GLENCOE, Ill. (May 3, 2007)—The Chicago Botanic Garden is pleased to announce that Barbara Whitney Carr, President and CEO, is this year’s recipient of the American Public Gardens Association’s (APGA) most prestigious award: the 2007 Award of Merit. This award recognizes an individual who has performed with distinction in the field of public horticulture and has excelled as a public garden professional. Carr will be honored during the APGA’s annual conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday, June 29.

“Throughout her 12 years as President and CEO, Barbara’s diligence and creative vision has contributed tremendously toward enhancing the Garden’s standing as one of the major public gardens in the United States,” said William J. Hagenah, Chairman of the board of directors.

Carr joined the Garden in 1995 as President and CEO, and is responsible for overseeing one of America’s preeminent public gardens. With Carr at the helm, attendance at the Chicago Botanic Garden has doubled to three-quarters of a million visitors annually and membership has more than doubled to 48,000 – the largest membership of any botanic garden in the United States.

Carr led the creation of a $148 million ten-year master plan and fundraising effort that encompassed the construction and renovation of eight new gardens including the Buehler Enabling Garden, Spider Island, and Evening Island; the addition of five new teaching gardens, and the expansion of the Garden’s collection to over two million plants. Carr was instrumental in fostering a partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to preserve endangered prairie plant species, and has launched a major science and education initiative including collaborations with Northwestern University, to offer a master’s of science degree in plant biology and conservation; the Illinois Institute of Technology, to offer a master’s degree in landscape architecture; the University of Illinois, to offer an undergraduate degree in horticulture; and the National Science Foundation.

Prior coming to the Chicago Botanic Garden, Carr was President of the Lincoln Park Zoological Society. She is a member of the American Association of Museums, the APGA, The Chicago Network, the Economic Club of Chicago Executive’s Club of Chicago, and the Chicago region Biodiversity Council. Carr is on the Board of Directors of Chicago Wilderness, Lake Forest Open Lands Association, The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and Lake Forest College, and has served on the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.