Crystal Passi is a landscape designer, community organizer and horticulturalist working with landscapes and place-making in the Twin Cities.  She is interested in inspiring change through strategic landscape interventions, public art, social engagement, re-envisioning unused  or marginalized spaces and creating ecologically responsive environments.

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​As a Landscape Planner and Project Manager for Anoka County Parks and Recreation, she creates functional and dynamic landscapes throughout the 11,000 acre Regional and County park system in Anoka County, MN.  She is currently working on interpretive landscapes at Wargo Nature Center. Crystal also enjoys creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes, providing consultations and design and installation services. Most recently in 2016, Crystal was awarded an Emerging Professional Award through a national competition from Anova Furnishings.

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While attending Auburn University's Master of Landscape Architecture program in Auburn Alabama, Crystal worked as a research assistant working on community planning for Section Alabama. After completing her Masters in Landscape Architecture in 2011, she co-founded Payne Phalen Pocket Parks in St. Paul, an initiative to create community green space and address vacancy.  The group has installed two pocket parks, built raised bed gardens and led community engagement projects throughout the East Side. Crystal has received numerous awards for her landscape architectural work including a Sustainable St. Paul Award for Payne Phalen Pocket Parks from the City of St. Paul.

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In 2015 Crystal received a Knight Foundation Fellowship and was named one of 26 Emerging City Champions by 8-80 Cities, a Canada-Based  non-profit led by Gil Penelosa, a world renown placemaking expert. She traveled to Toronto for a 5 day studio on placemaking led by world class innovators in urban planning, design and community organizing. With this fellowship Crystal is currently involved in efforts to better connect residents of the East Side of St. Paul to nature and recreational opportunities through a project called the Viewfinder using public art, history and social engagement in Swede Hollow Park. 

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