**ASLA Press Releases**

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 23, 2000

Contact:
Kathleen Kennedy, ASLA
202 216-2330

Mary Houser, SA
202 543-6200 (X12)

Julius Zomper, SOS
573-446-3129

Landscape Architects Announce Support for Save Our Scenery Campaign

Press Conference to be held October 29 at ASLA Annual Meeting in St. Louis

(Washington, DC) - The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) will announce a resolution of support for Proposition A, the Save Our Scenery 2000 Campaign, undertaken with Scenic America's affiliate, Scenic Missouri on October 29, 2000 at a press conference in St. Louis. The SOS 2000 Campaign is a citizen's initiative to put the billboard issue to a statewide vote on November 7, 2000. Missouri has over 13,500 billboards along its interstates and primary highways. By adopting this resolution, ASLA, a leader in the livable communities initiative, will send a powerful signal that the commercialization of the American landscape is detrimental to a high quality of life and strong, sustainable economic growth.

"We are happy to be able to lend a strong, nationwide voice to citizens, in Missouri and across the country, who are fighting this blight on their communities," said Janice Schach, president of ASLA.

According to Nancy Somerville, executive vice president of ASLA, "ASLA supports control and removal of billboards that diminish the aesthetic value of their natural surroundings."

At 1:15 p.m., at the America's Center in St. Louis, the three organizations will hold a press conference to make the official national announcement of the resolution of support for the SOS 2000 Campaign. Speakers to attend the press conference include Janice Schach, President, ASLA, Meg Maguire, President, Scenic America and Karl Kruse, Campaign Director, SOS.

The American Society of Landscape Architects, founded in 1899, represents more than 13,000 members nationwide. Landscape architecture is a comprehensive discipline of land analysis, planning, design, management, preservation and rehabilitation. Typical projects include site design and planning, town and urban planning, regional planning, preparation of environmental impact plans, garden design, historic preservation, and parks/recreation design and planning. Landscape architects hold undergraduate or graduate degrees. They are licensed to practice in 46 states and are required to pass a rigorous national three-day examination. For more information, visit our web site at www.asla.org.