The Waterfront Alliance is pleased to welcome Karen Thompson as our new Director of Planning and Design, where she will lead the WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) program and advance waterfront planning and resilience initiatives across the New York-New Jersey region.

Karen joins the organization at an exciting moment for WEDG. As communities across the country continue investing in climate resilience, resilient waterfront design has never been more important. Her leadership will help guide the next chapter of WEDG, strengthening partnerships, supporting projects throughout the region, and expanding the program’s national impact.

A Milestone for WEDG® 

Developed by the Waterfront Alliance alongside a cross-disciplinary field of experts, WEDG has become a nationally recognized framework for resilient, ecological, and accessible waterfront design.

Today, WEDG serves as a trusted resource for municipalities, public agencies, developers, and design professionals working to create waterfronts that are better prepared for a changing climate. The program has trained more than 1,500 WEDG Professionals, and projects in 11 states have pursued or achieved WEDG Verification.

As the program continues to grow, Karen will help build on this strong foundation while guiding WEDG into its next phase of innovation, collaboration, and impact.

Meet Karen Thompson

Karen brings more than 15 years of experience advancing transformative waterfront projects. Most recently, she served as Director of Planning, Policy, & Engagement at the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation in Philadelphia, where she focused on a variety of public realm and planning initiatives as part of the implementation of the Master Plan for the Central Delaware, a 25-year vision for the redevelopment of Philadelphia’s waterfront.

Her work included projects such as the Spring Garden Connector, the Waterfront Sustainability & Resiliency Plan, Graffiti Pier Conceptual Design Project, and Penn’s Landing Park, bringing together agencies, communities, and stakeholders to reconnect people with the waterfront while preparing for a changing climate.

In addition to her work in waterfront planning, Karen has served as a lecturer for the Planning Workshop course at the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of City Planning with a certificate in Urban Design from the University of Pennsylvania, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

“Karen brings an exceptional combination of planning expertise, collaborative leadership, and a deep understanding of what it takes to create thriving, resilient waterfronts,” said Julie Raskin, President and CEO of the Waterfront Alliance. “WEDG has become one of our flagship programs, and we’re excited to welcome Karen as we continue expanding its impact, strengthening partnerships, and helping communities build waterfronts that are resilient, ecologically rich, and accessible.”

Karen is eager to build on the strong foundation of WEDG while listening, learning, and connecting with the people who make the program successful.

“The most successful waterfronts are shaped through long-term collaboration between communities, practitioners, public agencies, and advocates,” said Thompson. “I’m excited to join the Waterfront Alliance at such an important moment for WEDG. I look forward to meeting our partners, learning from communities across the region, and helping grow a program that is making a meaningful difference for waterfronts nationwide.”

Looking Ahead

Over the coming months, Karen will be connecting with WEDG Professionals, Alliance Partners, public agencies, designers, engineers, community organizations, and other collaborators to learn about ongoing work, strengthen existing relationships, and explore new opportunities for partnership.

If you’ll be participating in Climate Week NYC this September, we hope you’ll join us at one of Waterfront Alliance’s events, including panels, workshops, webinars, cleanups, and office hours at our new office. Climate Week will be a great opportunity to meet Karen, connect with our team, and learn more about the future of WEDG and our work advancing resilient waterfronts throughout the region.

Please join us in welcoming Karen to the Waterfront Alliance. We look forward to introducing her to many of you in the months ahead.

Photos courtesy of Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, Karen Thompson, and ULI & ONE Architecture via LinkedIn and Facebook.