ASLA Honors
La G a sse M eda l - Non La ndsca p e A rchi t ec t
Katherine F. Abbott
“For contributions to the management and conservation of natural resources and
public landscapes.”
Katherine (Kathy) Abbott has been a
lifelong advocate for public funding for
programs supporting environmental
education and youth employment,
historic landscape preservation, land
conservation, urban parks, and improved
access to and management of public
lands. She took the helm of Tower Hill
Botanic Garden (Boylston, MA) in January
after having served as the first president
of the Boston Harbor Island Alliance
(BHIA) and the first Commissioner of the
Massachusetts Department of Conservation
and Recreation.
Abbott’s tenure at the BHIA is notable
as she brought BHIA organization from
infancy to one of the most well respected
and effective players in the Massachusetts
environmental and conservation
community in less than seven years.
“Without a doubt, Kathy’s most important contribution was to help the The Trustees of Reservations and
its many constituents realize that the important work
of preservation and stewardship of important natural
and cultural landscapes can only be accomplished
by inviting the public to join in and help.”
Andy Kendall,
“This award is a wonderful
acknowledgement of the
great public and private
sector teams of professionals
that I have the pleasure of
working with and together,
positively impacting the
quality of life in Massachusetts through conservation.”
Kathy Abbott
former President of the Trustees of Reservations,
2013 Boston Society of Landscape Architects Fieldbook
41