bikeway dreams

[Hagen]

I am a new member to Cyburbia. I joined because I want to get some feedback or advice from any professionals out there. I am a recent graduate (Fall 2004) in landscape architecture and now work for a firm in Sacramento. I am learning a wealth of information in planning and becoming an expert in CAD and photoshop, which is good. My firm works mostly on planning and designing communities (subdivisions) with some parks, cemeteries, and streetscapes thrown in. I feel as though I am contributing to sprawl when I work on these subdivisions and it is not the work I have a passion for. I have a passion for creating livable and walkable cities with an emphasis on connecting these cities with trails and bikeways. I am taking a GIS class at night at a local college here and I am debating on going back to get my masters in urban design. Does anyone out there have any good advice or share the same interests?

[PlannerGirl]

Welcome! Hope others can give you the info you need.

[Suburb Repairman]

Welcome from slightly north of the Alamo City!

I've thought of shifting my career focus toward design to create these neighborhoods. In my ideal, perfect world, I am independently wealthy and can sink gobs of money into designing my dream neighborhood (city really) without regard for profits. Alas, I work for the government...

[PlannerByDay]

Welcome.

Sorry not career advice for you at the moment, but your experience in photoshop could come in handy here.

[NHPlanner]

welcome

[Michele Zone]

Welcome from Fairfield, CA -- just 45 miles "west" on I-80.

[Richmond Jake]

Welcome from NW Florida.

[Budgie]

I feel as though I am contributing to sprawl when I work on these subdivisions and it is not the work I have a passion for. I have a passion for creating livable and walkable cities with an emphasis on connecting these cities with trails and bikeways.

Get out while you still can. Don't let the passion get smothered by repetition sprawl with subdivision names (notice I didn't say neighborhood names) like Whispering Willow, Cedar Bend or Hickory Stream "an exclusive community".

Enjoy Cyburbia and don't let the hypocrisy of our profession get you down.

[nerudite]

Welcome... if you want to get into planning, get away from GIS/CAD. You'll get pigeon-holed there for a long time to come. See this thread. If you are in a large enough firm, you may be able to work with your supervisor about learning more in areas you are interested in. If you like bicycle planning, maybe look into some of the things that Davis is doing (just 15 minutes away from you!), and keep abreast of any job openings there. Work the California APA meetings as much as you can, there are a lot of planners out there and a lot of gatherings. There are many local chapters in your area (Sacramento, Bay Area, etc.) Good luck!

[Bear Up North]

Welcome from a bear in NW Ohio, just hanging around with a bunch of planning geeks. You will like these people. Even when they annoy you. Kinda like a brother or something.

Enjoy your stay.

Bear

[JNA]

Welcome from SW Indiana.
I too have a interest in and work experience with urban trails.

[Rumpy Tunanator]

Welcome from NW Washington

[Salmissra]

Hello from Houston! Yes, we do have planners here

[dandy_warhol]

I am a new member to Cyburbia. I joined because I want to get some feedback or advice from any professionals out there. I am a recent graduate (Fall 2004) in landscape architecture and now work for a firm in Sacramento. I am learning a wealth of information in planning and becoming an expert in CAD and photoshop, which is good. My firm works mostly on planning and designing communities (subdivisions) with some parks, cemeteries, and streetscapes thrown in. I feel as though I am contributing to sprawl when I work on these subdivisions and it is not the work I have a passion for. I have a passion for creating livable and walkable cities with an emphasis on connecting these cities with trails and bikeways. I am taking a GIS class at night at a local college here and I am debating on going back to get my masters in urban design. Does anyone out there have any good advice or share the same interests?

hi! one of my good friends has her bachelors in landscape architecture. for a number of years she worked for a greenways company in NC. she really enjoyed her job and from the sound of it got to work on interesting projects. right now she is back in graduate school getting her degree in urban & regional planning. ultimately she would like to teach environmental planning to landscape architecture students.

[prana]

Hey- welcome!

It seems like you could have taken your intro from something I have written in the past! Those jobs are out there but are limited and very limited in $$ generally. If you don't have a family, kids and large debts though....now would be the time to venture into the more "ideal" side of planning. Check out these guys at Alta Planning & Design. From what I have read on their website, I think they do some really good work that may fit into your future path. Good luck!

[Trail Nazi]

Hello. You have come to the right place! Have fun and post often.

[DRJ]

Welcome aboard mate!

[psylo]

Greetings from Kansas!