Recoupling Planning and Landscape Architecture

A closer marriage between planning and landscape architecture would mean strong connections between the processes of policy making and place making.

1 minute read

November 21, 2019, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


High Line with Denari

pisaphotography / Shutterstock

"Landscape architects need to become urban planners and work 'upstream' in the policy and regulatory process to ensure public space leads urban placemaking efforts."

Ian Dillon writes the above statement to report a message presented by a group of landscape architects at the ASLA 2019 Conference, recently held in Washington, D.C.

According to one of the panelists, Michael Grove, the current disconnect between the two fields has resulted from a historic decoupling of place making and policy making—now landscape architects excel at the former and planners at the latter. "Landscape architects can lead and participate in urban policy-making through 'upstream urbanism,' while prioritizing public spaces as the dominant placemaking strategy in cities," writes Dillon to explain Grove's point.

Monday, November 18, 2019 in ASLA The Dirt

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of residential street in Los Angeles with palm trees and hazy city in distance.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience

Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

April 27 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Entrance sign for San Jose-Santa Clara Regional wastewater treatment facility.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action

As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

April 27 - * A Placemaking Journal

Rendering of Penrose Roundabout in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts

Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.

April 27 - WHYY