20 years, 20 champions. Each instrumental in Design Trust's lasting impact on NYC's public realm. Each another journey.

Hear each champion's story, one every day here on our blog, culminating with a grand celebration on October 14, at Christie's. While enjoying a festive evening of music by AndrewAndrew, cocktails by Templeton Rye, custom photo shoots, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction of art and design objects, you'll also meet the 20/20 Public Space Champions in person.

Join us to celebrate our champions, who have tirelessly been working to improve the daily lives of New Yorkers for two decades. Jumpstart the next 20 years of urban innovation by buying a ticket to the gala today.

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NYC Parks Principal Urban Designer Charles McKinney played a pivotal role throughout the agency's four-year collaboration with the Design Trust, from 2008 to 2011, in developing High Performance Landscape Guidelines: 21st Century Parks for NYC. Thanks in huge part to Charles' sharp vision and rigorous efforts, the Guidelines has become a blueprint for sustainable design, construction, and maintenance for NYC's 29,000 acres of parkland. 

From planted traffic islands to urban forests, High Performance Landscape Guidelines promotes cleaner air and water, increased biodiversity, lowered heat island effect, reduced energy usage and, of course, expanded opportunities for relaxation, recreation and environmental education for all New Yorkers.

The Guidelines has been widely embraced by the local design community, and earned accolades from the New York Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects.

Let's start with a fill-in-the-blank question. Public space is vital because…?

Charles: Public space is vital because it provides delight to everyone, regardless of species!

Tell us more about 'providing delight to everyone'.

Charles: I believe in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s vision of parks without borders, parks that are woven into the daily lives of everyone, regardless of income, neighborhood or age.

As the Principal Urban Designer for NYC Parks, I'm leading the master planning for flagship parks such as Van Cortlandt and Highbridge Parks. Many of these parks never had plans; my work corrects long standing problems, highlights the park’s natural attributes, and adapts the parks to meet current recreational needs. 

I'm also exploring responses to the design imperatives of the 21st century, web-based planning tools and communication, as well as the role of planning in stimulating community-based leadership.

What's your inspiration?

Charles: The fact that the Design Trust made the award-winning High Performance Landscape Guidelines possible! The collaborative process inspired me to take a more active role in advancing the landscape profession, the academic preparation of its students and creating opportunities for community leadership in park stewardship.

Learn more about our Park Design for the 21st Century project, and the resulting High Performance Landscape Guidelines: 21st Century Parks for NYC.