Community
Portsmouth Pride
In early 2022, Chris Gustard, principal and owner of bluegreenLA landscape architecture, was asked to join a small contingent of local leaders to help plan an inaugural Portsmouth Pride Festival event. Being a Virginia-licensed landscape architect with experience in both site planning and organizing large events, Chris wasted no time in offering his company’s services pro bono to help the group in preparing a site plan. With safety of festival goers being front of mind, bluegreenLA’s plan was designed with excellent flow and detailing showing prominent rainbow gateway entries, street closure locations, a sound stage, 50 vendor tents, food trucks, VIP areas, and a leash-free pet space. The free event was a huge success with over 3,000 in attendance including numerous prominent Hampton Roads leaders and elected officials. Proceeds of the event benefited Community of Change, a non-profit specializing in strengthening mental health in youth and adults and H.E.R. shelter, both located in the Portsmouth, Virginia community. BluegreenLA is proud to continue its involvement in the planning of 2023!
A black and white rendering of the site plan for Portsmouth Pride Fest 2022.
A black and white rendering of the site plan for Portsmouth Pride Fest 2022.
ASLA Chapter Past President
bluegreenLA is proud to show social responsibility through its commitment to the people and environment that make up the Tidewater and Southeastern Virginia community in which it serves.
The company’s principal, Chris Gustard, spent nearly fifteen years of his early professional career in San Diego, California where he volunteered his time to serve as the chapter’s president of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Chris served on the Executive Board for four years between 2005 and 2008. While under his leadership he organized numerous large-scale events to benefit and beautify the community and to raise awareness of the profession of landscape architecture. Such efforts garnered recognition through local media and by ASLA National where, on behalf of the chapter, Chris accepted a special commendation during National Landscape Architecture Month in 2007.
Chris brings to the Tidewater region this same level of passion in advocacy he has displayed throughout his career in helping communities to grow through better design.
bluegreenLA landscape architecture is an advocate for design quality and equity in the beautification, planning, preservation and physical development of Southeastern Virginia.