Landscaping For Transit Stations

In Atlanta, one gardening enthusiast has taken on the challenge of improving MARTA stations using his green thumb.

1 minute read

July 26, 2007, 10:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"Mike Sloan thought he was retiring last summer after nearly two decades as MARTA's attorney. But one year later, he just can't seem to wash his hands of the transit agency.

And these days, the affable lawyer's hands stay pretty dirty. An avid gardener, Sloan, who has since gone into private practice, is helping MARTA design and install landscaping at most of its 38 transit stations.

"I told them I wish I could charge them my attorney rate," said Sloan, on retainer for the ongoing project. "But gardening has always been a passion of mine, so I'm thrilled just to be doing it."

This spring, he and MARTA's Nick Lawrence, a landscape architect, headed up the first phase of landscaping 14 stations in diverse locations, and 21 will be added in the fall and next spring. It's no easy task, given the challenges of a drought coupled with the urban stresses of litter, bus fumes, pedestrian traffic and concrete-radiated heat. But given the results so far, it's also one that shows homeowners what's doable if they carefully choose tough plants."

Wednesday, July 25, 2007 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

6 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Red SF Muni ticketing machine.

San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time

A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.

3 hours ago - San Francisco Examiner

Electric car charging station with several Chevy Bolts charging in parking lot of store in Bellingham, Washington

Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth

Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.

4 hours ago - GovTech

Top view new development riverside residential and commercial neighborhood with vacant land in Texas, USA.

Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas

Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.

5 hours ago - The Texas Tribune

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.