Mary Anne Cassin, FASLA
Category: Leadership/Management
Portland Parks and Recreation (Retired), Portland, Oregon

Mary Anne Cassin received her nomination, in Leadership/Management, from the Oregon Chapter. During 35 extraordinarily productive years within the Portland, Oregon, park system, Cassin's leadership and management abilities, professional proficiency, strategic thinking and exceptional political acumen have enabled her to be a vital force behind the region's national reputation for urban design excellence. She has long been devoted to promoting the essential role of open space in cities and was instrumental in securing the 2011 National Recreation and Parks Association Gold Medal for Portland. Using her vast knowledge, political acumen and persuasive skills, she has helped push for creative financing strategies for park expansion and improvements. Among her accomplishments is a policy requiring developers to pay a fee for additional parks and recreation facilities, which she deftly steered through city council then helped institutionalize. Enormously respected and admired by citizens and professionals alike, Cassin has helped inspire the entire community to share her passion for parks and natural spaces within our urban world.