Ping Design LLC / Nelco Landscaping

Nelco Landscaping proudly contributed to Ping Design’s Little Project in St. Paul, Minnesota, a thoughtfully designed residential landscape that transforms a modest suburban yard into an extraordinary outdoor experience. Working closely with landscape architect Wanjing Ji, ASLA, Nelco Landscaping executed the construction of three distinct yet interconnected zones: the Little Prairie, a playful natural area; the Little Garden, a serene pollinator habitat and lounge; and the Little Farm, a functional space featuring vegetable beds, a dining area, and a carpentry deck.

Through careful attention to sustainable practices, precise installation of reclaimed wood and metal features, and expert management of hardscape and planting layouts, Nelco Landscaping helped bring Ji’s vision to life. The result is a versatile, engaging landscape that supports family activities, encourages community interaction, and demonstrates how skilled craftsmanship can transform ordinary residential spaces into extraordinary outdoor environments.

Ji, Wanjing. “Ping Design Brings Extraordinary Moments to the House Next Door.” Landscape Architecture Magazine, 3 Dec. 2025, https://landscapearchitecturemagazine.org/2025/ping-design-brings-extraordinary-moments-to-the-house-next-door

The Walker Art Center commissioned Minneapolis‑based Dakota artist Angela Two Stars to create a significant new public artwork titled Okciyapi (Help Each Other) for the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. This installation marks the first time an Indigenous artist’s work has been placed in the garden. Okciyapi is a circular, interactive sculptural space designed as a gathering place that celebrates the Dakota language and culture, encouraging visitors to engage with Dakota words and phrases both visually and audibly.

The sculpture’s concentric design resembles the ripples created by a drop of water and includes seating, a central water feature, inscriptions of Dakota language, and native plants. These elements collectively symbolize the spread of knowledge and the deep connection among land, language, and community. The work was selected from over 50 proposals reviewed by an Indigenous selection committee and Walker curators and is intended to foster reflection, healing, and cultural recognition in a space previously marked by controversy.

Citation:

Walker Art Center. “Angela Two Stars.” Walker Art Center, 2021, https://walkerart.org/press-releases/2021/angela-two-stars

In 2014, Brian Nelson of Nelco Landscaping was honored with the Outstanding Partner Award by the Ramsey‑Washington Metro Watershed District as part of their annual Watershed Excellence Awards. This award recognized his exceptional contributions to stormwater management and environmental stewardship, including the design and installation of a rain garden and permeable paver system at the Carol Matheys Center for Children & Families. Beyond the technical work, Brian actively involved children and families in learning about sustainable landscaping practices, fostering awareness of water quality, plant stewardship, and community engagement. His efforts exemplify how professional landscaping can combine functionality, education, and environmental responsibility. (therippleeffectmn.blogspot.com)

Ramsey‑Washington Metro Watershed District. “2014 Watershed Excellence Awards Recognize Clean Water Heroes.” The Ripple Effect, 17 Dec. 2014, https://therippleeffectmn.blogspot.com/2014/12/2014-watershed-excellence-awards.html.

When the Washington Conservation District moved into its Oakdale building, staff saw an opportunity to turn a typical business park landscape into a working example of conservation in action. Rather than maintaining conventional turf grass and pavement, the site was redesigned to better manage stormwater, protect nearby wetlands, and create habitat for pollinators and wildlife.

The Washington Conservation Center is located near the I-94 and I-694 interchange, with a small wetland behind the building that connects to a larger system of waterways flowing toward the Mississippi River. To reduce runoff and improve water quality, the property was retrofitted with a permeable overflow parking area, a large rain garden, native prairie plantings, and native landscaping around the building and parking lot entrance. Funding from the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District helped make the demonstration project possible.

The permeable parking area combines grass-planted parking stalls and paver stones that allow rainwater to soak into an underground gravel bed, treating runoff from small storms before it reaches the wetland. During larger rain events, excess water is safely conveyed through a swale. While the surface may resemble a lawn, it is an engineered system designed to support vehicles without compacting soil.

Through this project, the Washington Conservation District hopes to inspire other businesses to view parking lots and landscapes as opportunities to protect water resources. With support from local watershed districts, property owners can often access design assistance, technical guidance, and grant funding to incorporate water-friendly features into their sites.

Angie Hong is an educator for East Metro Water, mnwcd.org/emwrep. Contact her at 651-330-8220 ext. 35 or angie.hong@mnwcd.org.

Citation:

Hong, Angie. "Column: Park on the Grass, Please." Stillwater Gazette. Stillwater Gazette, 31 May 2016. Web. 01 June 2016.

Urban Ecosystems / Nelco Landscaping

This Corporate Office landscape keeps wild nature front and center.  The Client’s Company embraces modern design that is built to last and never goes out of style.  Their commitment to sustainability, natural materials, and environmental protection was a driving force in making this landscape.  Our team developed the landscape master plan for the major renovation of this 12 acre site.  Our process considered the diverse species and microclimates present on site and developed custom plant communities that look beautiful, low-input, and provide habitats for people and wildlife.  These communities are described in more detail in the attached planting typology document. Within this master plan, we developed a new approach to creating natural meadows that outperform traditional prairie restoration methods.  Our team oversaw their installation, establishment, and maintenance.   

Urban meadows replace sprawling lawns with seeded flower meadows.  The urban meadow is a designed plant community that produces season long flower displays that are beautiful to people and attract pollinators. The seed mix contains 87 different flowering perennial and annual forbs with a maximum height of 36”.  This is seeded into a clear germination media to minimize early establishment competition from weeds.  The diverse planting of native, cultivar, and non-native flowering species produces a dynamic array of color, texture, and contrast that persist throughout the growing season.

The master plan also improved the entry experience to both entrances by creating formal groves and border plantings to draw visitors and employees into the building.  The parking lot and stormwater areas were re-wilded through the addition of native grasses and shrubs.  Likewise, to improve the health of the surrounding forests, wetlands, and meadows, the client committed to ongoing invasive species control.

Best Practices

This project features a host of sustainable site elements such as stormwater infiltration areas, invasive species management programs, local materials, smart irrigation techniques, and urban meadows. The project was awarded LEED gold certification and shows our passion for plants, wildlife, and the living parts of our landscape. The performance of the landscape is described in the attached case study.

Citation:

“MNLA Landscape Awards.” Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association, mnla.secure-platform.com/a/gallery/rounds/14/details/1295.