A whole new kind of life ahead, Mary Devine Retires

Mary Devine at Bryce Canyon National Park

Experiences just waiting to happen

What is your name and job title? Mary Devine, Landscape Architect and Project Specialist in the Denver Service Center Transportation Division.

What experience and education do you have? I moved to Colorado from Little Rock, Arkansas to attend Colorado State University. I graduated from the College of Agricultural Sciences, with a degree in Landscape Horticulture in 1981. After college and being a children’s ski instructor in Vail, I worked in private practice for design/build landscape companies in Denver and Boulder. As a crew leader for Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, I learned how much I enjoyed building and hiking trails. My life took a dramatic turn in the fall of 1989, when I went on vacation to Utah and Northern Arizona for the first time. After I stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon teary eyed, I decided I had to work for the National Park Service. Work at the Grand Canyon was my ultimate goal. I realized that goal in the 1990’s as a Construction Project supervisor working on the western team.

What are some of the projects you worked on during your career at NPS? At the Grand Canyon, I worked on a park roads and trails project at the Maswik Transportation Center, in Grand Canyon Village. Working there was my dream job and I as able to live that dream as the Park Landscape Architect. Supervising the Native Plant Revegetation program was a very fulfilling experience for me as well as several river trips with the trail crew.

I continued to work in a few other western parks such as Channel Islands National Park and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. One of the best weeks of my life was hiking and camping along the the 80-mile “Backbone Trail” as the local park representative and park conservancy member. After 2000, I came back to the Denver Service Center (DSC) and ultimately ended up in DSC Transportation. I had never worked in parks east of the Mississippi and found out that all National Park Service (NPS) units have an important story to tell. Eastern parks may not be as iconic as the western and Alaska units, but they provide a much needed source of education and respite to the other parts of the country.

Some of my favorite projects have been for anniversary events. They have always provided unique opportunities for challenging work. Three in particular stand out for Mary:

• 1994- 50th Anniversary of the War in the Pacific Memorial Overlook in Agana, Guam
• 2013- 150th Anniversary of the Civil War- Rehabilitate all of the historic avenues and Bridges
• 2018- 150th Anniversary of the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site Massacre with the Overlook and Trailhead project

What’s next for you? I’m retiring at the end of January 2020! Even though I will miss my NPS coworkers on a daily basis, I have many passions to fill up the next third of my life. I will definitely have to prioritize my many interest in the outdoors, art and music. Skiing will be one of my priorities. Music and singing will also be at the top of my list, as well as trying to wear out my infamous dog, Indigo. Travel plans include Machu Picchu in Peru as well as spending time with family in Arizona. If you’d like to keep in touch, you can reach me at [e-mail].