Milwaukee City Wire

Stephanie Wilson, who serves as the design and development manager for Milwaukee Recreation, has assumed the role of president of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (WI ASLA). Her appointment was confirmed at the annual national conference held in Washington D.C. earlier this month.

WI ASLA is committed to creating a supportive environment for its members through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship. The organization offers opportunities for professionals to engage in discussions about industry trends, participate in workshops, improve their skills, and advocate for the future of landscape architecture within Wisconsin.

Wilson holds a bachelor's degree in environmental design and a master's degree in landscape architecture from the University of Minnesota. She began her career with a small landscape architecture firm working on custom pools, outdoor spaces, subdivisions, and ecological restoration projects in Connecticut and New York. Upon returning to southeastern Wisconsin, she joined the City of Wauwatosa where she worked on parks, streets, and bicycle and pedestrian projects while becoming an active member of WI ASLA.

In 2023, Wilson served as president-elect on the WI ASLA board. Reflecting on her involvement with WI ASLA she stated: “After attending a spring conference and getting to meet other landscape architects in the state, I decided that if I was going to become a member of the organization, I also wanted to be involved.” She began by assisting with spring conference planning and has since taken on various chapter-related activities including coordinating advocacy days and organizing site tours.

Wilson joined Milwaukee Recreation in November 2023 where she collaborates with the department’s design and development team to renovate Milwaukee Recreation’s network of playfields.

WI ASLA is recognized as a primary provider for continuing education credits required for maintaining licensure in Wisconsin. The chapter emphasizes showcasing exemplary work by landscape architects across all cities within the state while providing networking opportunities. As president Wilson aims to enhance these networking and educational offerings: “My primary goal as president is to build upon the current networking and education opportunities that the chapter offers to its members,” she said. Additionally there is potential to incorporate initiatives from the national organization focused on climate resilience and accessibility into local events and sessions.