Green Space as Strategy: Parks, Real Estate, and Shared Value

Jill Schmidt Bengochea is a Director in HR&A's Los Angeles office, supporting public and private sector clients on parks and open space projects; neighborhood and master plans; and citywide visioning, policy development and planning. Prior to joining HR&A, Jill was a Senior Project Manager at the Brooklyn Navy Yard where she managed historic rehabilitation and ground up developments to support inclusive economic development. Jill holds a Masters in Urban Planning from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Leroy Moore is a seasoned real estate and development professional who has spearheaded some of the more complex and celebrated mixed income/mixed-use sustainable residential master planned developments across the U.S. resulting in the development of over 7,300 units of housing. His most recent projects include the redevelopment of severely distressed public housing communities in Tampa, Florida in his role as COO. Along with his real estate development responsibilities he oversees the Authority's long range capital planning, assisted housing programs, asset management, facilities maintenance, contracting, public safety, client programs and services, public relations and communications, as well as strategic business planning and corporate vision management. Prior to joining the Housing Authority of the City of Tampa Leroy operated his own business providing development, training and professional organizational management and analysis to owners and governments throughout the United States. Leroy has held Director level positions in a number of housing authorities including Memphis, Peoria, Oakland, and Atlanta; and from 1994-1996 was contracted through the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development to serve the Court appointed Receiver for the District of Columbia Housing Authority in Washington DC which at the time was the country’s most troubled public housing authority. Leroy currently serves as a Global Governing Trustee for Urban Land Institute and member of the Americas Executive Committee. He is a Daniel Rose Fellow, immediate past Chair of ULI Tampa-Bay and serve on many local and national boards including Florida Housing Coalition, Tampa Downtown Partnership, Habitat for Humanity, Southeast Affordable Housing Management Association SAHMA, and HuddleTouch Ministries, among others. He is recognized as an expert in real estate, redevelopment of distressed assets, and for creating healthy sustainable inclusive communities. And he is regularly called on to speak at local and national conferences, trainings and industry meetings. Leroy is an avid photographer and gardener. He and his wife, Remi and son Ayomide live north of Tampa, Florida; are both active in their Church and local ministries, and love to travel, having a special desire to travel more throughout the continent of Africa.

Justin Cutler is the Commissioner of Parks & Recreation for the City of Atlanta, where he leads efforts to create safe, equitable, and welcoming parks and recreation services that strengthen communities and improve quality of life. With more than 20 years of experience in local government, he is known for building high-performing teams and organizational cultures grounded in continuous improvement, innovation, and data-driven decision-making. Under his leadership, Atlanta has advanced major investments in parks, recreation, and natural resources, expanded access to green space, and strengthened partnerships that position parks as essential community infrastructure. Justin works at the intersection of vibrant communities, housing affordability, and quality neighborhoods, recognizing that parks and recreation play a critical role in community stability, economic vitality, and public health. Prior to joining Atlanta in 2022, he held leadership roles in Seattle, Washington; Westminster, Colorado; and communities across Oregon.

Bianca Clarke is Associate Vice President of Parks Initiative and 10-Minute Walk® Campaign at Trust for Public Land’s Center of Community Impact. She has been with TPL for the past ten years and previously held positions in TPL’s Federal Affairs and Planning & Research teams, where she focused on impact evaluation work and urban planning projects. She has been published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, Preventive Medicine, and by the American Institute of Architects. She has a Master of Planning degree from the University of Southern California, and a BS in Environmental Science, with minors in Environmental Engineering and Public Policy, from UCLA.