Proposed by: a member of North Country Garden Club of Long Island, Zone III

As commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation under Mayor Bloomberg, 800 acres of new parks across all five boroughs were created, often by converting underutilized land (including an abandoned elevated rail line that became the High Line). His advocacy for green infrastructure and community involvement changed the way people think about public spaces. At the Trust for Public Land (TPL), Adrian helped city leaders across the country improve their park systems. The website ParkScore helps local park systems identify underserved areas, with a goal of 100% of people within a 10-minute walk of a park. In Chicago, he spearheaded creation of The 606 trailhead, connecting neighborhoods with a 3-mile park by using abandoned railways. The new CEO of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Adrien Benepe continues to promote the essential role of urban parks.