Landscape Architecture
At Craftwater, we place the watershed at the heart of our design philosophy. Our work is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between people, water, and nature — through placemaking, habitat restoration, historical interpretation, community engagement, cultural respect and representation, and processes and spaces that foster joy.
Our Landscape Architecture Team is guided by a deep commitment to our core values and inspirations, supported by decades of experience transforming ideas into built environments. The team is intentionally composed to reflect broad expertise across the diverse discipline of landscape architecture, alongside specialized knowledge in the project types that define Craftwater’s mission. Interdisciplinary by nature, our landscape, civil, and science teams share a mutual excitement and optimism for our ability to improve the public realm. Our portfolio is anchored by these projects — including trails, parks, green streets, green schoolyards, outdoor classrooms, and community gardens — which serve as the foundation of our collective practice. Complementing this are experiences in the private sector, botanical gardens, academia, fine arts, nonprofit initiatives, and volunteer work, all of which contribute to a rich and multifaceted perspective that informs thoughtful, creative, and context-sensitive design across every tributary of a watershed.
Service Areas
Core Capabilities
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Public-Facing Design
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Current Projects
Eaton Wash Stormwater Capture Project
Adjacent to Eaton Wash, near Eaton Blanche Park, the City of Pasadena owns a vacant plot of land. This land has a rich history of community interventions dating back decades, from Girls and Boys Clubs, Boy Scouts, and gardening groups. Having now been vacant for over 20 years, the site presented an ideal opportunity to redirect stormwater from Eaton Wash into a system to capture, clean, and infiltrate groundwater, while also creating an entirely new park space in the city. Supported by a diverse range of community input events and activities, the site has been designed to incorporate pollinator gardens, surface water features, a dog park, outdoor classrooms, community garden space, a trail system, parking areas, and a new bridge to connect the existing park across the wash.
Ganesha Park Stormwater Capture Project
The City of Pomona sought to improve local water quality by capturing and cleaning runoff flowing from parking lots at the Fairplex into San Jose Creek. Craftwater analyzed potential stormwater interventions at the Fairplex itself, as well as nearby areas. Ultimately, Ganesha Park, across the street from the Fairplex, was identified as an ideal location due to its adjacency to San Jose Creek, and sufficient underutilized space at the park. Community outreach through workshops, public events, and coordination with the local council district led to a community-driven set of programmatic enhancements to the existing park space.
Rio Hondo Ecosystem Restoration Project
Craftwater, in partnership with the Rio Hondo/San Gabriel River Water Management Joint Powers Authority (JPA), is designing a project that combines water quality and infiltration with a new half-mile greenway. The project, just north of Peck Road Park, will extend the public use of this area by connecting to the Rio Hondo Bike Path, through the park, and ultimately to Peck Road at Sawpit Wash. This will advance the completion of the Emerald Neckalce plan, and will ultimately serive as a model greenway for Los Angeles County.
Carlisle Street Green Alley
This project is located in the City of San Fernando on Carlisle Street, a 2,000-foot alley just north of Brand Boulevard. The existing alley exhibits severe pavement degradation, and has no accomodations for people walking or riding bikes. The project originated from a citywide stormwater feasbility study, Calles Verdes, and is funded by a California Natural Resources Agency Proposition 68 grant. Key project elements include the addition of street trees, bioswales, lighting, dedicated walking paths, and bike route markings.
Team
James Powell
Director of Landscape Architecture
James Powell has more than 22 years of leadership in design, planning, and management, and leads Craftwater’s landscape architecture services. His work includes design for complete streets, greenways, streetscapes, trails, parks, and open space, as well as planning, construction support, and grant writing for these projects at local and regional scales. He specializes in working with complex agency, stakeholder, and user contexts, and creating multi-benefit designs that address water quality, urban heat, resource protection, safety, and public access.
Project Highlights
Merced Ave Linear Park
Park to Playa Trail
Downtown Revitalization Plan
El Monte, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Banning, CA
Eric Haley
Landscape Architect
Eric designs highly contextual places where people, infrastructure, and nature intersect. His fine art background, over a decade of experience in landscape design, and an upbringing in a home sandwiched between a natural river and a rails-to-trails bikeway, provide inspiration and expertise for creating public spaces. Eric enjoys teaching as an Adjunct Professor in Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona.
Project Highlights
LA Arboretum Visitor Plaza
UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden Renovation
Rudolph Park
Arcadia, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Lawndale, CA
Elizabeth Costa
Senior Landscape Designer
Elizabeth has more than 20 years of experience in design and Project Management within the Landscape Contracting industry on the east coast and Landscape Architecture profession on the west coast. Her wide range of projects include public parks, college campus housing, and public arboretum renovations, providing design direction, construction detailing and construction administration support.
Samantha Hernandez
Lead Landscape Designer
Samantha Hernandez is a Landscape Designer with 6 years of professional experience. She has worked on a diverse number of projects, from active transportation, trails, and public spaces. She has supported projects through conceptual design, public outreach, supporting graphics, and PS&E.
Kat Chavez
Landscape Designer
Kat is a dedicated landscape designer with experience in community engagement. Her professional background in marketing and project coordination within the art world allows her to bring both creativity and organization to the structure of any project. Kat cares deeply about social justice and environmental equity, and brings those motivations to creative problem solving in landscape design.