Mayoral Innovation: Rethinking Landscape Architecture in Local Government - 1.25 PDH (LA CES/HSW)

Recorded On: 10/12/2025

Mayoral interest in landscape architecture is surging. As mayors increasingly prioritize landscape-based solutions for urban challenges, our profession must rise to the occasion. How are we equipping landscape architects to navigate the complexities of local government and effectively integrate systems thinking into mayoral agendas?

Learning objectives:

Analyze the skills and knowledge required for landscape architects to effectively work within local government structures.
Evaluate current approaches for integrating landscape systems thinking into mayoral agendas and city planning processes.
Discuss strategies for equipping and empowering landscape architects to become leaders in local government and influence policy decisions.
Formulate potential solutions for overcoming barriers to integrating landscape architecture into local government projects.

Trinity Simons Wagner

Executive Director

Mayors' Institute on City Design

Trinity Simons Wagner has served as the Executive Director of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD) since 2012. She’s dedicated to helping mayors lead with design, move boldly, and foster equitable outcomes through policy.

At MICD, she’s worked directly with 500+ mayors and moderated 75+ Institute Sessions, the Institute’s flagship program. She continues to build MICD programs, including the recent development of Mayors’ Virtual Seminars, MICD Alumni Advising, and the MICD Just City Mayoral Fellowship.

Trinity is an active speaker at universities, events, and symposia nationwide, and she currently serves on the Landscape Architecture Foundation board of directors.

Alexa Bush, ASLA, PLA

Director, Planning & Development Dept

City of Detroit

Alexa is passionate about creating equitable and resilient cities. She is the Director of the Planning & Development Department for the City of Detroit, managing a team responsible for planning and implementing neighborhood and economic development citywide. She rejoined the department after three years working in philanthropy at the Kresge Foundation, funding public space, climate-focused, and equitable economic recovery projects in Detroit, having previously spent six years working at the city, helping restructure the department after Detroit’s municipal bankruptcy. Alexa is a licensed landscape architect and received her bachelor's degree from Harvard and her MLA from the University of Virginia.

Diana Fernandez-Bibeau, ASLA, PLA

Deputy Chief of Urban Design

City of Boston

As Deputy Chief of Urban Design for the Boston Planning Department, Diana Fernandez Bibeau elevates the importance of urban design and champions the transformative power of sustainable and walkable communities for all ages and abilities. As part of her work, Fernandez partners on the Mayor’s Green New Deal agenda with City departments, including the Boston Transportation Department, the Environment Department, Parks and Recreation, Mayor’s Office of Housing, Public Works, Public Facilities, Boston Public Schools, and Boston Public Libraries, along with the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture to align urban design efforts into a comprehensive vision for Boston.