There is nothing so American as our national parks…the fundamental idea behind the parks…is that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1934
For many people, summer is a time to travel to some of America's most iconic places: our 400 national parks. According to the National Park system, 325.5 million visits were logged last year, an increase of 4% over 2022. The parks remain highly sought-after travel destinations that require continual updating to provide a great experience for all guests.
Enter Brian Frailey, a landscape architecture alumnus who is proud to have spent the past 15 years supporting and enhancing the National Park System. His notable projects include a project at Mount Rushmore to increase pedestrian circulation, the restoration of the docks at the Statute of Liberty, and the development of a new pier at the Channel Island National Park.
Starting his Purdue journey majoring in business, Frailey soon realized it wasn't his true calling. "I was in my third or fourth economics class when I had an epiphany, so I began exploring other options. It was then that I stumbled upon landscape architecture-thanks to my guidance counselor's suggestion to meet with the head of the program then, Don Molnar.,” Frailey shared.
Frailey says it became apparent quickly that landscape architecture was an excellent fit because it combined his love of the outdoors with his interest in design. The program's senior capstone project allowed him to venture to Florida for a yearlong internship at a planning design firm.
After graduation, Frailey joined a firm in North Carolina focusing on golf courses and historic resort properties. "This was not a bad way to start my career. I tell people I played party planner to the PGA because we got to set up temporary venues for the U.S. Open in 1998 and then again in 2005," Frailey said. It was that industry that eventually took Frailey to Denver, Colorado. As the economy struggled in 2008, he started searching for other opportunities to utilize his skillset and passion.
He calls the entrance into his next role "lucky fortuitous." Due to the Great American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, the National Park System was hiring many positions at their Denver Service Center. He was offered a dream position with the National Park Service as a project specialist, managing projects at some of America's most iconic landmarks and locations. The Denver Service Center is the professional office for the entire National Park System, whether for design, construction, or planning. Though located in Denver, staff members are dispersed wherever a project is needed.
For Frailey, this work is not just a job but a passion. "It's quite humbling to realize your work is impacting America's treasures. And it's an honor to create spaces that have great historical significance and to help bring them back up to speed."
One of his favorite projects with the NPS was at Mount Rushmore. The project was about increasing pedestrian circulation and providing better movement, which has been a focus of Frailey's career. The project included the redesign of the Avenue of Flags, and the team was tasked with making the park more ADA accessible, a task that Frailey particularly values.
"I get teary thinking about it,” he said. “I interacted with a mother in a wheelchair who could access the park through a viewing platform after we completed our work. Our work allowed her to have that experience with her family. I'm proud that my everyday work allows people to access the parks in a way that would not have been possible before."
Along with Mount Rushmore, Frailey lists one of his other proudest accomplishments as a project at the Statue of Liberty, where they helped to rebuild the docks after Super Storm Sandy.
As with any job, there are projects that come with challenges. Frailey describes a project at the Channel Islands National Park, where construction logistics played a role since the island is located 17 miles off Ventura, California.
"We replaced a historic crane that the Park Service had inherited from the Coast Guard. We used a helicopter to build the crane out in the ocean. Then, after we built the crane, we used the crane to replace the wharf so people could get on and off the island safely,” he said. Looking back on many projects with the National Park Service over the years, he smiles, "I've come a long way from picking plants.”
July 2013- Frailey was part of the project to replace the docks at the Statue of LIberty after Hurricane Sandy. 
March 2020- Setting the crane base at Anacapa Island, Channel Island National Park. 
July 2020-Frailey stands at Mount Rushmore National Memorial after the renovation of the Avenue of Flags. While each project he has worked on has had distinct challenges, Frailey credits his time at Purdue for preparing him well. "Purdue was a place where I was always challenged, which has benefited me tremendously in my career.”
He fondly remembers designing exciting things as a student and being challenged by his peers and professors. "‘Yes, but can it be built?’ That was often a question on presentation day." He says this mindset of solving problems and working creatively and collaboratively with others has suited him well in his career.
We’re the keepers of the American story. I am honored to participate in this work and support the mission. We have such a beautiful country with a rich history. If I can play even a small role in helping preserve and share this history with future generations, I will with great pride."
