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Advocacy Pilot Project
A key component of the project was a survey developed with input from the NAOP Review Committee, comprised of historians, historic preservationists and landscape architects. The survey solicited general information about the park/park system, threats to the park, actions needed to address threats, community information, and organizational ability of groups established in connection with the park. In spring 2005 it was sent to 36 parks, which had been identified through a process that used various sources of information, including The Master List of Design Projects of the Olmsted Firm 1857 - 1950 , known as the "Green Book," an annotated list of known Olmsted design projects, and the Olmsted Research Guide Online (ORGO) – a more comprehensive collection of records relating to the landscape design projects. Dr. Charles Beveridge, series editor of the Frederick Law Olmsted Papers Project at American University, consulted during the selection process. Surveys were completed and returned for 20 parks.
In summer 2005 the Review Committee selected a short list of prospective partners. Consideration was given to diversity of the surrounding community, integrity of the original design, adaptation of park to current uses, interest from local groups, availability of local resources, and suitability for participation in a "pilot" program. These finalists will be contacted again to further understand their needs and plans for park restoration. By winter 2006 NAOP will select the pilot partner, which will receive NAOP's support in the form of expertise, paid and pro bono, and a matching grant from NAOP.
It is hoped that this exercise will inform NAOP sufficiently to broaden the scope of our advocacy efforts to other parks across the country in the future.