A MAGA Landscape Architects Perspective
As a seasoned landscape architect and a USCG veteran, I’ve experienced the world from both the disciplined structure of military service and the creative, solution-oriented realm of landscape architecture. My time in the U.S. Coast Guard instilled in me a sense of duty to protect and serve, while my career in landscape architecture has been focused on nurturing and improving the environments where people live. I believe that landscape architecture can play a vital role in the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement by fostering safe, livable, sustainable, and fiscally responsible communities. This work is most effective when we focus on local solutions tailored to the specific needs of each community rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all national approach.
Landscape Architecture and the MAGA Movement
The goal of the MAGA movement is to restore America's strength and prosperity by reinforcing values such as self-reliance, security, and fiscal responsibility
To me, landscape architecture aligns perfectly with these ideals. It’s not just about beautifying spaces—landscape architecture is about creating functional, resilient, and environmentally sustainable places where people can thrive.
The landscapes we design directly affect how people interact with their surroundings and how communities function. For example, well-planned parks, streetscapes, and outdoor spaces promote public health, foster community engagement, and support local economies. These are the types of environments that strengthen America from the ground up. In my work, I always emphasize solutions that are sustainable, adaptable, and grounded in the realities of the local environment. It’s through this localized, community-driven approach that we can truly make America greater.
The Power of Localized Solutions
One of the key principles of landscape architecture is that solutions must be tailored to the specific needs of the community. Each region in America has its own distinct character, climate, and culture, and the best design solutions take these factors into account. What works in a small town in the Midwest might not be appropriate for a coastal city in the Southeast, and that’s exactly why local expertise is so important.
In my experience, landscape architecture is most successful when it embraces the unique qualities of the site and the community it serves. For instance, designing a park for a rural community often means integrating features that support local agriculture, provide recreational opportunities, and enhance connections to the natural landscape. In an urban setting, a landscape architect might focus on creating green spaces that reduce urban heat, offer recreational opportunities, and support local businesses.
Localized design is about more than just aesthetics—it's about functionality and resilience. When we design with a deep understanding of the local environment, we can create landscapes that stand the test of time and respond effectively to challenges like natural disasters or economic downturns. Localized solutions are far more effective than national or federal approaches, which often overlook the specific needs and dynamics of individual communities.
Simplicity and Sustainability
A hallmark of my approach to landscape architecture is simplicity. Simple, nature-based solutions are often the most effective and sustainable, especially when we think long-term. This is where landscape architecture can have a significant impact on the MAGA movement—by promoting fiscally responsible designs that prioritize resilience and sustainability.
For example, instead of relying on complex and costly built infrastructure to manage storm water, I’ve often implemented natural systems like rain gardens, bio-swales, and permeable pavements. These features not only manage water more effectively but also require less maintenance and are more adaptable to changes in in environmental conditions. By working with the natural environment, rather than imposing artificial solutions on it, we can create systems and solutions that are both sustainable and cost-effective.
Native plants are another example of this simple yet powerful approach. They are well-suited to their local environments, meaning they require less water, fewer pesticides, and less maintenance than non-native species. By using native plants in our designs, we create landscapes that are more self-sustaining, environmentally responsive, and resilient to naturally occurring climate and weather fluctuations.
Landscape Architecture and Disaster Response
Having served in the U.S. Coast Guard, I understand the importance of preparedness and quick response during disasters. Landscape architecture has a critical role to play in disaster preparedness and recovery, particularly on the local level. By designing resilient landscapes that incorporate natural defenses, we can help communities withstand and recover from events like floods, wildfires, and industrial accidents.
For example, in fire-prone areas, we can design landscapes that reduce the risk of fire spreading to homes and other critical infrastructure. This might include creating defensible spaces around structures, using fire-resistant plants, and ensuring that landscapes are maintained to minimize fuel for fires. In flood-prone regions, natural features like wetlands and greenways can serve as buffers that absorb excess water, helping to protect homes and infrastructure from damage.
Landscape architecture can also play a crucial role in preventing infrastructure damage from hurricanes by integrating natural defense systems that mitigate the impact of high winds, storm surges, and flooding. By designing landscapes with features like protective dunes, storm water retention basins, and strategically planted windbreaks, we can create natural buffers that absorb and redirect the forces of hurricanes. Coastal wetlands, for example, help to reduce wave energy and protect shorelines, while bio-swales and permeable pavements manage excess water, reducing the risk of flooding. These resilient landscape designs work in harmony with the environment, protecting roads, buildings, and critical infrastructure from the devastating effects of hurricanes while also promoting quicker recovery after the storm.
By focusing on simple, nature-based solutions, we create landscapes that are more adaptable and resilient. In the face of disaster, these systems are more likely to survive and continue functioning, helping communities recover more quickly and with less reliance on outside resources.
The Importance of Professional Expertise
While I believe strongly in the power of landscape architecture to contribute to the MAGA movement, I also acknowledge that our national professional organization may not always reflect this approach. The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) often emphasizes broad, and, in my opinion, misguided trendy initiatives that can seem disconnected from the day-to-day realities of practicing landscape architects like myself. That being said, I believe our profession has a tremendous amount to offer in terms of creating resilient, sustainable, and economically responsible communities. And I have faith that our national organization will come around, eventually.
We are professionals, our expertise lies in our ability to see the bigger picture—to understand how the natural environment, infrastructure, and community dynamics interact—and to design solutions that are both practical and visionary. This is where landscape architects can truly contribute to the vision of a greater America. By focusing on localized solutions, we can create spaces that reflect the values of self-reliance, resilience, and fiscal responsibility, while also fostering a strong sense of community and well-being.
Conclusion
As a veteran and a practicing landscape architect, I am deeply committed to serving my community and my country. I believe that landscape architecture has a unique and important role to play in making America greater by creating spaces that are safe, sustainable, and resilient. Our work is most effective when we focus on local solutions that are tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of the communities we serve.
Landscape architecture embodies many of the values at the heart of the MAGA movement—self-reliance, fiscal responsibility, and a commitment to making our country stronger from the ground up. Through thoughtful, sustainable design, we can help create the kind of communities that are not only livable but also prepared for the challenges of the future. It is through this localized, community-driven approach that we can make a real and lasting difference, and in doing so, contribute to a better and greater America.
If you would like to know more, I urge you to reach out and contact me. I can be reached at ermcquiston@gmail.com
~ Eric
Comentários