2009 - When I asked Mary Anne Hunter what she liked most about Philadelphia, she described the "precious microcosms" that are the building blocks of the city. Although she grew up in the country, she has been a Philly resident for over 50 years, and her appreciation for neighborhoods and the impact that even tiny pockets of green space can have on the surrounding urban environment has made her a valuable volunteer for the Collaborative.
A landscape architect, Mary Anne has contributed her expertise to many projects to enhance the outdoor spaces of nonprofits, including a sitting garden for seniors for the Friends Rehabilitation Program, a planting plan for Diamond Park, and most recently, the conceptual design for a landscaped garden at the Charles Santore Library in Bella Vista.
Landscape architecture is a second career for Mary Anne. When she received her bachelors degree in landscape architecture from Temple University, she had already studied English literature and government administration at the University of Pennsylvania. She worked in the Philadelphia Streets Department, where she got to know the city's challenges up close and personal and to appreciate the positive impact that a design process involving the community could have on the end result.
Mary Anne has done her part to develop answers to the question of how to effectively green the city and deal with Philadelphia’s huge inventory of vacant land. The Fair Hill Burial Ground is one open space that is near and dear to her heart. She has worked for years to help bring the Quaker landmark "back from the dead." As a board member of the City Parks Association, she helped orchestrate the 2005 Urban Voids competition to solicit creative ideas for an ecological response to vacant lots.
P.S. this week is National Volunteer Week, themed celebrating people in action. So here's a big thank you to all of our great volunteers, who like Mary Anne, give their time, energy and skills back to the community.