SUN-B06: Mayoral Innovation: Rethinking Landscape Architecture in Local Government

Sunday, October 12, 2025

2:00 PM - 3:15 PM CT

Location: New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Room 211-213

1.25 PDH, LA CES/HSW, AIA/non-HSW, AICP, NY/HSW, FL

Speaker(s)

Trinity Simons Wagner

Executive Director
Mayors' Institute on City Design
Washington, District of Columbia
Alexa Bush, ASLA, PLA

Director, Planning & Development Dept
City of Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Diana Fernandez-Bibeau, ASLA, PLA (she/her/hers)

Deputy Chief of Urban Design
City of Boston
Boston, Massachusetts

Mayoral interest in landscape architecture is surging. As mayors increasingly prioritize landscape-based solutions for urban challenges, our profession must rise to the occasion. How are we equipping landscape architects to navigate the complexities of local government and effectively integrate systems thinking into mayoral agendas?

Learning Outcomes:

Analyze the skills and knowledge required for landscape architects to effectively work within local government structures.
Evaluate current approaches for integrating landscape systems thinking into mayoral agendas and city planning processes.
Discuss strategies for equipping and empowering landscape architects to become leaders in local government and influence policy decisions.
Formulate potential solutions for overcoming barriers to integrating landscape architecture into local government projects.