APLA Alumnus Jane Reed Ross Elevated to ASLA Fellow

Reed Ross, a Senior Landscape Architect at Goodwyn Mills Cawood in Birmingham, Alabama, was elevated during a special investiture ceremony at the 2024 Conference on Landscape Architecture, held recently in Washington, D.C.

“Landscape architecture makes the world a better place, and ASLA Fellows represent the most accomplished and admired leaders in the entire field,” said ASLA President SuLin Kotowicz. “The professionals recognized in this year’s class of ASLA Fellows have made consistent and exceptional contributions to resilience and sustainability, stronger and more beautiful communities and human health, safety and welfare.”

Reed Ross’ primary focus over her 40-year career has been on designing public spaces such as parks, trails, streetscapes, campuses, zoo areas, mixed use and urban design. She has garnered ASLA recognition in each of those areas.

Other ASLA involvement includes serving on numerous juries on student projects as well as judging student awards competitions throughout her long involvement with the Advisory Committees for the Landscape Architecture programs at both Auburn and Mississippi State University.

She has also been named as a Public Health Champion by the Jefferson County Health Department for her role in projects improving the quality of life and health of the community. In addition, she has been recognized with the George Goodwyn Award for Building Communities from Goodwyn Mills Cawood, as well as several awards for trail work from the American Planning Association.

The long list of Reed Ross’s projects around the Birmingham metro area reads like a guidebook to some of the community’s most popular outdoor sites and venues. Parks, trails and public spaces she has designed or collaborated on include Homewood’s Central Park, the Jones Valley and Rotary Trails, the Shades Creek Greenway, Tarrant’s Aqueduct Trail, Mountain Brook’s Lane Park and Pepper Place in Lakeview, as well as several areas of the Birmingham Zoo. Perhaps her biggest accomplishment, however, was the development of the Red Rock Trail System Master Plan in Jefferson County—one of her largest contributions to date.

“Jane has profoundly impacted not only the landscape architecture profession, but the communities she serves,” said Jeffery Brewer, Goodwyn Mills Cawood CEO. “Almost anywhere you go in Birmingham, you’ll encounter a space she’s helped create, including the city’s most iconic places like Rotary Trail and Railroad Park. Our communities are better because of Jane’s vision, and I can think of no one more deserving of the honor of being elevated to ASLA Fellow.”

As for Reed Ross, she can think of few projects she would rather work on than those with a direct, observable impact on people and places.

“Ever since I studied landscape architecture at Auburn, I’ve been drawn to working in public spaces,” she said. “I’ve had the good fortune to work on many different types of parks, trails, streetscapes and campuses over my career. I’ve experienced first-hand how important spaces like these are when it comes to building community and bringing people together. For me, it’s all about striving for the common good and improving quality of life.

“Some projects that stand out include Homewood Central Park, Railroad Park, Rotary Trail and the Red Rock Trail System—all in the Birmingham area,” added Reed Ross, when asked about some of her most meaningful work. “With the completion of Homewood Central Park, I realized the self-esteem of the children in the community was raised. I witnessed this with my own children and their friends. It was a great revelation, and I understood the importance of investing in our infrastructure for all people.”

Reed Ross credits her Auburn education as helping to prepare her for the service role that has been such an emphasis throughout her career.

“My time at Auburn was an incredible happy experience that helped shaped me as an engaged and proactive person in my profession and community,” she explained. “I received the tools to develop a vision and communicate with people for implementation. Learning the design process lends itself to problem solving no matter what situation you are involved in addressing.”

Now, with her elevation to ASLA Fellow, Reed Ross and her many career contributions to the Birmingham metro area and beyond have received the ultimate accolade from her peers. It is recognition that she doesn’t take lightly.

I am very pleased with this honor that looks at my entire career and the hard work that has improved the quality of life for our people,” she said. “I am also pleased to accept it for the Alabama Chapter of the ASLA who work so hard to promote our profession and state. We have an incredible group of creative people that work so well together and promote good work in this state and throughout the country.”