Who we are.
The San Diego Coalition for Public Places is a volunteer-led organization working to create and sustain public places that are welcoming, inclusive, well cared for, and built to thrive.
Whether we’re partnering, advising, convening, or advocating, our work is guided by collaboration and community priorities.
What we mean by public places.
“Public places shape how we connect, move, and experience our city—they shape everyday life.”
We think of public places as spaces open and accessible to everyone — places designed for shared use, enjoyment, and community benefit. They support public health, environmental quality, social connection, cultural expression, and economic vitality.
Think broadly: plazas, parks, streets, sidewalks, waterfronts, trails, and natural areas all play a role. Together, they form the public realm—the shared spaces where community life unfolds and where a city’s identity takes shape.
VIDA means LIFE
The Principles of Great Public Places
Value
Places that create lasting, shared benefit
Inspiration
Spaces that spark creativity and connection
Design
Thoughtful, functional, and beautiful environments
Accessibility
Welcoming spaces for people of all backgrounds and abilities
Meet the executive board.
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President
Founder Citecon, Urban Planning & Economics
Bill’s focus is to integrate urban planning, design, and development to enhance economic and social value for people, while sustaining a region's environment. With national and international experience, Bill, a local native, has a special attachment to our unique location in the world, formed by its landscape, history, bi-national place, economy, and its many cultures. As our city evolves over decades to centuries, public places that bring these cultures together will influence what it means to be San Diegans.
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Vice-President
Executive Director, San Diego County Bike Coalition
Chloé Lauer is an award-winning mobility advocate, Harvard-trained urban planner, and the Executive Director of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. She collaborates with civic leaders to spearhead transformative projects such as the Bay to Park Paseo, which reimagined pedestrian connectivity along Park Boulevard during San Diego-Tijuana World Design Capital. Chloé is on a mission to make our cities beautiful, accessible, and vibrant places for everyone, and she's honored to serve as the Vice President of the San Diego Coalition for Public Places.
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Secretary
Co-founder, attention2 landscape architecture
Laura’s work as a landscape architect has focused on the integration of natural systems and cultural resources in the planning and design of public places. She has delighted in the opportunities to assist communities from Alaska to New Orleans. The San Diego Coalition for Public Places extends her desire to team with friends and colleagues to make a difference in our city.
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Treasurer
Lydon Associates, Real Estate/Housing
Mary’s entire career has been about bringing people together to build places where all of the community – from residents to businesses, have the opportunity to thrive, be healthy and prosper. She brings over 30 years of nonprofit experience in strategy and implementation to help San Diego Coalition for Public Places set up an enduring foundation for creating places where people can gather, enjoy and be.
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Communications Chair
Co-founder, attention2 landscape architecture
For 50 years, Marty has combined his insatiable curiosity with a love of community life to practice landscape architecture fused with urbanity, social purpose, and aesthetics. His work has focused on making beautiful, functional public places to enrich peoples’ lives. Marty brings this experience to the San Diego Coalition for Public Places to help communities imagine, create, and sustain places they can enjoy forever.
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Emeritus
Urban Design & Architecture
Michael Stepner is former City of San Diego City Architect and Professor Emeritus of the NewSchool of Architecture & Design. He is the recipient of the 2024 AIA San Diego Lifetime Achievement Award. He serves on numerous boards and committees including the San Diego Coalition for Public Places. His focus is on the design of the public realm as the framework for city building--the public realm is where people can come together and build community.
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Communications Committee
Callenderworks, Marketing
Beth was a Principal in Greenhaus, a nationally recognized advertising and marketing company that worked throughout the U.S. and Mexico branding, marketing, and consulting on places and properties including cities, cultural institutions, communities, and urban mixed-use projects. Working to improve places and communities she developed a passion for what makes places great from a city street to a neighborhood to a region. In 2019 she co-founded URBAN INTERVENTIONS to focus on impactful and fast projects to improve downtown San Diego. Her 20+ year involvement in Urban Land Institute furthered her exposure to innovative places and projects.
Meet the executive board.
William (Bill) Anderson, FAICP
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Founder Citecon, Urban Planning & Economics
Bill’s focus is to integrate urban planning, design, and development to enhance economic and social value for people, while sustaining a region's environment. With national and international experience, Bill, a local native, has a special attachment to our unique location in the world, formed by its landscape, history, bi-national place, economy, and its many cultures. As our city evolves over decades to centuries, public places that bring these cultures together will influence what it means to be San Diegans.
Chloé Lauer, LEEDAP, WELLAP
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Executive Director, San Diego County Bike Coalition
Chloé Lauer is an award-winning mobility advocate, Harvard-trained urban planner, and the Executive Director of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. She collaborates with civic leaders to spearhead transformative projects such as the Bay to Park Paseo, which reimagined pedestrian connectivity along Park Boulevard during San Diego-Tijuana World Design Capital. Chloé is on a mission to make our cities beautiful, accessible, and vibrant places for everyone, and she's honored to serve as the Vice President of the San Diego Coalition for Public Places.
Laura Burnett, FASLA
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Co-founder, attention2 landscape architecture
Laura’s work as a landscape architect has focused on the integration of natural systems and cultural resources in the planning and design of public places. She has delighted in the opportunities to assist communities from Alaska to New Orleans. The San Diego Coalition for Public Places extends her desire to team with friends and colleagues to make a difference in our city.
Mary Lydon
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Lydon Associates, Real Estate/Housing
Mary’s entire career has been about bringing people together to build places where all of the community – from residents to businesses, have the opportunity to thrive, be healthy and prosper. She brings over 30 years of nonprofit experience in strategy and implementation to help San Diego Coalition for Public Places set up an enduring foundation for creating places where people can gather, enjoy and be.
Marty Poirier, FASLA
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Co-founder, attention2 landscape architecture
For 50 years, Marty has combined his insatiable curiosity with a love of community life to practice landscape architecture fused with urbanity, social purpose, and aesthetics. His work has focused on making beautiful, functional public places to enrich peoples’ lives. Marty brings this experience to the San Diego Coalition for Public Places to help communities imagine, create, and sustain places they can enjoy forever.
Michael (Mike) Stepner,
FAIA, FAICP
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Urban Design & Architecture
Michael Stepner is former City of San Diego City Architect and Professor Emeritus of the NewSchool of Architecture & Design. He is the recipient of the 2024 AIA San Diego Lifetime Achievement Award. He serves on numerous boards and committees including the San Diego Coalition for Public Places. His focus is on the design of the public realm as the framework for city building--the public realm is where people can come together and build community.
Beth Callender
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Callenderworks, Marketing
Beth was a Principal in Greenhaus, a nationally recognized advertising and marketing company that worked throughout the U.S. and Mexico branding, marketing, and consulting on places and properties including cities, cultural institutions, communities, and urban mixed-use projects. Working to improve places and communities she developed a passion for what makes places great from a city street to a neighborhood to a region. In 2019 she co-founded URBAN INTERVENTIONS to focus on impactful and fast projects to improve downtown San Diego. Her 20+ year involvement in Urban Land Institute furthered her exposure to innovative places and projects.