Welcome to the Parks & People Foundation's website. Since 1984, Parks & People has worked to improve the quality of life in Baltimore's neighborhoods. Our staff, volunteers and partners in the community have developed innovative solutions to issues facing our city including the restoration of our neighborhoods and their natural resources as well as the academic enrichment and motivation of our children.

As with so many things of value, healthy parks and vibrant open spaces require protecting. A significant portion of the money used to create and maintain Baltimore's parks comes from the State of Maryland's Program Open Space. Established in 1969, Program Open Space (POS) receives its funding through dedicated real estate transfer tax. Though it is not widely known, when anyone buys a house or a piece of land in Maryland they pay a real estate transfer tax, and a percentage of that tax goes into a fund to support POS. In this way property owners are making a commitment to improve the quality of their communities. When fully-funded, POS acts as a balance -- as population, development and property sales increase, so does the protection of our critical open spaces and recreation facilities. This forward-thinking legislation is as nationally renowned today as it was in 1969.

The Maryland legislature can divert a funds away from programs that are intended to provide recreational opportunities, conserve land, improve water quality and preserve natural habitats.
Legislators act as "investment managers" of this important fund; however, we as the investors need to hold our "managers" accountable for the proper use of our investment. Lively parks increase real estate values, attract businesses, and capture tourist and residents' leisure and recreation expenditures.

When you join your family and friends in the portion of Baltimore's 6,000 acres of parkland you think of as your own, remember that it truly does belong to you.

See you in the park!

Jackie Carrera
President & CEO