Mary Stewart, PLA, ASLA

Mary is a Principal Landscape Architect at Akana with over 20 years of experience designing resilient, inclusive public spaces that prioritize health, safety, equity, and accessibility. She brings a deep commitment to community-centered design, specializing in active transportation, parks, and culturally responsive landscapes across both urban and rural Pacific Northwest contexts.

Successfully leading design of complex, large-scale projects involving linear parks, multimodal corridors, and shared-use paths, Mary manages all phases from community engagement through final approvals. Her experience includes coordinating with federal and state agencies and overseeing public outreach initiatives that produce innovative, well-loved infrastructure celebrated by local communities.

Mary is passionate about meaningful public engagement and is certified in Charrette Management and Facilitation through the National Charrette Institute. She leads collaborative outreach efforts that build trust and empower communities by transforming diverse input into thoughtful, practical design solutions that honor local values, environmental goals, and cultural significance.