This year, we also celebrate the Huangshi Bay Coastal Park Master Plan, which received a Honor Award in Analysis & Planning as part of the 2026 ASLA Awards.

Full conference details can be found on the official conference website.

Wednesday, September 16

WED-B03: Let’s Talk About Sequestration

Chris Hardy, ASLA, with Nicholas Pevzner, ASLA (University of Pennsylvania); Jonah Susskind, ASLA (SWA)

10:45 – 12:00pm PT

A discussion about the realities of carbon sequestration, and what’s needed in order to harness its potential with accuracy, authenticity and maximum impact to achieve our climate action goals.

Thursday, September 17

THUR-A07: Perception of Place: Integrating Multisensory Experiences into Design

Ian Scherling, ASLA; Alexa Vaughn, ASLA; Jessica Canfield, ASLA, PLA (Kansas State University)

8:30 – 9:45am PT

Multisensory design can transform the way people experience public landscapes, but many projects often fall short of addressing the full range of sensory experience. This session explores how multisensory approaches across all phases of research and design can build equity and accessibility. 

THUR-C06: Public Lands Under Pressure: Co-creating Resilient Civic Spaces Through Collective Design

Anna Cawrse, ASLA; Amber Richane, LEED AP (City of Santa Monica); Renato Olmedo-Gonzalez (Salt Lake City Arts Council)

2:15 – 3:30pm PT

This session explores two Sasaki projects—the conversion of the decommissioned Santa Monica Airport into a great park and the transformation of a site once home to Salt Lake City’s vehicle fleet into a vibrant public space—and the role of social justice, art, and engagement in building civic spaces. 

THUR-FS-05: A Window to the Waterfront: Exploring Wilmington’s New Waterfront Promenade

12:45 – 5:00pm PT

A walking tour of the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade, a vibrant 9-acre park that co-exists with a working port and reconnects the Wilmington community to the waterfront they were previously severed from. Transportation included; moderate walking.

Field Session Leaders: Jan Dyer, ASLA, PLA (Studio-MLA); Christian Castro, PE (Port of Los Angeles)

Field Session Presenters: Zachary Chrisco, Hon. ASLA, PE; Philip Dugdale, ASLA, PLA; Eric Marecki, ASLA, PLA (Studio-MLA); Diana Fernandez, ASLA, PLA (City of Boston)

Friday, September 18

FRI-FS-09: Disability as Design Lens: An Audit-workshop Exploring Accessibility, Joy, and Mental Well-being

8:30am – 12:00pm PT

An interactive audit-workshop at Gloria Molina Grand Park centered on designing inclusive and joyful spaces that embrace people with disabilities and mental illness.

Field Session Leaders: Alexa Vaughn, ASLA; Deanna Lynn, ASLA (Wild Land Workshop)

Field Session Presenters: Kelsey Zlevor (Mental Landscapes/Epstein); Jill Moore (Landscape Structures); Elliott Kenney, ASLA (landscape designer, freelance)

FRI-A01: Designing Food as Landscape Infrastructure

9:00 – 10:15am PT

Panelists will share strategies and perspectives on centering food systems as essential elements of landscape infrastructure and offering frameworks for leveraging agriculture and stewardship to support biodiversity, soil health, and territorial planning.

Speakers: Ming-Jen Hsueh, ASLA; Henry Gordon-Smith (AGRITECTURE); Forbes Lipschitz (Ohio State University) 

FRI-C05: Innovative Placemaking for Marginalized Communities Through Public Art, Storytelling, Wayfinding, and Programming

1:15 – 2:30pm PT

This session explores approaches to creating spaces for remembrance, celebration, and connection through collaborative design efforts in order to help marginalized communities reclaim their public realm and celebrate community.

Speakers: ponnapa prakkamakul (gift), ASLA, PLA, LEED AP, SITES AP; Hanson Hom, ASLA, FAICP (Urban Planning Consultant); James T. Rojas (Place It!)