BSLA Fieldbook BSLA 2014 Fall Fieldbook | Page 63

Awardee MAYOR JOE CURTATONE Somerville, Massachusetts “Receiving this award is humbling, because I know that I am only one part of a larger effort that extends far beyond the walls of Somerville City Hall. You can see it when you attend any of our public charrettes, with City officials, designers and architects, and residents working side by side to create new visions for our squares and neighborhoods. “Landscape architects create the outdoor spaces where we socialize, play and move about—these are the foundations of any great city. They build the physical infrastructure that makes our city a vibrant and inviting place to live, work, play and raise a family, while creatively tackling the environmental challenges we face, from better air and water quality, to greater access to fresh foods, to reducing our carbon emissions and making spaces for healthy living. The work of landscape architects affects, every day, the way our residents live.” –Mayor Curtatone Mayor Curtatone has long been a friend to landscape architects. Under his leadership, long-standing impasses to the development of Assembly Square were overcome and construction of this transit-oriented Smart Growth project is now under way. This transformation of the city’s pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure has earned the City status as one of the most walkable and bikeable cities in the nation, and the addition or reconstruction of more than 25 new open spaces is evidence of his commitment to a “greener” Somerville, and a sustainable, livable city. A hallmark of Curtatone’s administration is involving the public in the decision-making process with the “Somerville By Design” program, among other initiatives. Awardee NATALIE ADAMS, BSLA “I devote time and energy to the BSLA because it allows me to support my profession. Landscape Architec