Liff Spirit Award and Recipients

The Liff Spirit Award, named for Justine Mee Liff, Boston's Commissioner of Parks and Recreation from 1996 to 2002, honors the vision, wisdom, humanity and joy that Justine brought to her work as a champion of the open, green spaces that are so vital to our daily life. It is presented annually at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy's Party in the Park to an individual or individuals whose leadership, commitment to cities, passion for public places, dedication the democratic ideals fostered in urban parks, and ability to inspire public servants and private citizens to join together in common cause best reflects Justine's spirit and legacy.

2011 Liff Spirit Awardee:

Valerie Burns
President, Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN)

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy is pleased to announce that Valerie Burns has been chosen as the 2011 recipient of the Liff Spirit Award. The award honors the vision, wisdom, humanity and joy that Justine Mee Liff brought to her work as Boston Commissioner of Parks and Recreation from 1996 to 2002. It is presented annually to an individual or individuals whose leadership, commitment to cities, passion for public places and ability to inspire others best reflects Justine’s spirit and legacy. Burns will receive the award at the 8th Annual Party in the Park on Wednesday, May 18.

As president of Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN), Burns demonstrates a strong commitment to conserving and expanding urban green spaces and encouraging community members to advocate and work for all the city’s parklands. “It is an honor to receive this award,” says Burns. “As Justine did in her work, it is important to celebrate the beauty, joy and community that Boston’s parks and green spaces bring to our city.”

BNAN’s mission is to improve, preserve and expand urban open spaces such as community gardens, urban wilds, and greenways. BNAN’s projects are always guided by local residents and the organization involves over 20,000 individuals and families each year in the stewardship of these green spaces. Eugenie Beal, board chair of BNAN and Burns’ longtime colleague, explains, “Because of Valerie, there are many Boston residents who feel connected to parks and help public agencies and BNAN protect and care for the city’s green spaces.”

In 1995, BNAN introduced an initiative under Burns’ direction called Greenways to Boston Harbor which created the Neponset River Greenway and the East Boston Greenway. The initiative has leveraged $43 million in public funding to date for the creation of new parklands in the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and East Boston. These two greenways now provide almost 100 acres of parks and 9 miles of walking and biking trails in areas of the city underserved by open space. BNAN is also the leading organization for the care of community gardens in Boston. BNAN provides services to all 150 community gardens and owns and protects 43 of these gardens. “Fostering stewardship is a significant aspect of Valerie’s influence on Boston’s parks and green spaces,” enthuses Beal. BNAN is now working with the Boston Public Health Commission to double the number of community gardeners in Dorchester, Boston’s largest neighborhood.

Indeed, over Burns’ 23-year tenure, BNAN has grown six-fold and developed a number of very effective community involvement programs. The ‘Master Urban Gardeners’ program, the ‘Students Learning Urban Gardening’ program, and the Youth Conservation Corps - the city’s largest summer environmental program for teens ages 15 to 17 - educate and engage local residents of all ages in the stewardship of greenways, gardens, and wilds.

Prior to her work at BNAN, Burns was the planning director for The Boston Harbor Association and director of planning for Boston Parks and Recreation Department. She was awarded the US EPA New England Region Environmental Leadership Award in 1997 and the City of Boston Environmental Leadership Award in 2003. She was selected as a Barr Fellow in the inaugural class of 2005. In 2006, BNAN affiliated with The Trustees of Reservations, a statewide land conservation organization where Burns also serves as a Vice President.

Click here to read more about the Boston Natural Areas Network.

Past Recipients

2010

Charles Ansbacher

2009

Michael and Kitty Dukakis

2008

Joan and Ted Cutler

2007

Agnes "Diddy" Cullinane

2006

Henry Lee

2005

Norman Leventhal and Eugenie Beal