M. Paul Friedberg, FASLA, a groundbreaking landscape architect, product designer, educator, advocate, and writer, passed away on February 15 at the age of 93.

Paul was a member of ASLA for 60 years, a Fellow, a recipient of both the Design Medal (2004) and ASLA Medal (2015), and honored with the ASLA-NY President’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2019. He dedicated his life to providing public places that not only break the boundaries of traditional design but, more importantly, increase the quality of life for those who use these spaces. His design response to how people interact with their built environment has dramatically impacted landscape design and will continue to shape our profession for generations.

Born in 1931, Paul graduated from Cornell University in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science.

He established M. Paul Friedberg and Associates (known today as MPFP) in New York City in 1958 - currently one of the oldest landscape architecture firms in the city. In 1970, prompted by a request from ASLA, Friedberg founded the first undergraduate Urban Landscape Architecture program in a major city at The City College of New York, aimed at attracting minority students. He served as department chair for twenty years. He was an adjunct professor at Columbia University and Pratt Institute and lectured at numerous academic institutions in the U.S. and internationally. 

Paul is best known for using design as a social catalyst and public work in urban landscapes nationally and internationally. He has pioneered new forms in the design of urban playgrounds, plazas, and parks that continue to inspire lifelong play for all. Paul’s approach to designing spaces that fostered exploration and cooperation was ahead of its time, especially in the context of urban playgrounds. The concept of a total play environment where kids of various ages and abilities could interact freely without barriers like fences was a radical departure from more traditional, segmented designs of the time. His work went beyond just creating functional spaces—cultivating a social environment and encouraging imagination. He integrated empirical research into his designs, taking into account the daily activities and desires of the users, making the spaces feel more alive and inclusive.

His most notable transformative urban projects include Jacob Riis Plaza in New York City, Peavy Plaza in Minneapolis, and Pershing Park in Washington, D.C. Long celebrated as a seminal urban open space, Riis Plaza was instrumental in challenging postwar perceptions of urban living while also democratizing public open space for existing residents. Friedberg's approach involved integrating design elements to encourage fluid movement and interaction, making the space feel alive and connected rather than isolated and static. His adventure-style playgrounds and user-oriented public spaces were visionary then and continue to inspire all urban landscape designers.

The Cultural Landscape Foundation has a multi-media compendium on M. Paul Friedberg, including an oral history presentation, biography, and a touching reflection on his life by Charles Birnbaum, FASLA. The New York Chapter is highlighting Paul’s legacy at aslany.org. 

Contributed by Jennifer Nitzky, FASLA

• ASLA-NY 100th Anniversary Short Film
• 2019 ASLA-NY President's Award for Lifetime Achievement: M. PAUL FRIEDBERG, FASLA
• 2014 ASLA Medal Nomination Statement
• The City, Polarized for Play from Landscape Architecture Magazine