2023 Class of Fellows, Joy Kuebler, New York Upstate Chapter
Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, North Tonawanda, NY
For over two decades, Joy Kuebler has distinguished herself through exceptional leadership, as a passionate mentor, an empowered community advocate, and a true supporter of landscape architecture as a means to transform communities and institutions. With a long track record of community involvement, 25 plus years with the New York Upstate Chapter and National ASLA, and as an adjunct instructor, her reach has been far and wide. For example, she created Pop Up Park Buffalo, a nonprofit engaging more than 500 disadvantaged children with community-based free-play events; she has been a tireless mentor of students and emerging professionals; she has been involved with 600 some landscape architecture, planning and engagement projects; and she has worked to empower distressed and disadvantaged communities to take charge of their futures through placemaking. Her long-held belief that creativity and play can be used to strengthen and affirm landscape architecture's value led her to develop an innovative play-based social science methodology for community engagement. Joy established PLAYCE to facilitate design through creative and meaningful play for design professionals, students, and municipal and community leaders around the world. Her goal is to change how people think and to help them see their communities, their possibilities, and each other differently. Joy has transformed landscape architecture by empowering collaboration among communities to create meaningful built environments for everyone and through her personal commitment to fostering the next generation of passionate and engaged professionals.
