Summary

Established in 1980, the National Association for Olmsted Parks (NAOP) is the principle national organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration and maintenance of historic parks and landscapes throughout North America, focusing primarily on preserving the fragile legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted and the firm founded by his sons. NAOP is currently working to implement a new and timely strategic plan that is providing the tools and resources necessary to maintain exemplary parks and landscapes, particularly in urban areas.

Beginning in 1858 with his successful bid with Calvert Vaux to design Central Park in New York City, Frederick Law Olmsted's practice and the practice of his sons' firm spanned nearly one hundred years. The Olmsteds' remarkable accomplishments include the completion of plans for 3,500 landscape works and some of the world's most important urban parks that are now considered works of art. The park and landscape design work of Olmsted and his firm reflect a vision of American communities and American society as relevant today as it was in the second half of the 19th century — a commitment to visually compelling and accessible green space that restores and nurtures the bodies and spirits of all people, regardless of their economic circumstances.

Some 25 years ago, the country came perilously close to losing this vision forever. In cities nationwide, parks and landscapes designed by Olmsted, his sons and associates were threatened by neglect, development pressures and urban decay. Recognizing the potential for parks and landscapes in creating more livable communities, and aware of the threat to the landscape legacy throughout North America, a group of concerned and passionate individuals came together to form NAOP in 1980 in Buffalo, NY.

For more than twenty-five years, NAOP has taken a leadership role in raising awareness of the importance of the historic landscape design legacy among public officials and community leaders, and among professionals and academics throughout the world of landscape design — all of whom exert enormous authority over the fate of parks and landscapes. NAOP has encouraged scholarship and published key reference materials, developed and sustained local park restoration efforts, and provided technical and historical information to ongoing preservation efforts. Today, some notable Olmsted parks are restored or are in the process of restoration; strong community groups exist in a number of urban areas to advocate and preserve Olmsted parks and landscapes; a body of Olmsted documents and information is readily available to scholars, park advocates and park managers; and Olmsted's historic home and office at Fairsted in Brookline, MA, is a public resource administered by the National Park Service.

Yet, despite these accomplishments, many historic landscapes and parks designed by Olmsted and others continue to be neglected or are lost altogether. The extent of actual construction of Olmsted designs and their condition is unknown. Many significant parks and landscapes are in danger, and the support and clout of community groups around the country in preserving these historic landscapes is uneven at best.

Recognizing the importance of its work to preserve the vast number of historic parks that remain imperiled, NAOP undertook a strategic planning process with the support of current and former Board members. NAOP's resulting strategic plan clarified its mission to advance Olmsted's principles and preserve irreplaceable parks and landscapes that revitalize communities and enrich people's lives. NAOP has made significant progress in implementing its strategic plan with the overall goal of achieving an organization that is stable and effective in championing the cause of historic landscapes.

Over the past three years, NAOP has demonstrated a steady increase in the areas of advocacy, research, education, communications, and building organizational capacity. The organization today is much strengthened for the long term.

Advocacy is conducted on behalf of significant historic landscapes and the organizations working to protect them.

Research on the work of Frederick Law Olmsted and his firm, both to increase accessibility of their plans and correspondence and to establish the extent of actual construction of Olmsted designs and ascertain their present condition and their level of current endangerment.

Education to expand public understanding of the significance of historic parks and landscapes and instill the importance of land planning among the next generation of landscape architects and the cultural heritage field.

Communications to mobilize constituents and to share the broadest array of information that will enable park supporters to increase their effectiveness.

Organizational capacity to develop NAOP as an effective national organization for the field of historic parks and landscapes.

NAOP has become a strong and mobilized membership organization that has wielded tremendous influence and nurtured a generation of park advocates and academics. Given its more than 25 years of accomplishment, the importance of its work, and the recognition that a new generation of leadership will soon be called upon to carry on that work, NAOP is eager to carry out the work called for in the planning process.