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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, April 26, 2022 marks the 200th anniversary of the
3birth of Frederick Law Olmsted; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Over a lengthy career, Frederick Law Olmsted was
5an author, journalist, public official, city planner,
6landscape architect, and creative genius who transformed the
7American landscape; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted's philosophy and designs
9influenced the development of beautiful and functional
10landscapes, including parks and parkways, college campuses,
11planned communities, estates, cemeteries, recreation areas,
12and specialized landscapes for arboreta and expositions,
13including Jackson and Washington Parks in Chicago, the World's
14Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, and the Village of
15Riverside; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted is remembered as the
17premier landscape architect in the United States during the
1819th century and is considered to be the founder of landscape
19architecture in the United States; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted was one of the first
21individuals to promote the idea of national parks in his 1865

 

 

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1Yosemite Report; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted believed that thoughtful
3landscape designs should promote community, advance democracy,
4provide recreational opportunities in urban environments,
5nurture and invigorate public health, and encourage the
6development of livable communities; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted's associates, sons, and
8successor firms carried out his philosophy and designs well
9into the 20th century, leaving a tremendous legacy of historic
10landscapes that continues to benefit the people of the United
11States and visitors throughout the world; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted inspired the development of
13large parks and park systems for public benefit in urban
14areas, creating a legacy of parks that are a singular feature
15of the urban experience; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted's landscape designs play a
17vital role in the enrichment of Illinois and contribute to the
18quality of life in Illinois and hundreds of communities across
19the United States; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Communities across the country are celebrating
21this bicentennial anniversary as part of the coordinated

 

 

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1national and local celebration known as Olmsted 200;
2therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
4HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
5we declare April 26, 2022 as "Frederick Law Olmsted Day" in the
6State of Illinois; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of the resolution be
8presented to the organizers of the Olmsted 200 celebration.