Boston - The Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA) has recognized the city of Burlington, Vermont and Dufresne-Henry's landscape architcture division with an award for superior professional accomplishment in the design of a waterfront park. The honor was bestowed in the BSLA's year 2000 annual awards competition recognizing excellence in landscape architecture.

Burlington's waterfront park won a Merit Award in the "Parks and Recreational Facilities" category, one of 13 design categories recognized by the BSLA Awards. The park was constructed in the late 1980s. Formerly a lumber port and a railyard, the environmentally damaged 11.2-acre property on the Lake Champlain shoreline was purchased by the city to ensure that future generations would have access to the lake from downtown. The Cavendish Partnership served as the city's facilitator for public and stakeholder participation in the project, for master planning and design, and for developing construction documents.

Park features include a city-operated public boat-house, a boat landing, bicycle paths and a waterfront promenade with benches, swings and a scenic overlook. Other features are a large lawn amphitheater, a multipurpose "great lawn" and seasonal flora that adds to the site's visual appeal from spring through fall.