I grew up in a small town where your status in high school depended on the car you drove. Kids who still walked or biked to school were nerdy. I think most people in the US had a similar experience. When I went to the University of Oregon in Eugene I met the man who would become my husband. He had been one of those nerdy kids who walked or biked everywhere and was vehemently opposed to the notion that everyone over the age of 18 should own a car. He introduced me to the amazing system of bike paths in Eugene. If he had known I would soon be waking him at 5 am to ride along the river in Skinner Butte Park to watch the sunrise with me, maybe he wouldn’t have been so persuasive.
I am passionate about creating convenient, gracious and egalitarian pathways for bicyclists and pedestrians of all abilities. I am so excited to be a part of the Alta team - Alta sets the standard that others aspire to!
Mary Stewart has been with Alta since 2009. She contributes over seven years landscape design experience. Mary has a passion for improving connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists. She brings strong skills in site reconnaissance through construction documents including research, design development, permitting, community outreach, master plans, storm water pollution prevention plans, cost estimation and grant writing. Her prior experience includes urban design, trail, park, waterfront, school, commercial and residential projects with Callander Associates in San Mateo, California.
Recent Projects
Santa Clara River Trail Plan (Oxnard, California)
The Santa Clara River Trail is a 4-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail along the southern bank of the Santa Clara River between Victoria Avenue and Central Avenue. Mary is leading the study which includes a thorough existing setting and conditions review, an analysis of gaps and geographic impediments, public outreach, a standards and safety review, an implementation program, and a financial element. The planning process includes regular meetings with the client, key stakeholders, and City meetings for formal adoption of the plan.
Mojave Riverwalk (Victorville, California)
The Mojave Riverwalk in Victorville, California is a unique 9-mile trail following the Mojave River in southern California’s High Desert. The trail will connect downtown Victorville on Historic Route 66 to Victor Valley Community College and the future trails in Hesperia to the south. Mary is assisting preparation of construction documents for bidding in late 2009. The project includes alignments through High Desert rare riparian areas, historic Route 66 sites and a rail-with-trail segment through The Narrows, a dramatic canyon.
TriMet Bike Parking/Station (Beaverton, Oregon)
Mary is assisting preparation of conceptual designs for secure parking areas (SPAs) for bicycles at key transit centers. The project includes selection of equipment, concept design, permitting and fast-track construction documentation for design-build implementation in time for 2009 transportation stimulus funding.
Covington Parks Recreation & Open Space (PROS) Plan (Covington, Washington)
Alta Planning + Design led an update to the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan for City of Covington (WA). The project entailed significant public outreach including a 300-person random sample telephone survey, a teen-based focus group, three open house meetings and several stakeholder discussions. Mary helped perform a complete inventory of the city’s parks, natural areas, trails and facilities, assisted with facilitation of the open house meetings and completed trail planning and capital facilities, maintenance & operation analysis. The plan proposed updated service standards, detailed community interests and facility needs and programmed a 6-year capital improvement plan with specific funding alternatives.
9th Street Bicycle Boulevard Extension (Berkeley, California)
Alta Planning + Design was contracted by the City of Berkeley to design and prepare Construction Documents for a multi-use pathway that connects the 9th Street Bicycle Boulevard in Berkeley to the Emeryville Greenway at the south City limit proving an important connection between two regional bicycle-pedestrian networks. The project includes design of several mid-block crossings on City streets that provide safe connections from surrounding neighborhoods to nearby schools and businesses. Mary assisted with site investigation and prepared construction documents for bidding in early 2010.
Maricara Park Trail Design (Portland, Oregon)
Located in a residential neighborhood, Maricara Park is an approximately 10-acre site with a wetland, protected stream, and important native plant species. Saved from development by various twists and turns, the park hosts an older second-growth forest and is highly prized by neighbors. Alta Planning + Design was contracted by the City of Portland to field design a new natural-surface pedestrian trail system that protected the wetlands and stream and also respected the adjacent private property. Mary assisted with site investigation and prepared construction documents for bidding in late 2009.
Other Related Experience
- Board member, CityTrees, Redwood City, CA. Served 2003-2009.
