CLICK HERE  to learn more about Comcast's 11th Annual Comcast Cares Day. Parks & People will be at Gwynns Falls Elementary School in Baltimore City along with members of the local community and other nonprofits to plant trees and help with other maintenance. 

Click here to read Susan Reimer's article highlighting the opening of an edible garden that helped transform over 30 vacant lots into an asset for the Upton community! Also, click here to read Tim Wheeler's article. 

Parks & People was happy to be a part of this terrific day! 

CLICK HERE to read the April 2012 edition of Connections, the Parks & People Foundation's newsletter. 

Click here to read The Baltimore Sun's piece on a federal bill expected to fund trails, like it has for the Gwynns Falls Trail in past years. Footage of bikers and joggers sharing their experiences with the Gwynns and Jones Falls Trails is also available. 

Don't wait! Submit a favorite photograph that captures the beauty and/or activity of any Baltimore City park to the 2012 Baltimore City Parks, Our Passion Photo Contest today. Photographs may be taken of Wildlife, Plants, Landscapes and Structures or People (pets, too!). 

The deadline to submit entries is May 31, 2012. The photo contest is open to amateur photographers of all ages and is sponsored by the Friends of Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park. 

Click here for the registration form and full details. 

The Baltimore Sun recently published a letter from Parks & People's President & CEO, Jackie Carrera.

Read Jackie's letter HERE.

Read the piece in The Sun's Commentary section to which Jackie is referring HERE. 

Click here to read the Baltimore Sun's piece about Morrell Park's beauiful new mural made possible, in part, by Parks & People's Neighborhood Greening Grant program.

Click here to read Baltimore Brew's great piece on how the Charles Village community came together to beautify Margaret Brent EMS with some help from CSX and the Parks & People Foundation. 

On October 4th 2011, the KidsGrow students at Franklin Square Elementary/Middle School held the first annual KidsGrow Recycling Fair with great success. Students performed a play that showed their fellow students, teachers and parents, how recycling could change their community and the entire Earth for the better.

The students also provided attendees with information about recycling in Baltimore City, examples of what items are recyclable and handed out recycling bins to KidsGrow families.

This event was held as a celebration of Make a Difference Day, the first National Youth Service Day of the school year. Franklin Square KidsGrow students will continue to hold community service events on the remaining National Youth Service Days throughout the school year.

Baltimore Stewardship Mapping & Assessment Project:
Caring for the Land, Water, & People of Baltimore

Does your organization work to improve the environment in Baltimore? The Baltimore Ecosystem Study wants hear from you! In partnership with several other community organizations, Parks & People is co-sponsoring the Baltimore Ecosystem Study’s Baltimore Stewardship Mapping & Assessment Project.

This important project aims to:

1. Create an online map of groups’ self-described stewardship territories (local areas where they conserve, manage, care for, monitor, advocate for, or educate about the environment)
2. Develop an online database of stewardship groups
3. Analyze the connections among stewardship groups
4. Better understand the groups doing stewardship work in our city.

If you are an individual or organization who is involved in environmental stewardship by providing education, hands-on projects, community programming or information, please take some time to complete the survey when you see it in your inbox in mid-September.

Once the information has been compiled, results will be made available to the public through an online interactive map.

If you'd like to make sure you are in the contact database to receive the survey, email baltimore.stewardship@gmail.com.

Our Partnership With BES
The Parks & People Foundation is a founding member and partner in the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) since 1997. The goal of our participation in the Study is to link scientists with decision-makers so that the research reflects the needs of our community. Our hope is that the Study will make people better aware of what makes their environment work and how they can play a part in it and, as a result, Baltimore will be a healthier, more liveable city.

Save the Date!
Please join Parks & People, BES, community greeners and others on October 19, 2011 for the Community Greening Celebration and BES Open House at the Vollmer Center at Cylburn Arboretum. The event is free and open to the public! Details coming soon!

The EPA announced the Urban Waters Initiative on Friday, June 24th at Middle Branch Park on Baltimore's waterfront.

The announcement brought together representatives from several federal agencies, state and local officials and our own Jackie Carrera to talk about the importance of our urban waters and their impact on the ecology and economy of US cities.

Click here to visit our Facebook page for more pictures and links (including the press release, video from WJZ and more) regarding this exciting announcement!

Below are Parks & People President & CEO Jackie Carrera's remarks delivered at the press conference.

Thank you to the Obama Administration, Secretary Salazar, Administrator Jackson, Deputy Undersecretary Sherman, Deputy Undersecretary Simms, Chair Sutley, Director Barnes, Director Rains, and the rest of the Green Team for your work preparing for this important initiative.

I want to begin by recognizing and thanking our young stewards and educators who invited us to join them in their water quality lessons this morning.  I think we all know that developing the next generation of natural resource stewards is what this is all about. I also want to thank the staff of Parks & People Foundation and recognize another local partner, Blue Water Baltimore, which is a new organization representing 5 recently merged watershed associations.

Last summer, I had the pleasure of hearing Derek Douglas from the White Houses’ Office of Urban Affairs talk about the Administration’s priorities as 1) economic competiveness, 2) environmental sustainability, 3) social inclusiveness.  In speaking about the Urban Waters Working Group as an outgrowth of these goals, he described it as a way to harmonize policies and programs to help people understand the central role that water can play.  The most exciting thing about this initiative is that it is an Administrative priority that recognizes water as an integrator that has tremendous potential impact on the economic, environmental and human health of cities.

Baltimore is thrilled to be among the 7 pilot cities to participate.

Like the other cities, Baltimore has been changing the way we think about water. It’s no longer a liability that needs to be transported from the city in pipes as quickly as possible…moving the problem downstream, or in our case, out into the Bay.  

In fact, it’s the opposite. Water and natural resources are now viewed as assets that make our city function ecologically and more livable.  While faced with the challenge of vacant properties and decreasing population, we are looking at managing and right-sizing our city in a way that protects and improves the health of our ecosystem.  

Baltimore has been in the water business for quite some time now—and I am not just talking about Abel Wolman and the birth of the sanitary engineering.  In recent years, thanks to Senator Cardin, Director Rains, and Dr. Morgan Grove, Baltimore has benefitted from a two-decade investment from the US Forest Service to develop a model for urban and community forestry where water is at the core and new best management practices are being developed to green and clean one of our city’s largest and most urban sub watersheds, Watershed 263.

And, the National Science Foundation’s has invested in the first long term ecological research project studying the health of our ecosystem providing much needed research.

And, probably most importantly, Baltimore has developed a culture where water quality isn’t one agency’s responsibility, or even just a government problem.  It is the focus of multiple city agencies from Planning to Recreation and Parks to Transportation to Health to Public Works. Under the able leadership of Beth Strommen and the Office of Sustainability, our city is now able to coordinate and respond to these opportunities for collaboration and integration. And, water quality is the focus of non profit partners like Blue Water Baltimore, the Waterfront Partnership and Parks & People. And, of neighborhood activists, some who have formed a watershed association in a part of town that is so ultra urban that the residents can’t even see the water they are protecting because it’s in the pipes underground.  And, these residents are now working with developers like Pat Turner or Mike Hankin, a local business man who is leading the charge to clean up the Harbor and its feeder streams.

This initiative is so important to cities because….

We need to green and revitalize our neighborhoods which many of us KNOW is key to any effort to halt the stream of trash and storm water polluting our urban waters.  

Urban Waters offers help to communities, recognizing the connection between neighborhoods/communities and their waterways.

We need the right set of government tools to leverage existing assets.

Urban Waters promises to break down government silos to do just that…to align EPA resources with Transportation/SAFE TEA LU, with Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry and Research, with Housing and Urban Development’s CDBG, with Army Corps, with Interior and NPS’ Heritage Areas, Recreation and Trails, and now, Americas Great Outdoors.

We need to make progress toward cleaner water and a healthier environment where we live.

Urban Waters looks to reverse past neglect, energize existing programs and engage new partners.

As we move from a sanitary to a sustainable city, as we prepare for climate change, as we seek to decrease our negative contributions to the Bay, Baltimore is excited to expand the many interagency and public private partnerships that we have created to the federal level…..and not only are we excited about this, it will be imperative.

And, in these tough economic times, our challenge will be to realign resources to have the biggest impact.

And, we thank you for prioritizing urban waters among the many critical issues we must face as a country.

CREW OF COAST GUARD CUTTER SPENCER VOLUNTEERS AT HOMELESS SHELTER AND PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY WITH PARKS & PEOPLE MONDAY, JUNE 13

(Baltimore, MD) –The Parks & People Foundation welcomed crew members from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter SPENCER on Monday, June 13 from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Sarah’s Hope, a shelter for homeless women & children in Baltimore and Gilmor Homes, a public housing community. The volunteers planted trees and other plants at Sarah's Hope and cleared invasive plants, bringing the landscaped areas back to life. At Glimor Homes, the group installed a shade cover for the picnic area to provide some relief from the sun for families spending time outdoors at the complex. 

“We are so grateful to the crew members of the Spencer for volunteering their time,” said Parks & People Development & Promotions Manager Jean DuBose. “These men and women already work in service to all Americans, so the fact that they want to volunteer during their time off is remarkable and greatly appreciated,” said Ms. DuBose.

The USCGC SPENCER is a 270 foot medium endurance Coast Guard Cutter whose home port is Boston. The cutter and 100 person crew, led by Commander Jeff W. Thomas, are visiting Baltimore for maintenance work on their ship. Recently the USCGC SPENCER returned from a routine patrol in the Caribbean sea after rescuing and assisting in the repatriation of 167 migrants.

To see more pictures, click here to visit our Facebook page. 

The Parks & People Foundation's Baltimore Middle School Lacrosse League received a $15,000 donation from the NCAA at a check presentation during half time of the Division III Men's Championship game on Sunday, May 30. Parks & People's President & CEO Jackie Carrera was on hand to accept the check and express her deep appreciation for the generous gift. 

As an added bonus, players from the league were invited to attend the Division II and III Men's Championship games as well as a free skills clinic featuring members of the MLL (Major Lacrosse League) and the NLL (National Lacrosse League) on the morning of the Championship. 

"Parks & People, our lacrosse players and coaches are all so grateful to the NCAA for this incredible donation and the opportunity to participate in this spectacular event," said Monica Logan, Director of Youth Programs.

On May 20, a group of almost 30 volunteers from Travelers Insurance met at the Gwynns Falls Trailhead near Middle Branch Park in south Baltimore. In spite of the drizzle, the group was happy to get their hands dirty removing trash and invasive plants, planting trees and performing other maintainence in the park and on the Trail.

In addition, the Travelers Foundation, the charitable arm of Travelers Insurance, recently awarded Parks & People $10,000 in support of its important programs.

"We are so appreciative of Travelers' support and we look forward to growing this great partnership," said Parks & People Development Director, Jean DuBose.

Thanks go out to the Wlmart for their recent donation of $100,000 to support community greening in Baltimore through the Parks & People Foundation.     

“We are thrilled and grateful to receive such generous awards from partners like Walmart, Shoppers and Constellation,” said Parks & People Foundation President & CEO Jackie Carerra.  “At a time when so many corporations and other businesses are struggling, it’s inspiring to know that there is still strong corporate support for important programs like those of Parks & People,” said Ms. Carrera.    

Grant funds will be used to:

• Facilitate the removal of asphalt and re-greening at urban schools in low-income neighborhoods.

• Communicated grant opportunities and other information to a large network of community greeners.

• Recruit and engage volunteers in service projects including tree plantings, garden installation and maintenance, trash clean-up, removal of invasive plants, mural creation, and more.

• Host the annual Community Greening Celebration recognizing the work of community greeners and the annual Charm City Garden Tour.

• Increase social opportunities for community greeners including a new, summertime Squash Soiree and Pepper Partay.

• Organize free tree giveaways, train residents to complete neighborhood tree surveys, and cut new street tree pits.

Thanks to Walmart for their continued support of green initiatives in Baltimore!

Parks & People wishes to honor the memory of William Donald Schaefer who founded our organization in 1984 to address the unique, numerous and challenging problems of a large, older urban recreation and parks system.

His vision for Baltimore included public-private partnerships to improve city life and under Mayor Schaefer, Parks & People was created by Sally Michel, a tireless volunteer and Chris Delaporte, the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks at the time.

In 2004 the Parks & People Foundation honored Governor Schaefer with our Visionary Award for his decades of public service and leadership. His legacy is sure to survive for decades to come as we continue our important work in Baltimore City.

Pictured at right (l-r): Chris Delaporte, Governor Schaefer, Sally Michel at the Visonary Awards in 2004.

A Remembrance from Parks & People Founder, Chris Delaporte

I had the honor of serving as the Director of Recreation and Parks under Mayor William Donald Schaefer from 1984 until 1989 and this week I have been thinking a lot about what it was like to work with the Great Man. There are "stories", yes. And parables, too, because there was always an element of moral truth in them---something had to be fixed; something had to be started and finished "right now"; a friend in need must want no more. He understood that all politics in Baltimore was right next door on the stoop, literally.  
 
The momentum the man created was awesome. He took no prisoners and never looked back. I am sure if he heard the term "risk adverse" he would have thought it had something to do with how to drive a car safely.

The Parks & People Foundation was formed by Mayor Schaefer as a positive and needed partner-of-interest-to-be, to the Baltimore Parks Board and the Department of Recreation and Parks.  I recommended to Mayor Schaefer that this happen, and in his automobile, in a neighborhood, we talked about it and, in his customary fashion, he told me to proceed. And to do so with Sally Michel.

That's how the decision was made, but the background, or context for the recommendation, came as a result of the fact that funding for the Department was declining and Mayor Schaefer knew something needed to happen to support the parks and recreational assets in the city. Sally Michel agreed with this assessment, thus the Parks & People Foundation came into existence with the thought it could do for the Department what the Department could not reasonably do for itself.

That was the thinking about and behind the formation of the Parks & People Foundation.  And to make this point perfectly clear, the founders of Parks & People saw its initial operation as an organic, opportunistic one. Its first major project was to send city youth to Maine to Outward Bound; the city invested $25,000 in that initial action.  Today the city is home to an accredited Outward Bound School.

Over the past 27 years since its founding, the Parks & People Foundation has raised and invested over $57 million in recreational, environmental and educational programs for Baltimore City. About this potential William Donald Schaefer had no reasonable doubt as he made that decision in his car, in a Baltimore neighborhood, years ago.

April, 2011

Over 200 players from the Parks & People Foundation’s Baltimore Middle School Lacrosse League (BMSLL) plus other invited guest teams participated in a skills clinic  at the Baltimore City Public Safety Training Center on Sunday, April 10.

Baltimore City Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld was on hand to make opening remarks and enjoy the action and National Lacrosse Hall of Famer Tom Marechek held a special shooting exhibition. Both gentelmen gave great advice to young players about integrity, character and the value of sports.

In addition to the many high school volunteers from Gliman, McDonogh and City College, 99 Police Academy recruits from the Baltimore City Police Academy volunteered.  

The clinic marks the start of the competitive season for the Baltimore Middle School Lacrosse League. The league’s current participating schools include: Dickey Hill, Bluford Drew Jemison East and West, Franklin Square, Kipp Ujima Village Academy, Cross Country, Francis Scott Key, Booker T. Washington, Commodore John Rogers, William C. March, Calverton and Roland Park.  

“Last year’s event was terrific,” said Monica Logan, Director of Youth Programs at Parks & People. “Tom Marechek was a huge hit, Commissioner Bealefeld really connected with the kids and even Fred Whitridge, who helped found the league over 20 years ago, came out to enjoy the day. This year was even better.”   

EcoFest
Druid Hill Park
Saturday April 16th
12-5 p.m.
FREE!

We'll create a beautiful, educational, fun Nature Play Space right in the Park.  Nature Play spaces incorporate found materials from nature to captivate and encourage youth interaction with the natural world.

Tree stump balancing walk, branch hut, wood cut “cookie hopscotch, and a human butterfly grapevine are just some of the simple play activities in this delightful space for children of all ages! Presented by the Parks & People Foundation, this is a family friendly activity requiring parental supervision.

"Mother Nature’s Child-Growing Up In the Media Age" film screening
Cylburn Arboretum, Vollmer Center, 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21209
Wednesday, April 20
6:30 p.m.
FREE!

PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CYLBURN ARBORETUM ASSOCIATION

"Mother Nature’s Child-Growing Up In the Media Age" explores nature’s powerful role in children’s health and development through the experience of toddlers, children in middle childhood and adolescents. The film features children from the wilds of Vermont to Washington, D.C. and includes two groups working with kids in Baltimore including Parks& People!

The film marks a moment in time when a living generation can still recall childhoods of free play outdoors; this will not be true for most children growing up today. The effects of “nature deficit disorder” are now being noted across the country in epidemics of child obesity, attention disorders, and depression. Mother Nature’s Child asks the questions: Why do children need unstructured time outside? What is the place of risk-taking in healthy child development? How is play a form of learning? Why are teachers resistant to taking students outside? How can city kids connect with nature? What does it mean to educate the ‘whole’ child? Adult interviews include: Richard Louv, author of "Last Child in the Woods".

CLICK HERE to read this issue of Connections: The Newsletter of the Parks & People Foundation

Click here to read Julie Scharper's report in the Baltimore Sun on Baltimore's 55 rec centers. Parks & People's President & CEO, Jackie Carrera, served on the task force with other community leaders to make recommendations for the centers' future.