HR0654 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0654 LRB102 26181 MST 35824 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, April 26, 2022 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted; and

WHEREAS, Over a lengthy career, Frederick Law Olmsted was an author, journalist, public official, city planner, landscape architect, and creative genius who transformed the American landscape; and

WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted's philosophy and designs influenced the development of beautiful and functional landscapes, including parks and parkways, college campuses, planned communities, estates, cemeteries, recreation areas, and specialized landscapes for arboreta and expositions, including Jackson and Washington Parks in Chicago, the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, and the Village of Riverside; and

WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted is remembered as the premier landscape architect in the United States during the 19th century and is considered to be the founder of landscape architecture in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted was one of the first individuals to promote the idea of national parks in his 1865 Yosemite Report; and

WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted believed that thoughtful landscape designs should promote community, advance democracy, provide recreational opportunities in urban environments, nurture and invigorate public health, and encourage the development of livable communities; and

WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted's associates, sons, and successor firms carried out his philosophy and designs well into the 20th century, leaving a tremendous legacy of historic landscapes that continues to benefit the people of the United States and visitors throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted inspired the development of large parks and park systems for public benefit in urban areas, creating a legacy of parks that are a singular feature of the urban experience; and

WHEREAS, Frederick Law Olmsted's landscape designs play a vital role in the enrichment of Illinois and contribute to the quality of life in Illinois and hundreds of communities across the United States; and

WHEREAS, Communities across the country are celebrating this bicentennial anniversary as part of the coordinated national and local celebration known as Olmsted 200; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare April 26, 2022 as "Frederick Law Olmsted Day" in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of the resolution be presented to the organizers of the Olmsted 200 celebration.