Ingrid Reed
Smart Growth Award Category: Leadership Award
The Cary Edwards Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have an outstanding commitment to improving quality of life and promoting smart growth in New Jersey through sustainable land-use policy and practice.
Recipient: Ingrid Reed
Founding member of New Jersey Future and past board of trustees chair, Reed was a public policy professional who leveraged her network and knowledge to advance civic life in New Jersey as a supporter of forward-thinking and comprehensive planning, journalism, arts, and the City of Trenton.
It is our honor to announce a new fund in Ingrid’s name, the Ingrid Reed For Our Future Fund with a focus on educating, training and diversifying the field of future Smart Growth leaders – providing support to connect more people to each other and our smart growth mission. Learn more and make a contribution today.
New Jersey Future is honoring Ingrid Reed as the recipient of New Jersey Future’s 2024 Leadership Award. Reed, who passed away in July 2024, leaves a profound legacy as a tireless advocate for the City of Trenton, regional planning, and the future of New Jersey. Her approach was defined by her ability to bring people together, inspire forward-thinking strategies, and champion state and local initiatives that fostered long-term prosperity. Her influence spanned decades, and her impact is still felt in Trenton and across New Jersey.
Ingrid’s journey with the City of Trenton began when she recognized the unique challenges and opportunities the state capital faced. Despite being New Jersey’s political hub, Trenton struggled with economic disinvestment and a lack of coordinated planning. Ingrid saw the potential for revitalization and made it her mission to bridge the gap between state government investment and local placemaking. She worked closely with the Capital City Redevelopment Corporation (CCRC), which was formed to address the city’s underutilized assets and disconnected infrastructure; Ingrid supported the CCRC by facilitating public-private partnerships and advocating for thoughtful redevelopment that would not only benefit state operations but also serve the residents of Trenton. New Jersey Future Executive Director Pete Kasabach describes her influence, “Her leadership was instrumental in ushering in the revolutionary downtown master plan supported by the State, and in educating City, County, and State officials on how best to implement it.” Ingrid was a strong advocate for revitalizing the city’s downtown and opening the door to further state investment. Ingrid was also a pivotal figure in the ongoing effort to reorient Route 29, a project designed to reconnect Trenton’s residents with their waterfront.
Beyond Trenton, Ingrid’s legacy includes her role in shaping state and regional planning in New Jersey. In the 1980s, when comprehensive planning was virtually nonexistent in the state, she saw the need for an overarching vision to guide development. Her exposure to regional planning models in other states informed her views on New Jersey’s first State Plan and the importance of engaging academia, civic and business leaders, and the general public with its content. She believed deeply that state planning was essential for tackling issues like urban sprawl, environmental sustainability, and economic inequality. This belief led her to play a key role in the founding of New Jersey Future, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing smart growth principles across the state. Kasabach adds, “Ingrid provided a North Star for the organization, always pushing to keep us focused on the future, and reminding us that the limited supply of land here in New Jersey is so precious that we must plan its use thoughtfully and comprehensively.”
Ingrid was also known for her visionary approach to the future. A true “futurist,” she constantly pushed those around her to think beyond the present and consider how their work could shape the New Jersey of tomorrow. This forward-thinking mindset led to her instrumental role in the creation of the Smart Growth Awards, now in their 21st year. She believed in celebrating the successes of others and highlighting innovative solutions that could serve as models for the entire state.
New Jersey Future is proud to honor Ingrid Reed with the 2024 Leadership Award, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to Trenton and her lasting impact on the state’s future. Her vision, leadership, and passion for smart growth will continue to inspire generations to come.
Ingrid Reed For Our Future Fund
