Ahern wins national award for greenways research

Jack Ahern

ack Ahern, professor and head of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, received the sole honor award for research from the American Society of Landscape Architects in the 2002 Professional Awards Competition.

     The research was published as the book, "Greenways as Strategic Landscape Planning: Theory and Application."

     Ahern's studies reviewed literature and conducted case studies and original applications to explore the arguments that greenways are a promising planning strategy to support sustainability; that it is gaining international acceptance and application; and that it offers advantages by realizing multiple, complementary goals.

     Examples and applications from Massachusetts include the Quabbin-to-Wachusett wildlife corridor study, and the Minute Man National Historic Park. The work included theories and applications from The Netherlands, where Ahern spent a sabbatical year and researched projects including the National Ecological Network, and an innovative pilot project for restoration of the Rhine River floodplain.