协会的成立背景与组织性质
华盛顿景观专业协会（Washington Association of Landscape Professionals，WALP）由一批华盛顿州景观行业从业者于 1983 年发起成立，最初目的是为景观承包商提供行业培训、制定专业标准，并在州议会层面代表行业发声。协会为非营利组织，目前由 300 多名成员公司组成，成员类型涵盖景观承包商、灌溉服务、园艺维护、硬质景观设计与施工，以及相关供应商。
成员体系与四个地方分会
WALP 成员在加入协会的同时，自动加入所在地区的分会，地方分会另设独立活动与本地事务代表。当前共 4 个活跃地方分会：King County 分会覆盖大西雅图、Bellevue 及整个金县；Snohomish County 分会覆盖 Snohomish、Skagit 与 Whatcom 三县；South Sound 分会覆盖 Tacoma、Puyallup、Olympia、Olympic半岛及 Pierce、Thurston、Mason 县；Southwest 分会覆盖 Vancouver 与 Clark 县所在的西南华盛顿。每年 8 月 1 日为会员统一续费日。
认证体系与教育项目
WALP 作为美国国家景观行业协会（NALP）Landscape Industry Certified 项目的华盛顿州执照方，负责在州内组织认证考试。协会还与 NALP 共同管理 ecoPRO Certified Sustainable Landscape Professional 认证，这是面向华盛顿州景观从业者的可持续景观专业认证。2026 年 4 月 3 日，WALP 与 NALP 在 Lake Washington Institute of Technology 合作举办 Landscape Technician Bootcamp 实操培训，覆盖灌溉安装与维修、灌溉故障排查、绿化与草坪维护等 15 项技能模块，按 3 个方向分组，培训语言为英语与西班牙语。
立法倡导与年度行业大会
WALP 设有政府事务委员会，跟踪华盛顿州议会与监管机构涉及景观行业的立法与法规动向，并通过月度刊物 Northwest Landscape Professional、议题简报与 Legislative Day 活动向成员通报。每年 1 月底或 2 月初举办的 Northwest Landscape Industry Conference、Trade Show & Awards Banquet 是协会的旗舰活动，2027 年会议定于 1 月 20 至 22 日在 Everett 的 Hotel Indigo 举行，主题演讲由 The Harvest Group 的 Ed Laflamme 与 Bill Arman 担纲，两人各自拥有逾 50 年的景观行业经验。
出版刊物与其他年度活动
《Northwest Landscape Professional》是 WALP 的官方季刊，面向成员及行业内部发行，每期报道行业动态、协会活动与会员成就，目前的存档可追溯至 2019 年秋冬季。除年度大会外，协会的传统年度活动还包括 7 月举办的 Field Day 实操展，以及 8 月在 Echo Falls Golf Club 举行的高尔夫赛。
Founding and Organizational Status
The Washington Association of Landscape Professionals (WALP) was founded in 1983 by a group of landscape industry leaders in Washington State to provide training, set professional standards, and represent the industry at the state legislature. WALP is a non-profit organization with more than 300 member companies spanning landscape contracting, irrigation service, horticultural maintenance, hardscape design and build, and supplier categories.
Membership Tiers and Four Regional Chapters
WALP members automatically join the regional chapter serving their area. Four active chapters currently organize local events and represent local interests: King County covers greater Seattle, Bellevue, and King County; Snohomish County covers Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties; South Sound covers Tacoma, Puyallup, Olympia, the Olympic Peninsula, and Pierce, Thurston and Mason counties; Southwest covers Vancouver and Clark County. Membership renews annually on August 1.
Certification Programs and Hands-On Training
WALP licenses the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) Landscape Industry Certified programs and administers the exams within Washington State. Together with NALP, WALP also co-administers the ecoPRO Certified Sustainable Landscape Professional program for sustainable landscape practitioners. On April 3, 2026, WALP partnered with NALP to host the Landscape Technician Bootcamp at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, covering 15 skill modules across 3 disciplines (irrigation install and repair, irrigation troubleshooting, turf and ornamental maintenance), delivered in English and Spanish.
Legislative Advocacy and Annual Conference
WALP’s Government Affairs Committee tracks Washington State legislative and regulatory issues affecting the landscape industry, with member updates delivered through the Northwest Landscape Professional magazine, issue briefs, and the annual Legislative Day in Olympia. The Northwest Landscape Industry Conference, Trade Show & Awards Banquet is WALP’s flagship annual event. The 2027 edition is scheduled for January 20–22 at Hotel Indigo in Everett, with featured speakers Ed Laflamme and Bill Arman of The Harvest Group, each bringing over 50 years of landscape industry experience.
Publication and Other Recurring Events
Northwest Landscape Professional is WALP’s official quarterly publication, distributed to members and the industry, with archived issues dating back to Fall 2019. Beyond the annual conference, WALP hosts the hands-on Field Day each July and an annual Golf Tournament at Echo Falls Golf Club in Snohomish.
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