2026 Annual Olmsted Network Conference Held in Portland
The Olmsted Network brought together park partners from 87 organizations—representing 53 cities and 20 states (plus Washington, DC, and Canada)—for their Annual Conference in Portland, OR.
Across three days of learning in September throughout the city’s abundant green spaces, participants engaged in energetic and meaningful conversations about resilient public landscapes. In the keynote presentation- Parks as Civic Infrastructure: Connecting Communities in a Changing World- Dr Vivek Shandas of Portland State University examined the ways parks can help communities become healthier, more connected, and more resilient. A panel discussion on Building Political Will for parks: Funding the Public Parks We Want explored how cities define their vision for public parks, build political will around that vision, address historic inequities, and develop sustainable funding strategies that support more just outcomes for today's communities and future generations. Various presentations and break-out sessions explored a variety of related topics.
Friends of Terwilliger (FOT) board president, Anton Vetterlein,** gave a 10-minute talk on the history and design of Terwilliger Parkway; Mike Houck talked about the Olmsted Brothers 1903 Portland Parks Master Plan, Jim Sjulin discussed the 40-Mile Loop, and Larry Cotton talked about Olmsted design projects throughout the Pacifc Northwest. There were also social events, tours of various parks and neighborhoods around Portland, and an awards dinner to finish the conference.
**"The uniform and continuous character of the Terwilliger roadway, and the regular cadence of the distinctive light poles create a kinetic experience as one moves along it, and they tie together the various experiences of expansive views, enclosing forest, open lawns, and screened development from one end to the other with little interruption from cross streets or stops. It is these kinds of rich, varied, and nuanced experiences that the Olmsteds -father and sons- explored and developed over their long and illustrious landscape design careers." Per Anton Vetterlein's presentation on Terwilliger Parkway.