Parks and People Foundation Officially Opens 3 New Green Spaces in Baltimore City!
What a great day for Parks and People Foundation and Baltimore City! 3 ribbon cuttings for 3 amazing communities in 3 hours. It was our immense honor to officially open three new vibrant community parks in West and East Baltimore. Through hard work, dedicated and diligent partnerships and the strength of the community, we were able to bring these projects to completion and add some much needed green space to these communities.
Parks & People Foundation’s credo will always be: Everyone deserves a park. After so much isolation over the past year, it was incredible to be outside with rejuvenated communities and bask in the beauty and power of collective action.
Partners
We worked in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Project C.O.R.E., Robert W. Coleman Community Association, Greater Mondawmin Coordinating Council, Rauch Foundation, West Baltimore Renaissance Foundation, Johnston Square Partners, Rebuild Johnston Square, Rebuild Metro, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Sen Antonio Hayes, City Wide Youth Development, Bon Secours Community Works, Franklin Square Community Association, Baltimore Housing and Baltimore Dept of Planning, Maryland Stadium Authority and incredible community members.
The Parks
Park 1:
Herbert St. Park now replaces 40 blighted homes that were identified by the community as potential green space. The president of the Robert W Coleman Community and Greater Mondawmin Coordinating Council the sparkling Ms. Adeline Hutchinson led the charge to transform this vacant park into the beautiful open green space it is today. It will be the future sight of chess matches, picnics, bike races, and community bonding. Herbert Street Park is a model for the positive power of green space and a neighborhood jewel. It is with incredible collaboration, community power, hard work, and great pride that we cut the ribbon on the park today!
Park 2:
Saratoga Gateway Park, also known as Kirby Lane Park, was the second phase of a rehabilitated area that, with our partners, we were able to clear 10 more vacant buildings and turn them into a beautiful extension of a community treasure. Community leaders Edith Canty and Donald Quarles maintain this stunning park and host youth events, concerts, and cookouts. It is one of our favorite projects and a true gem.
Park 3:
Reverend William Brown Park sits next to Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, whose congregation worked with our team and Rebuild Johnston Square Community leaders to resurrect this space for generations to come. It was a blessing to be able to add more beauty to this reviving community.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of our Parks & People team, collaborators, and the communities we serve, you can head over to West and East Baltimore to find some of the city’s best parks!
