Joe Diaz Jr. BLA '95 Diaz Jr. is a licensed landscape architect whose career spans both private and public sectors, with a primary focus on designing spaces to encourage community connection, enhance safety and durability, and honor the integrity of the surrounding environment. Early in Diaz Jr.&rsquo;s career, he contributed to a wide range of residential and public projects while working with PDSA and James Dalton and Associates. His work extended across California, Texas, South Carolina, Illinois, Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona, where he helped develop thoughtfully integrated entry monuments, community parks, gathering spaces, fountains, lakes, and pedestrian connectivity. During this period, he also collaborated on countless municipal park projects nationwide, reinforcing his commitment to public-facing design and community-oriented landscapes.<br /><br />Diaz Jr.&rsquo;s most significant and lasting contributions emerged through his leadership with the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. As the Parks Principal Landscape Architect, he oversaw all Parks and Recreation development projects for the largest municipal park system in the nation. His team managed more than 90 projects annually, from master planning and construction documentation to implementation. His work has shaped 189 park sites, influenced over 41,000 acres of preserve land, and guided land acquisitions of future preserves and flatland parks.<br /><br />Most recently, Diaz Jr. has focused on sustainability on a statewide scale. Through his work with the state organization Arizona Forward, he is helping to develop practices and policies to minimize water waste, promote energy-efficient practices, and preserve natural areas.