Michael Swimmer

Michael Swimmer joined the Friends Board in July of 2006. He graduated Cal Poly Pomona in 1970, with a B.S. in Landscape Architecture, and went on to receive his Masters Degree in 1988 from UCLA in Architecture and Urban Planning, specializing in Energy Conserving Design. He started his own "design-build" office in 1973, after 2 years apprentice work in Landscape Architecture. Swimmer has been a Landscape Architect (ASLA) in Los Angeles since 1976 and is recently retired.

Mr. Swimmer is the winner of seven major Design Awards, including First Place Award in California for the Disneyland Hotel in 1977. The scope of his projects includes: Master Plan for 17 acre camp in Idyllwild; Master Plan for Solstice Canyon, California, Mountains & Recreation Conservancy; protection of 50 acre wetland, Mammoth Lakes; many hotel and shopping center projects, including Century City Shopping Center in 1989; and many large and small residential projects through out the Los Angeles area and in Idaho, Michigan, and Arizona.

Mr. Swimmer consulted for the Friends with Mary Thomson, former volunteer director of restoration, in the 1980’s, and has been a life long admirer of the Ballona Wetlands, kayaking Marina del Rey harbor and the Ballona channel.