Blog

Authored By Joseph F. Kral Think playground creation is all about picking equipment and color? Think a playground needs to be placed in whatever space is leftover? Think the playground of your dreams is a budget buster? Playground creation can be so much more. A design professional can help you…

Visit a national cemetery and you’re sure to feel an immediate sense of reverence for those who have served. It’s only natural to look upon the rows of headstones and feel the awe of those that sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we cherish today. But – there’s more to…

The Pitney Meadows Community Farm located along the west side of Saratoga Springs represents a highly valued agricultural resource for the city, its residents and the surrounding communities.  The depth of the city’s commitment to this resource was illustrated in the 2002 Open Spaces Resources Plan and the 2015 Comprehensive…

For some, cemeteries are simply gloomy places or forgotten corners of towns and cities across the country. But, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Cemeteries are gateways into history, culture, and community. Often places of historical significance, they’re a critical part of understanding the past and how people who’ve…

Times have changed. Will your historic cemetery be forgotten? Cemeteries, whether they’re urban, rural, public or private, were originally designed and constructed to fulfill multiple purposes within our communities. Often cemeteries functioned as parks as well as a place for burial, with picnicking, strolling and carriage riding as common activities….

Give thanks. Never forget. For more than 20 years, The LA Group has had the honor of planning and designing Veterans Cemeteries across the country. Entrusted with the final resting place of the people who have served on our behalf, we take the privilege seriously and the guiding tenets of…

For me, Olana always existed in photographs. The picturesque home, an intricate blend of Victorian, Persian and Moorish design. The iconic views of the Hudson River, long preserved in dramatic paintings by the creator himself, Frederic Church. Three years later, I’ve had the privilege of learning the many stories, symbols,…

A Q&A with Tracey Clothier All it takes is one afternoon on the water, atop a mountain, or hanging your feet off a dock to see why Lake George is one of the most treasured bodies of water in the country. With one-of-a-kind views, amenities and activities of all kinds,…

Eliminating “make or break” moments Public open spaces, such as parks, are often complex environments that present many wayfinding and navigation challenges for new and repeat visitors alike. As parks and public places evolve over time, signage can be forgotten. Sometimes changes are made piece-by-piece creating a mismatched system. Other…

A Case Study in Preservation, Development and Evolution The LA Group’s Site Facility Master Plan Grey Towers was built in 1886 by James and Mary Pinchot as a summer retreat. James, Gifford’s father, in his observation of the destruction of natural resources during the 19th century, encouraged his eldest son to…