Winter 2007

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service: The Benefits of Volunteering

On Monday, January 15, 2007 volunteers spent their Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday in the most meaningful way- by helping others. Staff and volunteers from Parks & People, the Department of Recreation and Parks, Civic Works and Business Volunteers Unlimited painted and refurbished four recreation centers and one middle school in Baltimore City.

276 volunteers worked for 8 hours to help Baltimore’s youth have nicer places to play after school. One volunteer involved said, “I appreciate everyone coming out into my community to beautify the recreation centers. I am glad I was a part of this project and I plan to come back next year!”

 In addition to work at Harlem Park Recreation Center, Barclay Recreation Center, Ralph J. Young Recreation Center, and Fred B. Leidig Recreation Center, volunteers donated games, sports equipment, and toys to increase the number of activities for children. Foosball tables, ping-pong tables, and plenty of board games were collected at Parks & People offices and Harlem Park Recreation Center and distributed to the three other centers throughout Baltimore City.

Students and volunteers at Fred B. Leidig Recreation Center were visited by the Oriole Bird while they were painting a mural on the wall. Bright green, yellow, purple, and orange paint was arranged in a plaid pattern, covering most of the bricks in the game room. The children that regularly spend time at the center were able to help in the painting process along with parents who were there to help reach some of the higher spots.

Children at Fred B. Leidig in front of their mural.

Lockers and bathrooms were given a fresh coat of paint at Harlem Park Middle School, keeping with the school’s bright colors of green and white. Old doors and shelves in the craft rooms were sanded, varnished and restored thanks to the efforts of volunteers and Civic Works crews. After lunch, girls at Harlem Park Recreation Center performed a dance routine that was followed by decorating flower pots and planting bulbs to be delivered to area senior centers.

To everyone who was involved in this remarkable day of service, remember what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once pointed out, “Life’s most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”

Since September of 2006, Parks & People’s volunteers have completed 2311 hours of service, with an approximate dollar value totaling $41,598!

KidsGrow: Learning and Loving Every Minute

Students from William Paca and Walter P. Carter celebrated their first semester of KidsGrow Environmental Education Program this fall. The beginning of the cirruculum focused on acclamating the students to general ecology themes while teaching them about animal habitats and the water cycle.

Franklin Square Elementary, a program site for nearly a decade, was visited by Dr. Gordon Heisler, a meteorologist with the USDA Forest Service working at the Northeastern Research Station. He discussed the study of microclimates with the children. The unit is part of a larger program called “Journey North” during which participating schools from across the nation plant tulip bulbs in three separate locations in their schoolyard. These three areas allow students to study extreme microclimates and examine the impact of the environment on growth. In addition, students will compare the growth of their tulips to the rest of the nation, charting the arrival of spring and mapping weather patterns.

Students at Franklin Square Elementary planting bulbs.

Recently, air temperatures and wind speed units were incorporated into the program to help students conduct measurements using an anemoneter and mathematics. They also used infared thermometers to measure the value of trees that mitigate the effects of the Heat Island Index. Students looked at the difference between temperatures and readings at Oregon Ridge in North Baltimore County and at their school in Baltimore City. Students were able to make the connection that it is cooler in the county because of an increase in vegetation and hotter in the city due to the excess amount of asphalt. Each student created a data table, entering information using scientific mathematics. These exercises cementented valuable skills they will carry with them throughout their education.

The 100 Book Challenge was once again a part of the program, in addition to field trips at Port Discovery and educational sessions with the National Aquarium. KidsGrow Environmental Education program is supported by the Baltimore City School System and The Family League of Baltimore.

Call For Art on the Gwynns Falls Trail!

The Gwynns Falls Trail Council, in partnership with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks and the Parks & People Foundation, invites individuals and/or teams to submit proposals for site-specific, environmentally sensitive installations addressing the theme, “ A Place In Time.”

This year is the 6th outdoor juried art exhibition, celebrating several anniversaries. It is the 150th anniversary of the Crimea Estate (now known as Leakin Park), the 10th anniversary of the Gwynns Falls Trail, and the 25 th anniversary of the citizen action that stopped the continuation of Interstate 70 and preserved the beautiful and rare urban stream valley park. The deadline for submitting proposals is March 2, 2007. All proposals must be received in the Parks & People office by 5:00 p.m.

For more information about the call for art and the criteria and guidelines for proposals, visit www.gwynnsfallstrail.org for official requirements, or email ryan.patterson@parksandpeople.org.

Feeling lonely in the Winter months? Hug a Tree!

It is very common to feel like the winter will never end or the sun just won’t shine. However, this winter there are simple steps you can take to avoid feeling like there is no end in sight!

• Eat spicy food! Scientists and nutritionists suggest that by eating spicy food in the winter, you are enlivening your taste buds and warming your insides, which reverses the mentality of never being able to get warm enough.

• Exercise! Even if you only do squats while brushing your teeth or sit-ups right before bed, exercise can be extremely beneficial in decreasing those winter blues. Research has proven that fifteen minutes a day is all you need to maintain your health. Maybe next time take the stairs instead of the elevator.

• Plan ahead! Thinking about the upcoming spring and summer seasons can serve as motivation to stick it out just a little bit longer. Start by creating a map for a walking tour of Baltimore City’s best streams and estuaries such as the Jones Falls waterfall or the Herring Run Watershed. What’s the condition of your bike, canoe or kayak? Taking a weekend indoors to inventory and repair your equipment prior to spring saves you time and money. Simple steps can affect your mood and planning ahead is the best way to make sure that you can relax and enjoy the warm weather.

Two Workshops Provide Insight into Plant Life and Real Life

Interested community members joined Parks & People community organizers for two workshops on Saturday, January 20, 2007. The first, called “Making Your Team A Well Oiled Machine”, was about conflict resolution and effective communication. The workshop started with brainstorming sessions that covered general definitions of conflict and catalysts for contention within a community association. Brenda Harris from the Community Mediation Program spoke about how conflict can be mediated when both parties are willing to collaborate. According to Ms. Harris, conflict should be an opportunity to increase understanding, not hinder it.

The next workshop “From Bulbs to Branches” covered practical tips and tools for successful gardening. “When planning your design, I’d highly recommend drawing a sketch or creating a ‘to-scale’ model on paper before you commit to buying anything,” recommends Kari Smith, Assistant Director of Community Greening Programs.

Once you have decided on your plants and purchased them, it is helpful to put them in place around your garden before removing the container or digging holes. The sun exposure and how much water collects in particular areas could be crucial to the growth of your garden, which is why hastily planting is a bad idea. Also, remember that trees and shrubs planted will grow much larger over time, so make sure that you allot enough room for growth!

Parks & People Foundation Quiz!

Be one of the first 2 people to email info@parksandpeople.org with the correct answers and you will be sent a free Parks & People T-Shirt! Hint: check out our Publications page.

1. How many people benefit everyday from the oxygen that is produced by one acre of trees?
A. 2
B. 18
C. 50

2. In Baltimore City, how many acres of parkland have been formally designated as such?
A. 6,000
B. 25,000
C. 2,000
D. 10,000

3. To most effectively collect and filter storm water, where should rain gardens be designed to dip?
A. They’re not; they should be flat and impervious
B. They should be angled towards the closest storm drain
C. They should dip in the center, collecting water before it goes into the ground

4. How many chambers do sand filters usually have? A. 5
B. 10
C. 2

5. In the summer, tree cover and shade can reduce air conditioning costs up to:
A. 10%
B. 80%
C. 30%
D. 7%

6. What is the percentage of residential property value added by trees in Baltimore?
A. 19%
B. 15%
C. none
D. 34%

7. Compared to a woodland area of the same size, one city block can generate up to ___ times as much of run-off:
A. 2
B. 33
C. 5
D. 10

8. True or false: the existing urban tree canopy covers an area approximately twice the size of all the parks in Baltimore City.

9. How many millions of trees, strategically planted in energy saving locations, could eliminate the need for seven 100 megawatt power plants?
A. 2
B. 50
C. 10

10. What amount of rain water does 10,000 trees collect in a typical community forest?
A. 7 million liters
B. 20 million gallons
C. 10 million gallons