The Underline:  Innovative approaches to linear park planning and landscape architecture

Wednesday, October 18, 2023, noon to 1:30, Eastern

Since its founding, Friends of The Underline has been committed to transforming underutilized land below Miami’s Metrorail—from the Miami River to Dadeland South Station—into a 10-mile linear park, urban trail and public art destination. The third phase, now under way, will encompass some of The Underline’s most innovative and ambitious design elements, including bioretention ponds and bioswales designed to collect and filter rainwater runoff in a garden setting and the Miyawaki method for urban afforestation.  Miyawaki Forests are biodiverse, native, pocket-sized forests that reestablish full, functioning ecosystems in the areas they are planted.  This scalable, replicable nature-based climate solution leads to cooling, increased biodiversity, communal resilience, and reduced maintenance, among other benefits.  Friends of The Underline Chief Operating Officer Patrice Gillespie Smith will discuss the evolution of the public-private partnership to convert unused urban land into a major community asset, and Isabel Castilla, ASLA, and Alejandro Vazquez, ASLA, of James Corner Field Operations will focus on innovative planting strategies, including the incorporation of micro-forests and bioswales in the landscape architecture.  The session will conclude with questions and answers.

This event has been approved for professional certification credits for those attending the live webinar:  planners (1.5 AICP CM #9272831), Florida attorneys (1 General CLE #2308263N), Florida Landscape Architects (1.5 DBPR credits #0013579), and Certified Floodplain Managers (1 CEC).  1000 Friends has applied for professional certification credits for Florida Environmental Health Professionals (DOH) but cannot guarantee they will be approved.

Land Application of Biosolids in Florida: Challenges, opportunities, and equitable solutions

Wednesday, November 8, 2023, noon to 1:30, Eastern

Community planning entails considering all aspects of human activity. As Florida’s growth continues to skyrocket, we are pressed for sustainable management of society’s wastes. Biosolids (sludge, septage) are a byproduct of common wastewater treatment processes. In Florida, most biosolids are landfilled or transported and applied on rural lands as fertilizer or soil amendment. With our state’s water quality challenges and as our rural areas feel pressure from development, a more sustainable, long-term solution to the conventional land application of biosolids is needed. In this webinar, consultant Craig Diamond, environmental economist Dr. Chris De Bodisco, and Florida State University PhD student and researcher Elio Fernandez will share findings from a recent 1000 Friends of Florida project evaluating biosolids management, distributional considerations of Florida’s disposal practices, and options to mitigate its impacts.

This event has been approved for professional certification credits for those attending the live webinar:  planners (1.5 AICP CM #9274562), Certified Floodplain Managers (1 CEC), Florida Environmental Health Professionals (1.5 contact hours), Florida Landscape Architects (1.5 DBPR credits #0013580), and Florida attorneys (1 general CLE #2308743N).  

2024 Florida Legislative Preview

Wednesday, December 13, 2023, noon to 1:30, Eastern

The 2024 Florida Legislative Session, slated to start on Tuesday, January 9, will have significant public policy impacts for planning, conservation, transportation, community design and other issues of concern to many Floridians. 1000 Friends President Paul Owens, Policy & Planning Director Jane West, and Outreach Director Haley Busch will discuss key bills and budget recommendations related to planning and growth management, conservation, transportation and water that are likely to be up for consideration during the 2024 Session, including how legislation could impact Florida governance and planning practices. 

This event has been approved for the following professional certification credits for those who attend the live event: planners (1.5 AICP CM including 1 Legal, #9273138), Florida attorneys (2.0 General CLE, #230759N), and Certified Floodplain Managers (1 CEC). 1000 Friends has applied for professional certification credits for those who attend the live webinar, including Florida Landscape Architects (DBPR credits) and Florida Environmental Health Professionals (DOH) but cannot guarantee they will be approved.

JANUARY INFORMATION COMING SOON

2024 Florida Legislative Update

Wednesday, February 14, 2024, noon to 1:30, Eastern

The 2024 Florida Legislative Session will have significant public policy impacts for planning, conservation, transportation, community design and other issues of concern to many Floridians. 1000 Friends President Paul Owens, Policy & Planning Director Jane West, and Outreach Director Haley Busch will discuss key bills and budget recommendations related to planning and growth management, conservation, transportation and water that are being considered during the 2024 Session, including how legislation could impact Florida governance and planning practices. 

This event has been approved for the following professional certification credits for those who attend the live event:  Florida attorneys (2 General CLE, #2307644N) and Certified Floodplain Managers (1 CEC).  1000 Friends is applying for professional certification credits for those who attend the live webinar, including planners (AICP CM), Florida Landscape Architects (DBPR),  and Florida Environmental Health Professionals (DOH), but cannot guarantee they will be approved.

2024 Florida Legislative Wrap Up

Wednesday, March 20, 2024, noon to 1:30, Eastern

The 2024 Florida Legislative Session has significant public policy impacts for planning, conservation, transportation, community design and other issues of concern to many Floridians. 1000 Friends President Paul Owens, Policy & Planning Director Jane West, and Outreach Director Haley Busch will discuss key bills and budget recommendations related to planning and growth management, conservation, transportation, and water that passed and failed during the 2024 Session, including how legislation could impact Florida governance and planning practices. 

This event has been approved for the following professional certification credits for those who attend the live webinar: Florida Certified Floodplain Managers (1 CEC) and Florida attorneys (2 State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice CLE #2307687N). 1000 Friends is applying for professional certification credits for planners (AICP CM), Florida Landscape Architects (DBPR), and Florida Environmental Health Professionals (DOH), but cannot guarantee they will be approved.