translating to tremendous water savings. Not to mention greatly
reduced project installation time.
The PLD aims exactly where you want it. That’s why it’s so
effective. It performs better because the watering is specific
and precise, giving you control without waste. Whether it’s a
flowerbed or other creative landscape configurations, the PLD’s
targeted technology is the perfect application. The built in check
valves prevent both debris suctioning back and drainage at lowlying points.
Hunter’s new I-Core brings your irrigation system to a whole
new level. Designed for demanding commercial and high-end
residential applications, the full-featured I-Core controller is
easy to use, easy to install, and easy to program, with a variety
of new features that make it first class.
Fitted with a factory-installed SmartPort®, the I-Core is remotecontrol ready and compatible with all of Hunter’s sensors,
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including the Flow-Clik™, Rain-Clik™, and Wind-Clik®, and the
innovative Solar Sync, the simple ET system that automatically
adjusts your controller based on current weather conditions.
Hunter Representative
Guy Collins
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HAPPENINGS
NASLANEWS November 2009
LETTERS
NASLANEWS November 2009
Comments
Landsense Plants
By Brian Orland
By Bamboo Pipeline Staff
Amie Wojtech traveled to Penn State in early November and
contacted Brian Orland for a tour of their facilities; she also
thanked him again for his time spent at UNLV as the team
leader for the accreditation team.
Bamboo Pipeline, in collaboration with a voluntary, expert panel
of California’s leading environmental landscape architects, has
assembled a broad database of more than 400 trees, shrubs,
and perennials that they have deemed ideal as low-water use,
sustainable, attractive and readily-available to help landscape
professionals design and install low-water use, eco-friendly
landscape projects.
His response: "Let me reciprocate your kind words -- thank
you to you and all the other Vegas landscape architects for
the support you are showing Lee-Anne [Milburn] and Danny
[Ortega] in their efforts to move the program forward. Together
you are doing an amazing job and I can promise you that I have
never experienced the same level of support all the way to the
President's Office as I did at UNLV. There's some magic in the
air there that needs to be grabbed, massaged and grown while
the stars are in alignment. Good luck to all of you!”
Brian Orland, Professor & Director
School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
The Pennsylvania State University
State Board
By State Board Staff
The recent Chapter-wide survey had a 38% response rate,
our highest ever; Amie Wojtech would like to thank all of those
who participated and took the time to fill it out. There was one
comment that stuck with her:
“I find it odd that the persons serving on the Nevada State LA
Board do not see the value in belonging to their professional
organization; doesn't that seem odd to you? Can we do more to
promote ourselves to this group? What can we do as licensed
professionals for the State Board? What can our elected ASLA
chapter reps do for the Board and the members? Does anyone
in the elected positions even attend the State LA Board’s regular
meetings and report back to the ASLA membership? Does
anyone in the chapter even know when and where the state
board meets? Maybe we should publish the Board’s meeting
schedule and give the Board space in the newsletter if they
want it to update us on the issues that the board is dealing with
so that members can attend or have input to the Board.”
The LandSensesm plant palette is available, at no cost, to any
landscape professional simply by registering as a user on the
Bamboo Pipeline web site (www.bambooopipeline.com). “It is only
natural that we take a lead to help the industry navigate through
the complex challenge of designing in low-water use, sustainable
and eco-friendly plant material,” says Matt Fay, President of
Bamboo Pipeline.
“Simply by logging onto our web site and reviewing plant items
from our database of over 10,000 plant varieties that we sell
and ship directly to job sites throughout California and Nevada,
a landscape professional can easily identify those plants best
suited for their locale and the specific needs of their customer.”
Dirk Gaudet, ASLA, Los Angeles added, “With a larger selection
of climate appropriate and native plant material provided by
nurseries today, along with the greater demand to reduce water
use and increase sustainability, the LandSensesm plant palette is
a great reference, not only for plant types, but also for confirming
availability from a wide reach of nursery growers.”
“We think this is an appropriate way to ‘give back’ to an industry
that has placed so much faith in our ability to serve their needs,”
concluded Glenn Griffee, Vice President of Bamboo Pipeline.
send your letters and
comments to
[email protected]
NVASLA President Amie Wojtech’s response:
I would like to first thank you for this comment; I feel it is very
constructive and it shows a concern that you have and that
many others share. The intent of this survey was to receive
input from the Chapter and to use the comments as our basis
for our strategic plan to determine the direction we should move
toward as a Chapter.
I spoke with one of the State Board members back in September
and discussed the possibility of having updates put in our
newsletter so the entire Chapter would be more informed of
what is happening at the State Board level. The topic is being
added to the agenda for the Board’s December meeting. If they
approve the updates it will likely occur on a quarterly basis.
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Congratulations to
the firm of
J W Zunino &
Associates for
reaching the
milestone of 20
years of design
excellence!
We should have someone attending our State Board meetings;
I have sent an email to inquire if it is an open meeting. If we
are allowed, I will attend the December 4 meeting here in Las
Vegas. It would ideal if someone in our Chapter would be able
to attend each meeting and bring the NVASLA Board up to
speed at the following Executive Board meeting.
Our Executive Board meetings are open, if you would like
to attend please contact me. They are usually held the first
Friday of the month from 2:00-3:00 p.m. but for this month the
meeting will be held on November 13. Again, I thank you for
your comments and I encourage you to contact me either by
email at [email protected] or by phone at 702.267.4023;
it sounds like you have a passion to be involved and that is
exactly what we are looking for!
Bear Creek Dog Park Manitou Springs, CO.
Photo by Lindzay Green
By Gary Scot, FASLA
Dear ASLA Member:
LETTERS
NASLANEWS November 2009
State Board
The Sustainable Sites Initiative™ has released the first
voluntary, scientifically researched rating system and guidelines
for design, construction, and maintenance of sustainable
landscapes, with or without buildings. A partnership of the
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady
Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the U.S. Botanic Garden,
the Initiative's rating system represents four years of work by
dozens of the country's leading sustainability experts, scientists
and design professionals, as well as public input from hundreds
of individuals and dozens of organizations to create this
essential missing link in green design.
The rating system works on a 250-point scale, with levels of
achievement for obtaining 40, 50, 60, or 80 percent of available
points, recognized with one through four stars, respectively. If
prerequisites are met, points are awarded through the 51 credits
covering areas such as the use of greenfields, brownfields, or
greyfields; materials; soils and vegetation; construction and
maintenance. These credits can apply to projects ranging from
corporate campuses, transportation corridors, public parks,
and single-family residences. The rating system is part of two
new reports issued from the Initiative, The Case for Sustainable
Landscapes and Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks
2009, both available for download at www.sustainablesites.org/
report.
To assess the rating system, the Sustainable Sites Initiative
has opened a call for pilot projects in conjunction with the
release of the rating system. Any type of designed landscape
is eligible, so long as the project size is at least 2,000 square
feet. The call will remain open until February 15, 2010, and the
Initiative will oversee the projects during the two-year process.
More information about the pilot projects is available at www.
sustainablesites.org/pilot.
The release of the Sustainable Sites Initiative Guidelines and
Performance Benchmarks 2009 gives landscape architects a
long-awaited tool for moving the marketplace and advancing
the sustainability of land planning, design, construction,
and maintenance. I hope you will join me in recognizing this
important milestone in our profession.
Gary D Scott, FASLA, ASLA President
Sloan Canyon Trails
Comments Solicited
The BLM Red Rock/Sloan Canyon Field Office is seeking
public comments on the Sloan Canyon Trails Master Plan;
the project proposes to designate about 45 miles of hiking,
mountain biking and equestrian trails within Sloan Canyon
NCA. Comments will be accepted until Nov. 20; the report
can be found at www.nv.blm.gov/vegas.
Written comments are only accepted by mail or delivery to
Sloan Canyon NCA Manager, BLM Red Rock/Sloan Canyon
Field Office, 4701 N Torrey Pines Dr., LV, NV 89130.
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Gaillardia x grandiflora “Mesa Yellow”
An early bloomer, 2009 All America Selection Gaillardia x
grandiflora ‘Mesa Yellow’ offers a superior presentation of color
which continues throughout the summer and have proved to be
wind and rain resistant. Available for retail purchase at Legends
Landscaping Nursery in Sparks; for more information and to see
other 2009 winners, visit www.all-americaselections.org
By Dan Kovach, NN Section Chair
I am pleased to be providing this first column from the Northern
Nevada Section of the Nevada Chapter (NN-ASLA.) As in most
places, the Landscape Architecture community here has been
greatly affected by the current economic doldrums. Early in the
year NN-ASLA chair Marc Chapelle closed down his private
practice and took a position at Great Basin National Park. Most
firms in the area have gone through the staff lay off and salary
cuts to survive.
NORTHER NEVADA SECTION
NASLANEWS November 2009
Northern Nevada Notes
NN-ASLA officers are Ron Blakemore, vice chair, Steve
Weaver (State Parks in Carson City) as treasurer and Sandra
Wendel (private practice in Gardnerville),secretary. The major
goal this year is to support the local Landscape Architectural
community so we are all still around when this thing is over.
Our intent is to accomplish this through membership meetings
featuring speakers to encourage additional certifications such
as Certified Arborist, LEED and Certified Irrigation Designer.
We will endeavor to expand membership and awareness
about the profession by including meetings targeted at related
professions.
During our recent planning meeting, we explored how the
apparent passion of attendees at the recent Photoshop World
Conference in Las Vegas greatly outpaced that of attendees
at the 2008 ASLA convention in San Francisco. We are now
addressing the question of how could the Section increase
the passion of Northern Nevada Landscape Architects in
the profession? We hope to explore this further by featuring
different directions that Landscape Architects have gone to
help support themselves. The intent is that it will lead to an
inspiration for others to identify other service areas or forge a
passion into a financial endeavor.
We are also excited to have the recently formed ASLA Student
Chapter at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC.)
President Michael Plansky has identified a master plan up-date
for the Dandini Gardens as a rallying point for this new student
chapter. The Countess Angela Dandini Garden is a small site that
straddles the TMCC and DRI campuses in Reno, dedicated to
the heritage of the Dandini family. It is an interesting experiment
into a sustainable planting demonstration on a difficult site with
Wine Tasting. Photo by Carrie Becker
8
great views and an Italian flair. The site was recently provided
with a conservation easement by facilities managers of both DRI
and TMCC to provide the site with a legal basis for protection
from future development. The site should provide a significant
resource to the Landscape Architecture AA degree program in
terms of design and implementation with
ossibilities of inter-departmental collaboration.
NN-ASLA is also looking into developing additional mentoring
between professionals in the community and the TMCC student
chapter. We have tested the waters of this in the past and are
confident that, under the current leadership of Kreg Mebust, ASLA
that this will take off in the future.
The weather has provided us with a wonderful Indian summer for
the past few weeks with temperatures flirting with freezing at night
and near 70 during the day. The wide diurnal temperature, fall
colors and a bit of snow in the mountains distract us somewhat
from the difficulties of the economy. We are looking forward to a
great year with surprising outcomes.
Last month Ellis Antunez presented his involvement with CLARB, ASLA, the Nevada State Board of Landscape Architecture and
education. His involvement with each of these spans over 30 years.
Twenty of those years were spent teaching at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), located in Reno, Nevada as the
Program Coordinator/Professor of Architecture, Landscape Architecture & Construction Management. He was instrumental in
developing the landscape program at Truckee Meadows. He recently retired from TMCC (see President’s Message).
At the same time, he was also devoting time to the Nevada State Board of Landscape Architecture (NSBLA), the Council of
Landscape Architecture Review Board (CLARB) and to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). He was appointed to
the State Board and took over for George Charchalis. He went to a meeting in Charleston, South Carolina to represent for CLARB
and three short years later he was the Second Vice President overseeing Exams.
AT THE PODIUM
NASLANEWS November 2009
Ellis Antunez, FASLA
During his time with CLARB he has held the following positions: Alternate Regional Director, Regional Director, Second Vice
President, First Vice-President and President.
He was also a Master Grader. During his time as a Master Grader, he determined how the exams should be graded and then trained
fellow colleagues how to grade the exams. He said that there is a minimum of 3 sets of eyes who grade one exam! He has been
involved in Pre-Testing that takes the exams prior to candidates to verify the quality and validity of the questions.Ellis’ commitment
with ASLA was not anything less than that of CLARB. He was actively involved.
He spent time as Treasurer and Vice-President for the Central California Chapter, which
eventually became our Northern Section.
Today, as our Chapter Trustee, he keeps the Chapter informed on issues that affect the
Chapter as a whole. The “50 by 2010” campaign was established to get every state
designated with licensure laws. This year Vermont had gained momentum but in the end
it did not pass. The Consumer Protection Agency prevented the Title Act. With the help
of ASLA, Vermont is hopeful they will gain licensure next year.
Engineers in the state of Kentucky felt that landscape architects should not be allowed
to do grading plans. This is being worked out with ASLA and CLARB working together
meeting with Kentucky representatives.
Ellis expressed how important it is to have contact with other allied professionals because
each will see how important each discipline is. It was important that during his time with
TMCC he always found a community project for the students to do in order to provide
exposure for our profession, utilizing professionals from the community as project
leaders.
Ellis Antunez, FASLA. Photo by Helen Stone
Advocacy is another task that Ellis maintains a high level of
commitment. Each of us should be able to go and speak
with our state and local representatives. Even if you aren’t
able to meet with the representative directly, you can speak with
a staff member and leave your card.
If ever they have a question about landscape architecture,
you would be the person they can call! National ASLA has the
Advocacy Network available online which keeps you informed
of which bills affect our profession and which representatives
are in favor and against.
Ellis is also a Fellow of ASLA. The Council of Fellows Foundation
is able to provide scholarships to students of landscape
architecture. They typically award two $5,000 scholarships
a year but last year they were able to provide two $6,000
scholarships.
A question regarding Continuing Education was brought up and
currently the state does not offer Continuing Education. It is
not expected to be something that is offered by the state in the
immediate future.
9
Have a speaker
idea? Contact
Caryl Davies at
cdavies@
hamilton-anderson.
com
However, based on his experience and being immersed in the
education sector, Ellis felt that you should not be bound by
Continuing Education credits to invest in yourself.
Ellis presented many options for someone to become more
involved and reminded us all that your involvement to the
Chapter, whether it be local or nationally, begins with you.
In October, Congressman Albio Sires (NJ) introduced legislation
to create more parks and recreation space in our nation’s urban
centers. The Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities
Act (H.R. 3734) would provide federal grants to states, local
governments and community-based non-profit organizations to
construct new parks and recreational facilities or rehabilitate
existing ones in urban communities. Grant recipients must
provide a thirty percent local match and submit a five-year
action plan.
LEGISLATION
NASLANEWS November 2009
Urban Revitlization and Livable Communities Act
The intent of the legislation is to provide more open space and
other recreational opportunities to urban areas which will assist
with improving the health and well-being of their residents and
promote economic development of the areas.
Notably, the legislation encourages the selection of projects
that utilize sustainable landscape features, increase the urban
forestry canopy, improve stormwater management, and provide
overall environmental benefits to urban areas.
Congressman Sires is the former mayor of West New York,
New Jersey and states that “he has seen firsthand how parks
and recreational facilities benefit our communities. These kinds
of investments help our cities flourish, provide positive activities
for our youth, and give our kids and families healthy and safe
places to be outside.”
The types of projects receiving priority through this Act:
o JOWPMWF SFDSFBUJPOBM BSFBT BOE GBDJMJUJFT XJUIPVU PVUEPPS
facilities within a half mile of public housing or a school;
oDSFBUFNBJOUBJOPSSFWJUBMJ[FQMBZHSPVOETPSBDUJWFQMBZBSFBT
for children;
o DPOOFDU DIJMESFO UP UIF PVUEPPST GPS QIZTJDBM BDUJWJUZ BOE
access to nature;
oQSPNPUFQIZTJDBMBDUJWJUZGPSJOEJWJEVBMTBOEUIFDPNNVOJUZ
at large;
oUSBDLUIFMPOHJUVEJOBMSBUFTPGDISPOJDEJTFBTFTJOUIFDPNNVOJUZ
such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and
obesity;
o VTF FOWJSPONFOUBMMZ CFOFGJDJBM DPNQPOFOUT TVDI BT
sustainable landscape features and upcycled and recycled
materials;
o QSPWJEF FOWJSPONFOUBM CFOFGJUT UP VSCBO BSFBT JODMVEJOH CZ
updating lighting; planting trees; increasing the urban forestry
canopy; improving stormwater management; increasing green
infrastructure; employing water conservation measures; and
adding green spaces;
oDPOOFDUUPQVCMJDUSBOTQPSUBUJPO
o VTF -&&% (SFFO #VJMEJOH 4UBOEBSET PS DPOUBJO FOFSHZ
efficiency components such as energy efficient lighting and
HVAC systems, and other sustainable components and
practices;
o DPOUBJO TBGF USBJMT PS SPVUFT TVDI BT USBJMT CJLFXBZT BOE
sidewalks that connect to neighborhoods and enhance access
to parks and recreational areas and facilities;
oFJUIFSFNQMPZZPVUIPSVTFZPVUIWPMVOUFFST
oFOIBODFPSFYQBOEZPVUIEFWFMPQNFOUJOOFJHICPSIPPETBOE
communities by engaging youth in environmental stewardship,
conservation, and service projects;
10
Track this bill at
www.govtrack.us
oVQEBUFFYJTUJOHFRVJQNFOUPSGBDJMJUJFTUPCFJODPNQMJBODFXJUI
the most recent accessibility guidelines published by the United
States Access Board, specifically by removing architectural
barriers so that sites comply or exceed the requirements of
the final guidelines for the accessibility of recreation sites and
facilities; and
o DPOTUSVDU OFX GBDJMJUJFT PS TJUFT UP DPNQMZ XJUI PS FYDFFE UIF
minimum requirements of the final guidelines for the accessibility
of recreational sites and facilities published by the United States
Access Board.
Currently, the Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act
has 85 co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Financial
Services (Barney Frank (MA), Chair) and the Education and Labor
Committees (George Miller (CA), Chair)for further action.
This bill is in the first step in the legislative process. Introduced bills
and resolutions first go to committees that deliberate, investigate,
and revise them before they go to general debate. The majority of
bills and resolutions never make it out of committee.
Be sure this one does: contact our US Representative, Dina Titus,
who is on the Education and Labor Committee by sending an
email to Mike Naft at [email protected] or calling Titus’s Las
Vegas office at 702.387.4941 and let Rep. Titus know we support
the passage of H.R. 3734 and that she should make a valiant
effort to forward this bill out of committee and get it to the House
floor for a vote as soon as possible.
By Lee-Anne Milburn, Ph.D, ASLA, LEED AP
CAMPUS
NASLANEWS November 2009
Accreditation is Great News for UNLV Program
The Landscape Architecture and Planning program at UNLV
anticipates a full accreditation period for the first time since the
program’s initial accreditation.
students so they can get some work experience, and participate
in critiques and juries to provide a local perspective on student
work.
As a function of the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board,
teams of three people - one academic, one administrator and a
professional - are formed and sent to visit and evaluate college
and university programs. The team makes a recommendation
to the LAAB, which makes final accreditation decisions.
We will be looking for assistance from two or three local
practitioners for the suggestion related to monitoring the quality of
concept development and site design quality; we are considering
a process of external review by a team of practitioners involving a
rubric to evaluate and track performance in this area.
Accreditation is important: it allows students to complete a
reduced professional development period prior to licensure in
most states. Accreditation can be denied, given on a provisional
basis, or granted for a period between three and six years.
We are currently discussing different approaches to address our
challenges related to alumni tracking – it is likely that NASLA will
be an important part of this initiative as well.
The UNLV accreditation team included: Brian Orland, former
chair of Penn State’s Department of Landscape Architecture;
Lorraine Davis, emeritus faculty and former vice provost at the
University of Oregon; and, Rodney Swink, former president
of the ASLA, head of North Carolina’s Main Street program,
and part-time instructor at North Carolina State University. The
team spent time with program administrators, faculty, parttime instructors, students at every stage in the program, local
professionals and recent alumni.
There are two categories of comments: recommendations
and suggestions. Recommendations affect accreditation
and suggestions do not, though you still need to address
them and show progress in the annual report. UNLV’s only
recommendation is related to a lack of clarity in the School of
Architecture’s promotion and tenure guidelines.
Suggestions address increasing student exposure to the social
sciences and humanities; monitoring concept development
and site design quality; developing a short and long term plan
for the faculty complement; addressing faculty mentoring;
implementing the recruitment plan; and implementing a
process for local and non-local alumni tracking of contact info
and accomplishments.
How can the NASLA members help as we move ahead?
Continue to sponsor student involvement in the local lunches,
assist us with our internship program by working with local
While the final decision, recommendations, and suggestions will
be made in February, we do expect an extended accreditation
– six years is not unreasonable with the minor scope of the
comments. We were told that the team did not actually believe
that we could have implemented the changes documented in
the Self Evaluation Report, and visited UNLV expecting to find
unsubstantiated claims.
According to the team, “We felt there was no way you could
have done all that in the 18 months you had since the last visit.”
Fortunately, we proved them wrong!
Where do we go from here? The program has initiated changes
to the promotion and tenure guidelines, is implementing the
recruitment plan, developing minors in the humanities, putting our
students through intensive concept development and site design
exercises, developing a plan for our faculty profile, and working
with the College of Fine Arts and the School of Architecture on a
strategy for alumni tracking.
Other than that, we are in the process of hiring a new faculty
member, implementing our new four-year curriculum, planning
for LABASH, and generally proving ourselves worthy of the
commitment demonstrated by the university, community and our
dedicated local professionals.
Special thanks go to our Advisory Group, part-time instructors,
and the local professionals who made time to meet with the team.
Your support made a difference!
ACCREDITATION. Photos by Lee-Anne Milburn
11
Check out LaBASH
information on
the website
labash2010.com
IN MEMORANDUM
NASLANEWS November 2009
Lawrence Halprin, FASLA
Lawrence Halprin, FASLA, one of the world’s leading landscape
architects, passed away on October 28 at the age of 93. His
six-decade career encompassed such prominent works as the
FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C.; Freeway Park in Seattle,
Ghirardelli Square, Levi’s Plaza and the United Nation’s Plaza
in San Francisco; among many
others.
A Fellow of ASLA, Halprin also received the ASLA Medal in
1978 and the ASLA Design Medal in 2003. Among his many
other accolades includes the 2002 National Medal of the Arts,
the nation’s highest honor for an artist. At the 2007 ASLA Annual
Meeting and EXPO, the closing general session featured a Q&A
session with Halprin and The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s
Charles Birnbaum, FASLA.
Visit ASLA.org for more information on Halprin and his influence
on modern landscape architecture.
Levi Plaza, San Fransisco. Photos by Danny McElmurray
12
CALENDAR
NASLANEWS November 2009
Nov.
8
9
10
15
16
17
11
12
13
14
18
19
20
21
26
27
28
4
5
NASLA
Luncheon
11:45a
Cooperative
Extension
Speaker
John P. Smith,
Horticulture
Consultants
Inc.
Sponsored
by Hunter
Industries
22
23
24
25
Thanksgiving
Holiday
29
30 Dec.
1
2
3
LA Awards
@ Pink
Flamingo
5pm - 7pm
Angel Park
Golf Course
NASLA
News
Submission
Deadline
Send files
to editor@
nvasla.com
100 S.
Rampart Dr.
Tickets at
nvasla.com
6
7
UNLV Jury
Week:
Final Jury
for all
studios
Dec. 7 - 11
13
Send your events
and happenings to
[email protected]
Finals Week
Dec. 14 -18
8
9
NASLA
News
December
Issue: The
2009 NASLA
Award
Winners
10
11
12
By Tammi Gaudet, RLA, ASLA
Since 2006, the Nevada Chapter ASLA has held bi-annual
workshops for what has been termed the most difficult section of
the Landscape Architect Registration Exam (LARE)—Section E,
the dreaded Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Management
section.
HAPPENINGS
NASLANEWS November 2009
LARE Workshop Expands
That fall three years ago NASLA Past-President Geoffrey
Schafler invited UCLA Professor Jerry Hastings to instruct a
three day intensive workshop for the exam candidates, and
Professor Hastings has graciously provided this service for
NASLA ever since to over 100 individuals from 21 states in the
US including Hawaii, and also from two other countries.
This fall we added three exciting new aspects to the Chapter’s
educational program:
1
- Our efforts to provide another section workshop—Section C
(Graphic Design)—was a complete success; as the instructor of
this two day workshop, UNLV Associate Professor Lee-Anne
Milburn applied her intuitive instruction methods and had the
candidates completing vignette after vignette in a timed setting
- Since we offered both sections in back-to-back weekends,
NASLA had three candidates decide to stay in town the entire
week and take both workshops, increasing the tourism impact
of our event.
- Our LARE Workshop has gone international - this was our
first year to host candidates from outside the US, with three
examinees hailing from British Columbia, Canada and the
Philippines for the Section E workshop.
This year we had 33 individuals attend our workshops, which
1. Attending both workshops, Domenico Feleppa of San
Fransisco completes a Section C vignette.
2. Professor Jerry Hastings explains Section E vignette
solutions.
2
3. Professor Lee-Anne Milburn reviews Section C.
4. Working on a grading vignette for Section E.
Photos by Tammi Gaudet
was down slightly from 39 in 2008, but more than doubled from
14 in 2007. However, we are very confident that the numbers
will increase as the economy begins to recover; our growing
success is due to great advertisement on the ASLA and NASLA
websites, in Professor Hastings’ blog, and word of mouth from
previous participants.
Since 2008, NASLA has given a detailed survey to each attendee
of the workshops; approximately 94% of the candidates have
given NASLA the highest marks for instruction/material,
workshop location, registration process, and food/beverage
service.
Four responses have been instructive for the production of the
workshops; participants have asked that we provide a more
diverse choice of food specifically for the health conscious, as
well as have the instructors prepare additional vignettes to work
on. We believe we have successfully provided for these two
requests this year.
3
Additional comments which we will address in planning for the
next workshop include: securing a group rate at a local hotel with
shuttle service to and from the workshop site; and, providing the
capability to perform credit card transactions.
Please contact workshop organizer Tammi Gaudet at tammi.
[email protected] if you know of someone who might be
interested in providing a workshop for the remaining Sections A,
B and D of the LARE, or if you or anyone you know is interested
in attending one of the workshops.
The Executive Board of NASLA would like to express its gratitude
to Professor Jerry Hastings and Dr. Lee-Anne Milburn for their
excellent instruction at the Fall 2009 LARE Workshops.
14
4
HAPPENINGS
NASLANEWS November 2009
New Kids
2010 Metropolis
Side Slam
New Kids' Architecture Workshop
Encourages Design Skills
Next Generation Design Competition
CALL FOR ENTRIES
The City of Henderson’s new
architecture workshop serves as a
hands-on introduction to architecture
and encourages participants to visualize
and conceptualize their ideas in different
and creative ways. Taught by a licensed
architect, Design Your Dream Bedroom
invites kids to design their own
imaginative rooms by learning design
basics and exploring a variety of
architectural concepts.
Good design determines how well
products, spaces, and systems work from
the beginning. The folks at METROPOLIS
think that great design ideas can make
things work even better. One Design Fix
for the Future challenges you to prove
them right—whether you are an architect,
interior designer, product designer,
landscape designer, graphic designer,
communication designer. They’re looking
for ONE design fix you can make now in
your designed environment—the products
you use, your home, your workplace, your
city, or any commercial application—that,
in scale or as inspiration, can improve our
future.
Slide Slam in Vegas is quick at 100 seconds;
comparatively, the six minutes forty seconds
each presenter is allowed in a typical
Pecha Kucha to present 20 slides is quite a
luxury. Kicked off by Japanese architecture
students, this mini-lecture style is a fastpaced, exciting way to learn about our local
artistic community. Expect the presenters to
visually expound upon their private worlds,
credos, outlooks or whatever in this visual
quickie with strict restraints: 20 slides, 20
seconds each.
The workshop takes place from 6:00
p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, at
the Henderson Multigenerational Center.
Participation is open to kids ages 7-12
and is $29 per person. A $3 supply fee
is due to the instructor at class. Register
online using activity number 274014-27.
Editor’s Note: Shouldn’t we be doing
something like this to encourage this
same group to become Landscape
Architects? Want to get involved or
know more? Contact Amie Wojtech
at [email protected] or call Kim
Becker, Communications and Marketing
supervisor at 702.267.4030 at the
City of Henderson Parks & Recreation
Department.
SITE FURNISHINGS
FOR THE
Real World
Victor Stanley offers contemporary designs built with 48 years
of “Real World” reliability. We continually evolve our
product lines to fit all environments, while maintaining
the industry lead in durability and quality. All of this allows
ctor Stanley to provide
true piece of mind
and inspiration to the
Nevada landscape
architecture community.
DYN-SD-36 side-door litter receptacle
(One or more of the following apply:
US Patents D573,766 S; D542,993 S;
US patent(s) pending).
David Skalka 1-800-368-2573 Maryland, USA
www.victorstanley.com : Catalog requests, LEED ® info, CAD specs, Images
15
To enter, provide one small (but brilliant
and elegant) fix—leading to an incremental
(or dramatic) change in sustainability.
Your fix needn’t have anything to do
with “environmentalist engineering” to
make a difference. Concentrate on what
you know best, are aching to improve
in a way that deploys your training and
imagination.
The entry deadline is January 29, 2010 –
visit www.metropolismag.com/nextgen/
for more information.
Check out NVASLA.com to get updates on
the next Slide Slam; you can also email
Eric Strain at [email protected]
to be put on the notification list. Eric says
the planning for the December Slide Slam
is still in the works; the January event is
going to be held on Jan 12th at the Fifth
Street School downtown and the one year
anniversary February event will be held
at the new assemblageSTUDIO offices in
Suite 200 at 817 S. Main in downtown Las
Vegas.
visit
www.nvasla.com
today!
By Helen Stone, NASLA Executive Director
I hope you have been enjoying this terrific weather! This is one
of my favorite times of the year: balmy days, cool nights and no
wind. Who could ask for more?
It’s been great to be able to catch my breath after Desert Green.
Even with the down economy, it was a successful event, with
about the same number of attendees as last year. We were
down on sponsor support (as is NASLA), but that is to be
expected in this down economy.
STONE SCRIBBLES
NASLANEWS November 2009
Stone Scribbles
If you read the Las Vegas Review/Journal, you are probably
familiar with John L. Smith. Smith was our keynote speaker
and gave a thoughtful, poignant address on his thoughts on
gardening and landscaping.
The first day offered a whole session devoted to plants – we
had sessions on Mojave, Chihuahuan and Sonoran plants, plus
plenty of design tips.
The day ended with a talk by Joe Murray on invasive species;
Joe is truly an amazing speaker and we were lucky to have him
(it took two years!). He is an instructor at Blue Ridge
Community and can make topics like invasive species and
plant hormones totally entertaining.
David Cristiani of New Mexico. Photo by Helen Stone
The second day, we had a great session on landscape
architecture. Many of you might recall when we had Brian Rouff
and Craig Galati at our luncheon meeting speaking on “Change or
Die.” They quickly ran out of time, but at Desert Green, they had a
chance to expand on the subject.
We also had perspectives from San Diego with Kay Stewart and
New Mexico with David Cristiani, along with presentations from
our own Lee-Anne Milburn and. Alfredo Soto rounded out the
program with a talk on permeable paving.
At the awards luncheon, Guy Collins with Hunter Industries was
surprised by the NASLA Award of Appreciation. We thank Guy
and Hunter for all they have done for our chapter and especially
for the Edwin Hunter Scholarships the past two years.
Our friend and Cooperative Extension sponsor, M.L. Robinson,
was honored with the Tomiyasu Award, considered Southern
Nevada’s top honor for a green industry professional.
You’ll hear from the Southern Nevada Arborist Group’s “Tree
Care Trailblazer” at our next luncheon: John P. Smith (Horticulture
Consultants and retired CSN instructor).
It was a great conference. All that was missing was you! We will
see you next year at Sam’s Town on October 21and 22 - mark
your calenders now!
Amie Wojtech presents the NASLA Award of Appreciation
to Guy Collins. Photo by Helen Stone
Become a NASLA
Annual Sponsor.
To become a
NASLA sponsor or advertise,
please contact :
Helen Stone, Executive Director.
NASLA
PO Box 12507
Las Vegas, NV
89112-0507
16
702.454.3057 (office)
702.454.3097 (fax)
By Karen Klaassen, RLA
At the invitation of the Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance
(RTCA) program of the National Parks Service, ASLA volunteers
Amie Wojtech, Wayne Salom, Shane Ice, and Karen Klaassen
spent the weekend in Pahrump to assist in site selection and
concept design of Last Chance Park.
Deb Reardon and Sally Sheridan of RTCA arranged for lodging
at the famous Sheri’s Ranch and meals at the Nugget as guests
of the Town of Pahrump. Several group members met Friday
and enjoyed an exquisite dinner at the Pahrump Winery.
DESIGN
NASLANEWS November 2009
Last Chance Park Charrette: ASLA does Pahrump
An early morning site visit on Saturday began with Amie Wojtech,
Lindzay Green, and Karen Klaassen joining the support team
from the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and town members.
Enthusiasm was high as the support team shared their
knowledge of the area and their personal interest and hopes
for the ten acre park within the 1650 acre BLM disposal site.
Previous ASLA volunteer efforts had resulted in obtaining wish
lists of the residents.
Last Chance Park Charrette. Photo by Karen Klaassen
At a later community workshop facilitated by RTCA and ASLA
volunteer Karen Klaassen, three sites were selected for
consideration. The entire team piled into trucks to get a close
look at these three sites; we saw a giant lizard, many snake
holes (sans snakes), horse hoof prints in the powdery soil, and
acres of creosote and blackbrush.
Next, the crew was treated to a presentation by author Ken
Legner on the history, culture, and local lore which served as
further inspiration for the design concepts. Early Saturday
afternoon was spent on site analysis and the resulting final site
selection.
The markers flew across the paper as three preliminary
concepts emerged just in time to move to the town hall to
receive feedback from the town team.
The hectic pace and hard day’s work was rewarded with a good
dinner and then a Halloween Party at Sheri’s Cabaret, including
a tour of Sheri’s Ranch by one of the gracious resident ladies,
in costume!
Sunday morning came all too soon, but we were energized by
the breakfast buffet and headed back to the drawing tables
by 8:30 a.m. Revisions and detailing of the concept plans and
seven section drawings were created while Sally Sheridan
whipped out a restoration plan; Deb Reardon created flip charts
and the agenda for the upcoming presentation.
Last Chance Park Charrette. Photo by Karen Klaassen
Because we were so well fed all weekend, we opted to continue
working through lunch to be able to finish a room full of graphics
in just three hours!
Some of the amenities workshop participants asked to be
included include a large parking lot where horse trailers can
maneuver, a bathroom, defined areas with signs for points
of interests, benches, a food center, hitching posts, a ranger
station and increased ranger patrols of the area, shade and a
water pump.
The community turnout included Pahrump’s town manager,
Bill Kohbarger. The residents showed their appreciation with
applause after each concept was presented and then prioritized
their choices.
To our surprise, the town manager announced that he hoped to
develop all three areas within the next two to four years!
The ASLA volunteers were recognized for our efforts with a
formal thank you letter and a bottle of wine for each of us from
the Pahrump Winery.
Last Chance Park Charrette. Photo by Karen Klaassen
17