February 10, 2006—The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) released a statement on January 18 in reaction to the Bring New Orleans Back Commission’s report.
The statement reads in part:
“ASLA supports the comprehensive plan, drafted by Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC, and recently presented by the Bring New Orleans Back Commission, which will create a safer, resilient, and more vibrant New Orleans. The plan calls for the complete restoration of the wetlands surrounding the city, providing a vital, natural land barrier against storm surge and a comprehensive parks system putting open space in every neighborhood, creating greenways to connect neighborhoods, and reusing areas around canals and levees as open space.
“In addition, transportation corridors would be designed to better accommodate pedestrians and alternative modes of transportation. The Society is also encouraged to see plans for a citywide, high-speed light rail system to connect neighborhoods to the downtown area, as well as provisions for a heavy rail system that will connect New Orleans to neighboring cities. ASLA supports efforts to bring comprehensive planning to the city’s streets and neighborhoods through the Neighborhood Planning Areas initiative. The Society hopes and expects that landscape architects will play an integral role in this planning and rebuilding process.”
The statement concludes, “In the end, rebuilding New Orleans must come about after a comprehensive planning effort—one that will take time and must consider not only rebuilding, but protection for the future. Rushing to rebuild without providing real security will only undermine the widely shared goal of making New Orleans and many other communities along the Gulf stronger and better than ever before.”
For the complete statement, visit ASLA.
