The Olmsted Network is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 awards—individuals and grassroots organizations whose work honors and advances the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted. From Boston to Buffalo, these honorees exemplify the power of landscape stewardship, public advocacy, and community-led preservation.

Each year, the Olmsted Network recognizes those who embody the spirit of Olmsted and the Olmsted firm—preserving historic landscapes and advocating for equitable access to public green space. The 2025 honorees are:

Caroline Loughlin Volunteer Service Award | Betsy Shure Gross (posthumously honored) | Davis, CA

Betsy Shure Gross was a founding board member and former co-chair of the National Association for Olmsted Parks—now the Olmsted Network—and a driving force behind landmark preservation efforts. She helped launch the Olmsted Historic Landscape Preservation Program, guided restoration planning for the Muddy River following major floods, and championed Massachusetts’ Community Preservation Act of 2000. A passionate advocate for parks as civic spaces, she believed deeply in Olmsted’s vision of public landscapes as places where democracy comes alive.

Olmsted Stewardship Award | Anthony Oprisiu | Queens, NY

Since becoming board president of the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation in 2023, Anthony Oprisiu has brought new energy and vision to one of America’s earliest planned Garden Cities—designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. A resident and dedicated preservationist, Oprisiu has led a comprehensive revitalization effort focused on long-term sustainability and historical integrity. His leadership includes the development of a Cultural Landscape Report, the implementation of a tree succession plan, major infrastructure improvements, and extensive community engagement. Under his guidance, Forest Hills Gardens is not only being preserved but prepared for a vibrant and resilient future.

President’s Awards

This year, the President’s Award shines a spotlight on three grassroots efforts that demonstrate how community leadership is vital to sustaining Olmsted’s legacy in the 21st century.

Voices of Keney Park | Hartford, CT

Voices of Keney Park is the first-ever online public course focused on the historic Keney Park in Hartford, designed in the 1890s by the Olmsted firm, Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot. Built on 25 oral history interviews, the course captures the stories of residents, stewards, and scholars reflecting on the park’s past, present, and future. Through these narratives, the project elevates the park’s role in shaping community identity and upholding Olmsted’s democratic ideals.

Supported by the Keney Park Sustainability Project and the Public Humanities Collaborative at Trinity College, the course was produced by Trinity College students Dyna Chhem ’27 and Thien Nguyen ’26, under the supervision of Susan Masino, the Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of Applied Science. The demo course is complete and will soon be available on the Keney Park Sustainability Project website.

Franklin Park Defenders | Boston, MA

The Franklin Park Defenders is a grassroots coalition formed in response to redevelopment plans for White Stadium, located within Boston’s Franklin Park. At over 500 acres, Franklin Park is the largest park in the City of Boston, and one of four intact “country parks” designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, considered by many to be among the finest expressions of his design philosophies. Concerned that the redevelopment proposal would limit student and community access and privatize public space, the Defenders mobilized residents, neighborhood associations, and park advocates to demand a more inclusive, transparent, and community-centered process. Through legal action, public forums, and alternative planning proposals, the group has elevated the conversation around equitable park use and preservation. Their work as a growing community voice illustrates the power of grassroots advocacy in defending the public purpose of Olmsted landscapes.

East Side Parkways Coalition | Buffalo, NY

The East Side Parkways Coalition is leading a powerful effort to restore Humboldt Parkway, a key link in Olmsted’s original and groundbreaking Buffalo park and parkway system—devastated by the construction of the Kensington Expressway in the 1960s. Olmsted’s Buffalo plan, the first comprehensive park and parkway system designed in the United States, set a national standard for urban green space and connectivity. Through organizing, legal action, and public education, the coalition is advocating for restorative justice and working to reconnect neighborhoods that were torn apart. Their work reflects the enduring importance of Olmsted’s vision of connectivity, healing, and equitable access to green space.

Please join us in congratulating these inspiring honorees!

The awards will be presented during a celebratory dinner on Friday, October 24, at First Congregational UCC in Washington, D.C. The event is part of Defending Common Ground: An Olmsted Parks Intensive (9 PDH, LA CES/HSW), a three-day conference empowering park advocates, conservancies, and design professionals. Conference registration includes the dinner; individual tickets are also available for $65 here.

View award descriptions and past recipients online here.