During the fall of 2011 Mt. Airy resident Emily McCoy, RLA, along with colleague Dan Sharp, taught the "Public Lands" graduate-level studio in Temple University's Landscape Architecture Program. The purpose of the studio was to collectively  imagine possible design interventions that could enhance and improve the quality of the residents' lives for a community that is plagued by toxic pollutants and repeated flooding. 

Two students from the studio, Anna Anisko and Donna Shumpert, won Honor Awards for their designs from the PA-DE ASLA Chapter. Anna won the honor award for general design for her project Clearview Environmental Farm and Donna won an honor award for analysis and planning for her project Energy Tanks. Both students, along with their classmates, devoted much time and resources to this project and the community. Congrats Donna, Anna and fellow students to a job well done!