Cincinnati Parks Foundation to honor Hyde Park residents Shannon and Lee Carter

Hyde Park residents Shannon and Lee Carter are the 2025 recipients of the Phyllis W. Smale Award, the Cincinnati Park Foundation’s highest honor. The Carters will be recognized at the 19th Annual Hats Off Luncheon on Friday, October 3, at the John G. and Phyllis W. Smale Riverfront Park.

This prestigious award honors individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the improvement and beautification of Cincinnati Parks and the communities they serve. Few are more fitting than the Carters.

Lee Ault Carter is the great-grandson of Levi Addison Ault, the visionary who donated the original 200 acres that became Ault Park — one of the crown jewels of the Cincinnati Parks system. Carrying that legacy forward, the Carters generously funded the creation of Carter’s Grove, a serene and welcoming area within Ault Park that features new trees, bird feeders, accessible benches and smooth paths designed for wheelchairs and strollers that honors their family’s connection to nature and civic pride.

“Shannon and Lee Carter embody what it means to leave something better for the next generation,” said Jennifer Hafner Spieser, president + CEO of the Cincinnati Parks Foundation. “From honoring a family legacy to investing in the future of our parks, their impact is both deep and wide-reaching.”

A special highlight this year is the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Cincinnati Parks Foundation — an organization where Lee served as a former board president, championing efforts in sustaining our city’s magnificent, nationally acclaimed urban park system.   

In celebration of the Carters’ commitment to Cincinnati Parks, the Cincinnati Parks Foundation invites the community to make a gift in their honor. Donations will support efforts to create new park experiences, conserve the beauty of our natural spaces and connect more people to the parks they love — continuing the work the Carters have championed for decades.

For more information about the Phyllis W. Smale Award or to attend the event, please go to the Hat’s Off page on the Cincinnati Parks Foundation website at cincinnatiparksfoundation/programs/hats-off-luncheon. 

About the Phyllis W. Smale Award

Named for Phyllis W. Smale, a beloved gardener, visionary and wife of former Procter & Gamble CEO John G. Smale, this award honors individuals whose vision, leadership and philanthropy leave a lasting imprint on Cincinnati Parks through horticulture and city beautification. Phyllis’ passion for nature and community helped bring more green spaces to Cincinnati and shape Smale Riverfront Park into a treasured destination for generations to enjoy.

Pictured: Hyde Park residents Shannon and Lee Carter enjoy the park with their grandchildren. The Carters are honored by the Cincinnati Parks Foundation for their support of parks and families in our community. Photo provided.