Transcripts For CSPAN2 Frederick Law Olmsted Conservation N

CSPAN2 Frederick Law Olmsted Conservation National Parks October 16, 2022

And today we look forward to exploring a relatively little known aspect of the olmsteds. They are Critical Role in the creation of Americas National parks. This simple film is part of olmstead 200, the national and local celebration throughout 2022 of the bicentennial of the birth of frederick law, olmstead, visionary reformer and founder of the profession of Landscape Architecture, the National Association for Olmstead Parks is pleased to sponsor this program and honored to be the managing partner of the bicentennial. Working with nine other Stellar National partners, we invite everyone to join us. We have a national website. Olmstead 200. Borg. And a National Calendar of events. We have a monthly newsletter and a lively blog. We have also released a special online exhibit, frederick law olmstead landscapes for the public good in partnership with the oak Spring Garden foundation. You can see some of the extraordinary panels today here in this room. This program is just one of hundreds of opportunities, inperson and otherwise, around the country throughout this year because the olmstead Firm Operated in 47 out of 50 states. We can literally find olmstead landscapes around the country. And of course, here we are in rich olmstead territory. Live from the Nations Capital and coming to you straight from capitol hill, where olmstead served as the first Landscape Architect. It was none other than senator justin morel, a key figure in the late 19th century who invited olmstead to take on this job and with a very interesting instruction, telling him, we hope you dont watch it. The National Association for olmsted parks is grateful to the architect of the capitol, which is one of hundreds of celebrated and partners across the country and cosponsor of this event today. They will be providing are lucky attendees tours and youll hear a little bit more about that shortly. We are also immensely grateful to representative french hill of arkansas, whose state has been deeply involved in olmstead 200 and exploring. Olmstead is living legacy. Thanks to representative hill, the u. S. Congress will honor olmstead during his bicentennial by planting a tree here on the Capitol Grounds in his honor. Grounds that olmstead designed as a free and open democrat space to welcome all americans in the wake of a deadly and divisive civil war at the time that he worked. Now we think of olmstead as a park maker and that he was. But one of the goals of the bicentennial is to explore other important aspects of his multifaceted career. So today, as youve heard, we will zero in on the olmsteds underappreciated contributions to the creation of the National Park service and system. Before olmstead, there really were no public parks to speak of. Most parks were private property only open at the whim of the owner. In the wake of the civil war, parks, as we will hear today, emerged as important municipal and national institutions. Did you know as early as 1865, frederick law olmstead was calling for great. And i quote public grounds for the enjoyment of the people as a duty of government. So today well start with frederick law olmstead, senior in 1865 in the yosemite report followed by an examination of his son, frederick law olmstead jr, who was no small force himself helping to write the organic act that created the National Park service and working for decades with the National Park service. We will conclude our day with a panel of distinguished experts who will examine the historic and current challenges to the public land. Ideal, ranging from displacement to exclusion, lack of public funding to climate change. I should add that our program today takes its cue from a special study commissioned by the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic site in 2020. The olmsted and the National Park system. We will learn more about that shortly. To get us started today, we will hear from director of the Capitol Grounds and arboretum, jim coffman, who will be followed by kim hall, director of the National Capital region for the National Park service. Jim, take it away. Thank you. Good morning. Morning. So my name is jim coffman and im the director of Capitol Grounds and arboretum at the architect of the capitol. And its our pleasure to welcome you here to to the capitol and the capitols visitor center, where excited to host this conference as we explore the conservation and associated challenges of preserving olmsteds legacy as a Landscape Architect, social reformer, reformer and Firm Believer in designing National Parks to support democratic ideals. In describing his plan for the u. S. Capitol, olmstead noted not only that, he was told, but not botch it. Oh, but olmstead noted that the ground is in design. Part of the u. S. Capitol. But in all respect, its subsidiary to the central structure. Thats an important note. So some of those those of you that are going to stick around for the tours later on today. Theres a couple of highlights that i think youll see that as time changes, the landscape changes and the architect is working to restore and preserve some of the aspects of that landscape and that important element that the Capitol Building is the main focus. So he wanted his design to complement and highlight the u. S. Capitol building, and he created a landscape that incorporated park like edging low walls, lamps. And when we do our tours, too, i want you to Pay Attention to some of those awesome lamps down on the lower west front. We recently had did a about a year, year and a half long effort of restore bring those lamps and their beautiful. So we also had the careful placement of trees and shrubs and a series of curved walkways that offer attractive views of the u. S. Capitol. But do not distract the viewer from the building. And thats another important aspect. As you do walk the grounds, whether on a tour or on your own. Notice the intricate details. And as landscape professionals in public around profession knowledge, youll be able to notice the differences in the textures that are provided. You know, just time out your computer here. Hope not. But youll notice the differences that are added to the textures of the of the trees and the views that are opened up by the design and in particular. So as we discuss and learn about olmsteds legacy today, i encourage you to take pleasure in knowing that we are sitting in the u. S. Capitol when olmsteds crowning jewels. I challenge you not to not only remember his legacy, but also to discuss solutions to the challenges that we face in the public lands sector. And then finally, i want you to feel inspired knowing that we are all helping to preserve olmstead legacy for future generations. And then last but not least, a couple of details. If you had the opportunity to go around to the gift shop, put a plug in for the cbc gift shop, theres a nice olmstead display in the gift shop. Lots of good olmstead goodies, but some that we are very, very proud of is the way how we are giving new life to some of our trees on campus. We are working with local artists to manufacture products that are for sale in the gift shop that are made in the u. S. By local artisans. Beautiful bowls of cufflinks, all sorts of good stuff. Some that actually come from some of the old state trees as we prune. So thats up there in the gift shop. Take some time. You also get a little bit of a notice about our grounds and a little bit of legacy in that matter. And then finally, for the tours to 15 will meet down at garfield circle. So thats down by the Botanic Garden. If you go down to the Botanic Garden or the reflecting pool, you cant miss them. Go down the hill and its on the south side. Were depending on how many people we have. Were going to divide up in groups and i see steves back there. So depending on how many people are there, were going to divide up into groups and be able to provide a tour around around the grounds, give you insight to what was in olmsteds time and then where were going with it. So thank you for being here and welcome. Thank you. Well, good morning, everyone. As didi pointed out, my name is kim hall and im the regional director here for the National Capital region. Ive had the privilege of serving in this role for just shy of two years now, but this is year 36 with the National Park service. So every day is a learning experience. Every time i think ive learned as much as i can about a particular site or about a particular issue, i moved to a new place and i learn more stories and it really is a privilege. The National Capital region now covers both the District Of Columbia as youre aware, but it also extends out into western maryland. Harpers ferry, National Historical park in west virginia. We have northern virginia, and then in any number of sites within the District Of Columbia itself that are individually managed and we have a great team here who provides oversight and protection and preservation of all those sites for your enjoyment and for the millions of people who come to d. C. Every year. A little known fact about me. There was a point in time where i aspired to be a Landscape Architect and i had deep admiration for the work of my colleagues who were engaged in the profession of Landscape Architecture. And i would go to their office and look at the drawings and really think about and understand how they were viewing the idea of construct married with nature and then i figured out how many years of education it was going to take me and i didnt have the patience for that. So for all of you who are Landscape Architects or who somehow serve that profession, my hats off and my admiration to you because i do think its truly one of the most amazing skill sets and one of the most amazing disciplines we have in this country. When we think about design and certainly in its relationship to National Parks. So as i mentioned, it really is a privilege of managing the sites here in d. C. And the larger the greater d. C. Area, many of these sites are tributes to some of the most significant leaders in our history, to some of the most compelling parts of conflict and war. We protect the area, the landscape around the outside of what is now camp david. So we have a very interesting portfolio here in the region, and it truly is a privilege, not just in you know, the day to day operations of preservation of sites or the maintenance of things that olmstead or his sons created. But the preservation of the expression of First Amendment rights. This is when we think about the National Mall for example, and lafayette square, just outside the white house and the ellipse. These are some of the most premiere sites for First Amendment expression in our country. And if we give ourselves a moment to really stop and absorb the responsibility we have and the privilege we have to provide that in in often in ways that no other country provide. It truly is a privilege and its been an honor to move up here and spend a couple of years working here in preparation for the welcome today and to welcoming you to d. C. I knew a little bit about frederick law olmstead, senior and that there you know his his significant influence in the park service. But i did spend some time with my staff to drill down a little bit into that legacy, to understand that a little better. And again, its another one of those a new day, new things to learn. And so they sent me a whole bunch of information that i peruse. And i wanted to pick out a couple of things that resonated for me many of you, i think already know have a really strong understanding of olmsteds influence that which his sons continued later in their lives. So i wont try to, you know, say that i have any expertise in this area, but it did get me thinking about my responsibility here in d. C. And in the in this region. And so the legacy things that jumped out for me and one of the keys was really olmsteds belief that accessibility to nature is integral to americas pursuit of happiness. You know, i personally know that when im struggling, if i feel the weight of the world on my shoulders, the first thing i want to do is get out into nature and i want to connect. And when we think about the landscapes that we have here, being able to connect to nature in urban areas, in particular becomes that much more needed and valuable. Of course, we start with yosemite, right . The the mothership of all parks, although i think yellowstone would start to disagree with that. But were not going to get into the big wide park argument. Thats for them to decide how they can take and tackle that one. But but that idea of setting something aside and really protecting all that is yosemite grew. It was really almost the appleseed rate of this giant tree that became what is the National Park system. And we now that concept and the idea of preservation of stories and places has grown into 400. And i think 23. I dont know jay or sheldon or somebody can correct me. Im sure its more they they change every day. It seems like because were thinking ahead right and that was part of his vision is really thinking ahead. And then broadly the influence on the Landscape Architecture world. Right. The idea of marrying preservation and natural spaces and creating places that really worked well with nature and not against nature. We have plenty of examples of trying to fight against nature, but the idea of incorporating that Natural World into design, super compelling and again as somebody who aspired to that profession at one point became just enamored with the idea of of how that played out in olmsteds influence in the park service. And then finally, a part of his legacy that also jumped out at me was his sons right. And the work that they took on after his death and their effort to to continue in the mission of design and nature and preservation, because lets be honest, how many Kids Really Want to do what their parent does for a living . Not many. So the fact that he convinced his kids to want to take on Landscape Architecture and keep them keep that going says something for his ability to have an influence. Because ive tried to tell my kids what to do and theyre not interested. So so i appreciate his legacy. It played out in a lot of ways, right. So so you have seniors vision for many sites across the park service, but then you have his sons also and the olmsted Brothers Company who continue that legacy in the dc area. So we think about just a handful of things. So the grounds of the white house and president s park and we talk about that landscape preservation and the sightline to the white house and what that home means and the expression of First Amendment rights. And that significance, the intention of the National Mall and the construct of the grounds around the jefferson and the Lincoln Memorial, and putting that making that available to the public and and all of the important parts of our society and our change in government and our and our culture that have played out on those grounds over the many years that they have existed. Imagine if they were condos, right . I mean, thank god they thought ahead and said, were going to lay this landscape out and make it available. Teddy roosevelt island. So, you know, if you live in the area, maybe youve kayaked or gone out there and and really just been inspired by love, Teddy Roosevelt love all the roosevelts. But setting aside that space and in honoring not only roosevelts legacy, but setting aside some wild space within the potomac river, again, which we managed, and then, of course, Rock Creek Park and ultimately that park becomes the backyard for many, many, many people who live here in the District Of Columbia. Its the you know, its the sanity amongst the chaos. It is the place of nature for many people. And the solace that they find, whether they drive back and forth on their way to work or whether they go there on the weekend with their families or their dogs or they use it for health. And we think about the Health Connection to Rock Creek Park, or they use it to play music or again demonstrate their First Amendment rights. And then, of course, all of their work and vision between senior and and olmsted brothers, fed into the protection of the civil war defenses here in d. C. , which was actually something new. I didnt know until i moved up here and took a leadership role. And then all the parkways and how they connect access to those to those sites. Theres a couple of parkways id like to give away, but. Well, well take it for what it is at the moment, and well do our best with it. And then, of course, the 1918

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