Tomorrow is Frederick Law Olmsted’s birthday!

The influence of Frederick Law Olmsted—and more directly, the Olmsted Brothers’ 1903 Portland park plan—continues to shape Portland’s green infrastructure more than a century later. The vision put forward by John Charles Olmsted called for a network of parks, parkways, and natural areas that would ensure public access to open space across the city. It was a forward-thinking vision that saw parks not as luxuries, but as essential to livability.

At Winterbrook Planning, we’re proud to contribute to that ongoing legacy through our work with the City of Portland and regional partners. Whether we’re volunteering, helping to restore sensitive natural areas, navigate complex permitting for parks and trails, or plan the future of open space in growing neighborhoods, our work is rooted in that same belief: that nature should be integrated into the fabric of the city.

Projects like our land use permitting and environmental planning work for Leach Botanical Garden echo Olmsted’s principles of ecological stewardship and public benefit. Likewise, our involvement in long-range planning for green corridors, environmental overlays, and sustainable community design reflects a continued commitment to balance growth with preservation.

Just as the Olmsteds envisioned a Portland where people could move through the city via tree-lined parkways and enjoy nature close to home, Winterbrook remains committed to ensuring that legacy evolves.