MIG

Major win for #ParkEquity! 🌳 On September 25, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the largest-ever grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program: $254.68 million will fund 54 transformative park projects across 24 states, many creating or revitalizing green spaces in underserved communities. As Secretary Deb Haaland said, "Everyone deserves to experience the restorative power of nature." This historic investment marks a significant step towards expanding access to parks in urban and disadvantaged areas. Read more at https://heyor.ca/sp8rNA and stay tuned to learn which MIG park projects will benefit from this grant!

A big congratulations to Dr. Tiffany White-LaPierre, MIG Senior Plannner, on receiving the National Recreation and Park Ethnic Minority Society (NRPEMS) Service Award for Outstanding Leadership during the 2024 National Recreation and Park Association conference held in Atlanta, GA.

We are proud to announce that two MIG projects received 2024 ASLA Oregon Design Awards on September 27. The Chehalis Basin: The Local Actions Non-Dam (LAND) Alternative received the Honor Award in Analysis & Planning/Research, and the Green Ribbon Honor Award in Analysis & Planning/Research. We would like to thank our partner firms Stillwater Sciences, ECOnorthwest, Stowe Development & Strategies, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants and GeoEngineers Inc. for their work on this plan. The second project recognized by Oregon ASLA is Hidden Creek Park West, which received the Award of Excellence. We would like to thank the City of Hillsboro, KPFF Consulting Engineers, R&W Engineering, Structural Nexus, Morgan Holen, DCW, FFA, P&C Construction and Earthscape Play who helped take the inclusive play park from concept to reality.

The San Diego River Discovery Center at Grant Park in San Diego achieved a major milestone in recently completing almost 70% of the project construction! MIG is proud to celebrate this milestone for this long-standing project with The San Diego River Park Foundation. Rick Barrett, ASLA, LEED AP, MIG Principal and Director San Diego Operations, has been the lead site planner and designer on the project, working closely with the Grant Family and Rob Hutsel, San Diego River Parks Foundation President and CEO, for the last 20 years to bring the River Park Foundation’s vision to reality. We are excited to share more as this project progresses and these photos from the recent anniversary event held at the site on September 21. You can find out more about the project at https://lnkd.in/gYZZRV8d

On Friday, October 18, MIG's Carlos Torres de Janon, Associate Landscape Designer, Evan Lanning, Senior Visualization Specialist and Matt Hastie, Senior Project Manager, along with Arini Farrell, Transportation Project Manager at Multnomah County, will be presenting a session "Is A.I. Here to Help or Coming for Our Jobs?" at the 2024 OAPA Annual Planning Conference—Navigating the Future: Planners Initiating Change. This session will include an in-depth review of existing AI tools and their applicability to do the work that we do as community planners. Examples of visualizations created with the help of A.I. will showcase downtowns, transportation corridors and parkland. Conversations with expert panel members about these and non-visual AI tools will help us think about how to continue to advance place-based planning and faithfully reflect community objectives and values.

This week, MIG will be presenting at multiple sessions during the APA Texas 2024 State Planning conference in Allen, TX. On October 17, MIG Project Manager Marco Hinojosa will be presenting two sessions: “Geospatial Guardians: Empowering Residents with GIS” and “The Power of Vibes: Creating Cool Places Through Placemaking and Planning.” Senior Project Associate Saul Vazquez will be leading a session that day as well titled "Empowering Neighborhoods: Navigating Growth Through Compatible Development." That evening, MIG is sponsoring a President's Game Night from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. You can register at https://heyor.ca/DOD34H Then, on October 18, Jay R. Renkens, MIG Principal, Chief Practice Officer and Director of Firmwide Planning and Design Services will be presenting "Urban Trailblazing: Making Ways With What You Have." Learn more at https://heyor.ca/PJUwFh

We have big news from our MIG Portland and Seattle offices: The Play Master Plan for Bagley Community Park in Vancouver, WA, has been approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission! Which means we can officially reveal the plans for the 16-acre project. Back in March, the MIG project team produced three different design concepts for the community to consider and choose from. Each concept had different styles and community priorities. The chosen concept has elements from all three designs—including a wide promenade, picnic and recreational spaces, an event space, a community garden and sports courts. In the middle of the park sits a lush, restored wetland that offers comfortable spaces to learn and experience nature. With all the pieces together, this park acts as a safe and welcoming communal backyard where everyone is invited to relax and have fun.

On October 5, MIG’s José de Jesús Leal, ASLA, Principal and Native Nation Building Studio Director and Nathaniel Willing, ASLA, APA, Project Associate, will meet with other Indigenous landscape architects at the National Museum of the American Indian during the American Society of Landscape Architects' 2024 2024 Conference in Washington, D.C. José and Nathaniel were approached by ASLA to form an Indigenous group that is aimed at fostering connection and collaboration between Indigenous communities and the field of landscape architecture. The initiative supports UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples), reconciliation, and recognition of Indigenous peoples' deep connection to the land. It also serves as a reminder that they’re not working within this space alone. The grassroots effort aims to understand the needs of the group to help ASLA make the pivotal change in how they support Native Nations. Their goal is to support Indigenous peoples, particularly in landscape architecture, while honoring traditional knowledge, culture, language, and the people of these lands, while aiming to create a space for future generations and working with the ASLA towards reconciliation.

This year, ASLA’s Education & Practice PPN will host a discussion on Tuesday, October 8, at the American Society of Landscape Architects' 2024 Conference on research in practice through collaborative approaches that bridges landscape professionals with academics. Bill Estes, ASLA, LEED AP and MIG Senior Landscape Architect will be leading the discussion. The panel includes representatives from the ASLA’s Education & Practice PPN, Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA), and the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) to explore potential ways to provide seamless connections among landscape architecture organizations that advocates for research as part of their mission. The session will introduce perspectives and opportunities for collaborative research in professional and academic practices and then open for questions and discussion.

On Thursday, October 10, MIG's Cindy Mendoza and Dr. Tiffany White-LaPierre will be presenting at the 2024 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Conference. First, their session, "Inspiring Action: The Shift to Outcome-Driven Park and Recreation Planning," will share how to set up a successful planning effort that will position agency for grants and other funding measures. Participants will learn about the distinct types of plans, strategic approaches, collaborative engagement options, and ways to garner political support. Then, their panel discussion, "Is This Where I Belong? Career Segments in Parks and Recreation," will dive into four-career segments within the parks and recreation industry that go beyond municipal government and special district employment. Panelists will share their experiences working in State Associations, Higher Education, Consulting and Non-profit agencies. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/gyN3UNBf