Valerie Burns

Valerie Burns led the Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN), a Boston open-space nonprofit devoted to the creation and care of community gardens, urban wilds, and greenways, from 1988 through 2013. Under her leadership BNAN grew almost tenfold. She initiated and oversaw the “Greenways to Boston Harbor” project, which resulted in a $24-million investment in parkland in underserved communities. BNAN’s work with urban wilds and community gardens continues and evolves as urban wilds are the core for the Neponset and East Boston greenways.