The Frances Peters Award
Created in 2003 to mark the 85th anniversary of The City Gardens Club, The Frances Peters Award is named for the distinguished civic activist who founded the club in 1918. It is bestowed upon an individual whose inspirational leadership has had a major impact on the beautification of New York City. Recipients include:
2021: Madelyn Wils, chief executive officer of the Hudson River Park Trust, oversaw the design, construction and maintenance of over four miles of waterfront park on the west side of Manhattan. Click here for more information.
2018: Lisa Tziona Switkin, senior principal at James Corner Field Operations, led the design and delivery of the High Line in New York City.
2011: Tupper Thomas, first administrator of Prospect Park, co-founder and first president of the Prospect Park Alliance
2008: Elizabeth Scholtz, director emeritus of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
2005: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, first administrator of Central Park, co-founder and first president of the Central Park Conservancy
2003: Lynden B. Miller, co-chairman of New Yorkers for Parks, designer of public spaces including Bryant Park, Madison Square Park and The Conservatory Garden in Central Park
The Medal of Honor
Established in 1928 on the tenth anniversary of The City Gardens Club and resurrected in 2005 on the club’s 88th anniversary, The Medal of Honor is awarded to an individual or individuals in recognition of distinguished work and dedication in enhancing gardens, parks and open space in New York City. Recent recipients include:
2021: Lynn B. Kelly, executive director, New Yorkers for Parks. Click here for more information.
2017: Susan Lacerte, executive director, Queens Botanical Garden
2014: Warrie Price, executive director, The Battery Conservancy
2011: Adrian Benepe, commissioner, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
2008: Gail O’Neill Caulkins, president of the Greenacre Foundation which provides financial support and design assistance to NYC parks and community gardens
2005: Margaret Ternes, executive director of The Fund for Park Avenue, the organization responsible for the planting and holiday lighting of the Park Avenue Malls
The Melville Award
The Melville Award is given to an individual or individuals who have demonstrated excellence in science and/or environmental education. Recent recipients include:
2023: Kimberly Beazer, Environmental Science & Gardening Program Director and Lead Educator at PS 84 in Manhattan. Click here for more information.
2022: Annie Novak, Founder and Director of Growing Chefs, Manager of the Edible Academy at NYBG. Click here for more information.
2021: Barbara Kurland, Director of Learning and Partnerships, School Programs Manager, Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Click here for more information.
2019: Tony Hillery, Founder of Harlem Grown
2018: Nancy Wolf, Environmental Education Consultant, JLN Wolf, Inc., Facilitator, Green Horizons. Click here for more information.
2017: Lenny Librizzi, former Director of Green Infrastructure (retired 2017), and Gerard Lordahl, Director of the Greening Program, GrowNYC. Click here for more information.
2016: Matt Malina, Executive Director of NYC H20
2015: Dr. Mary Leou, Director of Urban Environmental Education at NYU
2014: Pamela Ito, director of education, The Horticultural Society of New York
2013: Allison Godshall, science teacher and science coach
2012: Susan Lacerte, executive director, Queens Botanical Garden
2011: Nathaniel Wight, science teacher, Bronx Design and Construction Academy
2010: Steve Frillman, executive director, Green Guerrillas
2009: Tessa Huxley, executive director, Battery Park City Parks Conservancy
2008: Veronica Peterson, principal, Brooklyn Academy for Science and the Environment
2007: Susan Gooberman, executive director, Trees New York
2006: Michael Zamm, director of environmental education, Council on the Environment NYC
2005: Kim Estes-Fradis, director of education, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
2004: Gin Gee Moy, science coordinator and principal, P.S. 2
2003: John Lancos, environmental education specialist, National Park Service.
2002: No Award
2001: Joy Garland
2000: No Award
1999: Jay Dagress
1998: Gail Davis
1997: Edward Stowe Gilman
1996: Carol Franken
1995: Marian Sloane
1994: Stanley Mandel
1993: Philip Schaeffa
1992: Regina McCarthy aka Grace Boyd
1991: Rose Blaustein
1990: Lisa Miller
Historical Precedents
In 1961 The City Gardens Club established a citation to be presented to a person who had made a significant contribution to the preservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the country. Recipients included:
1972: Herbert Johnson, custodian of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
1966: Carl W. Buchheister, president of the Audubon Society, director of the society’s ecology workshop on Hog Island, Maine
1965: Lady Bird Johnson, for “her interest in conservation and her outstanding contribution to the beautifying of the country”
1964: Rachel Carson (awarded posthumously). The citation read, “More than any other single individual, Rachel Carson awakened the concern of the whole country to the dangers facing all living matter through the widespread misuse of pesticides.”
1963: Two American scientists, for their research on the terrestrial ecosystem of Antarctica.
1961: Mary Lasker, for her leadership of urban beautification projects in New York City and Washington, D.C.