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The Community Service Award honors those individuals who have made significant contributions to the improvement of communities in Illinois, with particular emphasis on public landscapes.
This year, the recipient of our Community Service Award is Joseph P. Kish, who is being honored for his significant contributions to Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU). Mr. Kish has been a leader in the transformation of NEIU as it progressed from being a campus dominated by cars and exotic plants to a student-oriented university with a native plant landscape theme.
In collaboration with many of Chicago’s leading landscape architects, Mr. Kish has completed more than a dozen projects during his career at NEIU. Through changes to both the landscape and hardscape, he has been instrumental in reshaping a largely flat and barren campus into one with topographic and visual interest. This includes adding a north-south spine with east and west gateways and enhancing the botanical character and species diversity.
In addition to the 1991 Landscape Master Plan, which received an ILASLA Planning Award, Mr. Kish has been responsible for numerous other campus enhancements, including a large wetland project and a complete makeover of the campus signage. In addition, he has been steadfast in his commitment to using Illinois native plants.
Although Mr. Kish received his initial training in the US Army Corps of Engineers, he has developed a landscape architect’s understanding, awareness, vision and judgment - and the kind of heart our profession admires.
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