The Dedication of Jonna's Garden - In Memory of Jonna Gane Lazarus
October 18, 2025
In Memory of Jonna Gane Lazarus
With Board Member Jonna Lazarus' guidance and input, the foundation was laid for Parks & People to become a leading nonprofit in green space development and environmental stewardship in Baltimore City. Since 1984, we have improved more than 40 acres of green space and completed 52 park projects, including a $3.6 million revitalization of Cecil Community Park and a $1.8 million renovation of the Gwynns Falls Trail. One in every six Baltimoreans-over 100,000 people-lives within a ten-minute walk of one of our projects. Moreover, we have invested more than $16 million into Baltimore communities.
Additionally, our youth programs directly serve more than 750 children annually. Our free summer camp, SuperKids, is now 29 years old. Our paid high school internship program, Branches, is now 22 years old.
Our longevity and impact have been made possible through strong partnerships with the City of Baltimore, the State of Maryland, and the incredible support of thousands of donors like Jonna. She believed in our mission to connect Baltimore communities to the wonders of nature. Jonna's love for and commitment to urban green spaces and community engagement left a lasting mark on our work. We are proud to honor her legacy through the Jonna Lazarus Fund and Jonna's Garden on our nine-acre West Baltimore campus.
To continue Jonna’s legacy of nurturing green spaces and empowering Baltimore’s youth, we invite you to make a gift to the Jonna Lazarus Fund. Your support will help sustain the programs and places she championed, ensuring her vision lives on in every child we serve and every park we build. Together, we can honor her memory by growing the wonder she so deeply believed in.
