Land & Environment
By Natalie Kae Humpherys |
Bailey Guinn, a master’s student in landscape architecture at Utah State University, has been awarded the prestigious JSR Foundation Scholarship and BLT Built Design Award for her “Waking Water” project. Her design aims to heal the Warm Springs and North Gateway parks in Salt Lake City, areas with a rich history dating back to 10,000 BCE.
The park’s warm springs have supported many people, including nomadic tribes, the Ute Tribe, early settlers and Pacific Islanders. However, the area has faced prolonged periods being unsettled due to social and environmental challenges.
Guinn’s “Waking Water” project focuses on restoring the water and enhancing the parks both environmentally and socially. Through extensive cultural and landscape architecture research, she is developing programs that draw from community traditions and practices and resonate with the existing community.
The JSR Foundation supports landscape architecture students in the Rocky Mountain Region and annually recognizes an exceptional project like Guinn’s. As this year’s winner, the scholarship will aid her commute to the project site and the hours spent working on these spaces.
The BLT Built Design Awards celebrate outstanding projects worldwide in landscape architecture, interior design, architecture and construction. Upon learning she was selected for the scholarship and award, Guinn felt the parks were finally getting the recognition they deserve.
“It felt good to be doing something beneficial for many people,” Guinn said.
She has been inspired by the many people she has met while learning about their diverse needs and aiming to create spaces that foster connection and belonging. Developing the “Waking Water” project has taught Guinn to dig deep to formulate strong solutions that resonate with the community.
Guinn’s next steps include finalizing designs with a list of plants significant to Indigenous people and working with Salt Lake City to develop signage that tells the history of the Hawaiian people who once lived on these sites. She will also continue to work with various tribal nations for whom the site was significant.
The project has reinforced Guinn’s commitment to social and environmental justice in public spaces. Her goals are to create equitable spaces, enhance community well-being and advocate for environmental stewardship in her future career. The scholarship and award have validated the importance of her work and research, alleviating graduate school expenses and allowing Guinn to focus on her project.
Guinn acknowledges the support she received from many people, including Associate Professor Todd Johnson and Professor Caroline Lavoie, especially through difficult times on the project. Her advice to other students applying for scholarships and awards: “It can be competitive, but with careful planning, preparation, hard work and heart, success is achievable.”
Bailey Guinn.
Natalie Kae Humpherys
Marketer/ Development Research Assistant
College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
(435) 797-2140
n.humpherys@usu.edu
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