Many cultures strongly advocate the idea that a name defines an individual or a thing. Such must be the case for Christopher Van de Velde, whose Dutch surname means “of the fields.” Since 2010, this man of the fields has served as volunteer general manager and project manager of Awbury Arboretum, shepherding the astounding success of the free public garden and farm in Germantown. 

Van de Velde spoke lightheartedly about the benefits of volunteerism. “After being out of town for a few days,” he said, “I’m now cleaning up at Awbury. Then, I’m heading out to play golf with the guys — it’s one of the advantages of being a ‘retired’ worker!” 

On a more serious note, he wants others to know how vital volunteering is for individuals and the nonprofit organizations they serve. “From a personal perspective, there has been the pleasure of keeping busy and ensuring my mind has been actively challenged daily,” he said. “Professionally, it has enabled me to use and share much that I learned over 50 years of working, managing many different-sized organizations in many different fields.”

A man of many fields  

Van de Velde is indeed a man of many fields. Early on, he cut his teeth in urban planning and development. Graduating from McPherson College in Kansas, he landed his first job with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in its Philadelphia regional office. From there, he won a plum assignment working for Mayor John Lindsay in New York City. Pretty heady stuff for a young graduate. How did he end up back in Philly? “I liked Philadelphia so much,” he explained, “that I decided to accept an offer to join a couple of friends to develop a larger private urban renewal project: Franklintown.”

Earning his master’s degree in Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, Van de Velde moved through a succession of positions of increasing responsibility in local government management and public-private ventures. These included large-scale economic development, urban renewal, and real estate construction. His experience designing and implementing operating systems, procedures, and policies for organizations seeking administrative change greatly informed his work of transforming Awbury Arboretum. 

Transforming an urban woodland

Van de Velde’s considerable background and experience twice positively impacted Awbury. 

During his first go-round in the early 1980s, he helped craft a successful, long-term partnership that united Philadelphia’s Board of the City Parks Association, the entity that legally owns the arboretum, with neighbors who formed the Awbury Arboretum Association to assume the day-to-day management and develop programs specifically targeted to the area. Undeniably, this collaboration allowed Awbury not simply to survive but to thrive. 

Later, upon his formal work retirement in 2010, Van de Velde assumed the role of volunteer General Manager. Hideko Secrest, Awbury’s education director and grants manager, said,

“The Arboretum was in a time of transition and change and Chris immediately went to work on his vision for it.” 

 “Since I was recently retired and somewhat bored,” Van de Velde explained, “I was delighted when asked if I could help in the transformation of Awbury Arboretum for a second time.” 

The park was in the midst of financial struggles, Van de Velde said. “Funds for many education and training programs had disappeared, and Awbury needed to find a new way to do things.” Simultaneous with Van de Velde’s return, Awbury won a multiyear grant from the William Penn Foundation to develop new programs and find new sources of revenue, amplifying his tenure of legendary leadership. 

This leadership will be honored with the biennial Gay Gilpin Johnson Award, bestowed upon a community member who “epitomizes excellence in volunteerism and leadership” on May 15 at Awbury’s alfresco 2025 Garden Party and Benefit. 

Branda O’Neil, Awbury’s deputy director, said, “I'm glad for this excuse to recognize Chris! He has given Awbury the enormous gift of not only 15 years of volunteer leadership, but also imagination, energy, and vision that has transformed the Arboretum. I have learned from his humility, his willingness to take risks with a sense of humor, and his demonstrated love of this space and this community.”  

Known for this humility, Van de Velde confessed, “I don’t think I need to be thanked so publicly for having so much fun for 15 years. However,” he added, “I understand that having an honoree for a fundraising event has a real ‘bottom line’ value for nonprofit organizations, so I agreed to participate as the focal point of our event to highlight the value of volunteers: board members, workers, and funders.”

Married 47 years to wife Lee, Van de Velde spent 35 years in West Mt. Airy, raising his blended family of two daughters, Tamarack and Tara, and sons, Graham and Alexander Robb. After recently relocating to Upper Roxborough, the Van de Veldes are now enjoying the next family crop: their four grandchildren Forrest, Murray, Lucy, and Magdelena. With no plans of stopping all the fun anytime soon, Van de Velde said, “I expect to continue to help where I can at Awbury until they fire me. And I will certainly be looking to see where I might be useful in the struggle to limit the damage being done by MAGA administration and mindset.”