Local non-profit leader, Tina Sullivan, to receive prestigious Olmsted Award
MEMPHIS, TN --- Memphis non-profit leader, Tina Sullivan, is set to receive the distinguished Frederick Law Olmsted Award bestowed by the Tennessee Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects (TNASLA) at their state awards dinner and conference April 8. Media are invited to attend.
During Tina’s 12-year tenure as Executive Director of Overton Park Conservancy, she demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and stewardship in guiding one of Tennessee’s most treasured public landscapes. She championed thoughtful planning, community engagement, and long-term preservation strategies that strengthened Overton Park’s ecological health, cultural relevance, and accessibility. Her ability to unite public agencies, designers, donors, and neighborhood stakeholders reflects a deep understanding of the civic and environmental power of the preservation and enhancement of cultural and environmentally significant landscapes.
Tina Sullivan said, "Overton Park has been shaped by gifted landscape architects from its earliest design to its most recent evolution. My role was to honor that foundation while ensuring the park remained adaptive, loved, and lived in by the people it serves. To be recognized by Tennessee Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects feels like a vote of confidence - not just in my work, but in the park's bright future."
The purpose of TNASLA’s Olmsted Award, named in honor of the founding father of Landscape Architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted, is to promote the ideals he established to ensure the health and enjoyment of the environment by all mankind. The award is given annually to recognize significant contributions in one of four categories: contributions to the profession in Tennessee, preservation of the landscape of Tennessee, enhancement of Tennessee’s physical environment, or landscape architectural education.
Cameron Yates of DT design studio and TNASLA former President, said “The TNASLA Past-Presidents Council awarded Tina Sullivan for her lasting contributions to landscape stewardship in Tennessee and her unwavering commitment to public space.”
With her direction and support, Overton Park Conservancy focused on the 126-acre Old Forest State Natural Area as a key component of the Conservancy’s mission. Tina’s work embodies the spirit of Frederick Law Olmsted; balancing beauty, equity, conservation, and public service. Overton Park Conservancy is in excellent shape and continues to thrive after she stepped down from her role in 2024. Visitors to Overton Park are sure to benefit from her leadership for years to come.
Today Tina remains devoted to the Conservancy and to promoting the benefits of parks and green spaces. She is working to administer federal grants focused on creating accessible sidewalks and safer crossings in and around Overton Park. She is also a board member of the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy, helping to identify grants to improve Tennessee parks. The complexity of her accomplishments cannot be overstated. Throughout her years of working with Overton Park Conservancy, Tina skillfully navigated diverse stakeholder groups gracefully to build bridges in the community while professing Overton Park’s mission gracefully.
Tennessee Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects is a non-profit dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, education and skill in the art of Landscape Architecture and the promotion of the profession of Landscape Architecture as an instrument of service in the public welfare. For more information visit www.tnasla.org.
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