2023 Professional Awards
of the Potomac Chapter ASLA
Cultural Landscape Report for the Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Paul Kelsch,
Virginia Tech, Urban Design ProgramThis Cultural Landscape Report identifies threats to the parkway’s historical integrity and proposes treatment strategies to meet safety requirements while enhancing its historic character.
Merit Award in Historic Preservation
The report synthesizes information from original plans, historic photographs, written documents, and field research to assess the parkway’s historic integrity and provide the National Park Service with accurate documentation to serve as the basis for historically grounded management and design.
Mapping vegetation at three scales.The report reveals that the parkway’s history is rooted in early forest conservation—today the parkway is experienced as a nineteen-mile drive through the forest. Though the roadway has a modern alignment, careful design decisions distinguish it as a parkway, in contrast to other contemporary highways.
Character areas are identified by topography
and alignment.Preserving the parkway’s historic character depends upon the health and continuity of the forest and furthering the parkway’s careful design. The report proposes subtle changes, grounded in history, to do both while also improving driver safety.
Special Thanks to these Graduate Assistants
Amanda Cortez, Jake Fettig, Rana Rahimi, Alexandra Schiavoni
Virginia Tech, Landscape Architecture Program
Photo Credit
Photos courtesy of Paul Kelsch, Virginia Tech, Urban Design Program
Congratulations to Paul Kelsch, Virginia Tech, Urban Design Program.
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