2022 Lovgren awardees SJ Avery and Grace Freedman with PSCC President Tim Gilles and Trustee Candace Woodward

Honoring Community Service

Each year since 1979, the Park Slope Civic Council has honored two people or organizations for their outstanding service to the community. The awards – one for a local volunteer, the other for professional service – are named for George Lovgren, the Park Slope activist who in the 1960s worked tirelessly to save the Union Street firehouse (today, Squad 1) from closure.

Candace Woodward, Trustee, presented the Lovgren awards at the PSCC’s Annual Meeting June 2. Each year since 1979, the Park Slope Civic Council has honored people or organizations for their outstanding service to the community. The awards, one for a volunteer, and other for professional service, are named for George Lovgren, the Park Slope activist who in the 1960s worked tirelessly to save the Union Street Firehouse from closure.

2022 Awardees

Mark Caserta

Mark Caserta, Executive Director of the 5th Avenue BID received the Lovgren Award for Professional Service. Mark helped build the Park Slope 5th Avenue BID into one of the most innovative and connected small business communities in New York City.  He has been appointed Executive Director of Business Recovery by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

SJ Avery and Grace Freedman

SJ Avery and Grace Freedman, co-chairs of Forth on Fourth Avenue received the Lovgren Award for Volunteer Service. They have worked since 2013 to transform Fourth Avenue, connecting the Park Slope and the Gowanus communities and helping bring a protected bike lane along the avenue.

Previous Recent Awardees

2021: Brooklyn Relief Kitchen, organized by Andy and Piper Wandzilak to help people facing hunger as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Now their commitment is to help those suffering food insecurities because of the COVID pandemic. Burnley Duke Dame, who has volunteered her design services in support of many Civic Council community initiatives including the design of the highly effective No Flyers sign seen throughout Park Slope.

2020: Susan Fox, Ph.D., Founder of Park Slope Parents. Michael Cairl, a tireless advocate for the Park Slope community who served as president of the Park Slope Civic Council from 2010 to 2014.