Growing our legacy since 1964.
OCBA has been shaping Michigan’s landscapes since 1964. Founded by Bob O’Boyle, the firm built its reputation on thoughtful planning, strong professional leadership, and a deep commitment to the communities it serves. His belief that great design comes from talented people working in a supportive, purpose-driven environment continues to guide our work today.
For more than 40 years, OCBA operated out of the historic “Kindleberger Mansion” in Parchment, Michigan, before relocating to downtown Kalamazoo, opening an office in Grand Rapids, and most recently, establishing a presence in Petoskey.
Today, OCBA is a women-owned, women-run firm and proudly WBENC Certified. With offices in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Petoskey, we provide landscape architecture and planning services across Michigan. Our work spans public school playgrounds, streetscapes, residential landscapes, and small-town wayfinding—always rooted in stewardship, collaboration, and thoughtful design that reflects the character of each place.
Our Services
Community Engagement. We bring people into the process by inviting them into conversations about change. Through inclusive engagement, we build trust, gather meaningful input, and strengthen community ownership of projects.
Survey & Marketing Material Preparation. We ask critical questions through targeted surveys that get to the heart of community needs, paired with brand-aligned outreach materials that clearly communicate project goals and encourage participation.
Master Planning. We guide long-term visioning by balancing innovative design, environmental stewardship, community priorities, and implementation strategies—creating plans that are actionable, adaptable, and allow nature to flourish alongside a changing world.
Site Design. We develop creative, site-responsive landscape designs that are functional, beautiful, and rooted in ecological and cultural context—driven by knowledge and a deep understanding of each site’s unique qualities.
Construction Documentation. We produce clear, detailed drawings and specifications that translate design intent into coordinated, buildable construction plans.
Construction Administration. We support projects throughout construction by reviewing submittals, responding to field conditions, and ensuring design quality is carried through to completion.
Grant Application Assistance. We help identify funding opportunities and prepare supporting materials that strengthen grant applications and improve overall project feasibility.
Site Plan Review Facilitation. We assist clients and communities in navigating review processes by coordinating with agencies, addressing comments, and facilitating clear, productive communication.
2D & 3D Rendering. We provide visual tools that bring concepts to life, helping clients, stakeholders, and the public understand design intent, scale, and experience.
Playground Safety Inspections. We conduct professional inspections to evaluate safety, accessibility, and compliance—helping create play spaces that are safe, inclusive, and well maintained.
Our Markets
Parks
Playgrounds and Nature Play
Camps
Small Town Wayfinding
Residential
Municipal
Higher Education
Corporate Campus
Commercial
K-12 Education
What Our Clients Say
“Simply put, Sandy and the staff at OCBA go out of their way to make you feel like a member of their team rather than a client. Professionalism with a personal touch is what I think about when describing OCBA.”
— Scott W., Cass County Parks and Recreation
“Trust is everything, and I trust OCBA to help my department create a vision for the future through careful planning today.”
— Anonymous
“We have had a positive long-standing relationship with OCBA over our past 28-years in business. We appreciate their trust in our surveying, geotechnical engineering, and construction testing services that have been provided on a wide variety of interesting projects. The staff at OCBA has been tremendous to work with, and we do not hesitate to recommend them to our clients that need landscape architecture services.”
— Driesenga & Associates
