The National Association for Olmsted Parks (NAOP) advances Olmsted principles and legacy of irreplaceable parks and landscapes that revitalize communities and enrich people’s lives. 

Established in 1980, it is a coalition of design and preservation professionals, historic property and park managers, scholars, municipal officials, citizen activists, and representatives of numerous Olmsted organizations around the United States. Its concern is the legacy of landscape work left by Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. and the firm continued by his sons.

The NAOP encourages scholarship, publishes key reference materials, supports local park restoration, and provides technical assistance to preservation efforts.

The Olmsted legacy needs a strong national advocate. Historic parks and landscapes around the country face multiple threats from development pressure, shrinking municipal budgets, and lack of understanding about the breadth and importance of the Olmsted-designed landscapes. NAOP is the only national organization solely dedicated to preserving this legacy by providing the advocacy, research, and education needed to protect, restore, and maintain these exemplary parks and landscapes.