American Society of Landscape Architects to Receive National Endowment for the Arts Grant

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Through its grant-making to thousands of nonprofits each year, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) promotes opportunities for people in communities across America to experience the arts and exercise their creativity.

In the second major grant announcement of fiscal year 2015, the NEA will make a $40,000 grant award to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) for the Chinatown Green Street Demonstration Project, an interconnected series of vegetated systems to manage stormwater, beautify the public right of way and give priority to pedestrians and bicycles over other transportation uses. This project will serve as a model of how to sustainably manage urban stormwater, and demonstrate design excellence and public education, while improving the urban environment.

NEA Chairman Jane Chu said, "The NEA is committed to advancing learning, fueling creativity and celebrating the arts in cities and towns across the United States. Funding these new projects like the one from ASLA represents an investment in both local communities and our nation's creative vitality."

ASLA Executive Vice President and CEO Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, said, "ASLA is extremely appreciative for the NEA's recognition and support of the project. The funding will allow us to create a master plan for innovative green street technologies that will meet the highest standards of design excellence and combine advanced technologies, beautiful vegetated landscapes, artistic public outreach pieces and integrated access for automobiles, bicycles and pedestrians."

Located in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the demonstration project will be aimed at community residents and workers, visitors to the nation's capital, and district officials, as well as members of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

The NEA will make 1,023 awards totaling $74.3 million nationwide in this funding round.

To join the Twitter conversation about this announcement, please use #NEASpring2015. For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, go to arts.gov.

About ASLA
Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects is the national professional association for landscape architects, representing more than 15,000 members in 49 professional chapters and 72 student chapters. Members of the Society use "ASLA" after their names to denote membership and their commitment to the highest ethical standards of the profession. Landscape architects lead the stewardship, planning, and design of our built and natural environments; the Society's mission is to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education, and fellowship.

Follow ASLA on Twitter at @landarchitects

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SOURCE American Society of Landscape Architects

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http://www.asla.org