The Future of the Public Realm

FRI-C09: State Parks in the City? Lessons from the Garden State

Friday, September 18, 2026

1:15 PM - 2:30 PM PT

1.25 PDH, LA CES/HSW

Speaker(s)

Kate Tooke, ASLA, PLA (she/her/hers)

Principal
Agency Landscape and Planning
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Kara Slocum, PE (she/her/hers)

Civil and Resilience Engineer
Arup
New York, New York
Maggie McCann (she/her/hers)

Administrator Urban State Parks
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Mount Ephraim, New Jersey

Although “urban” and “state park” often evoke opposite imagery, New Jersey is merging them to create ambitious public spaces. Leveraging perspectives in park operations, design and technical construction, this panel explores how state parks can navigate issues of history, culture, recreation and resilience to thrive in dense districts.

Learning Outcomes:

Describe how urban state parks anchor ecology, recreation, and community life in dense cities while navigating unique pressures around access, equity, and climate resilience.
Evaluate how public agencies organize planning, capital delivery, and long-term stewardship, and how these structures guide decision-making.
Apply direct insights from agency leadership on funding realities, political dynamics, and collaborative strategies that drive successful park planning and implementation.
Experience a candid, inside perspective on the challenges and opportunities driving investment in urban parks today, and discover what truly moves projects forward from vision to implementation.