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published by the Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Mayor Rawlings-Blake Launches Growing Green Design Competition
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Last week, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake joined the Planning Department’s Office of Sustainability to officially launch the Growing Green Initiative, a City-led effort to use sustainable, innovative, and cost-effective practices for stabilizing and holding land for redevelopment; reusing vacant land to green neighborhoods; reducing storm water runoff; growing food; and creating community spaces that mitigate the negative impacts of vacant properties.
As part of the Growing Green Initiative, the Mayor announced an exciting design competition to identify creative ideas for transforming vacant lots in Baltimore City. The competition is a partnership between the City of Baltimore, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Teams of community groups, City agencies, designers, and technical experts will use the Green Pattern Book as a design guide to develop creative greening projects for vacant land in their communities.
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For example, a community partnership led by the Franklin Square Community Association used grant funding and donations to turn a vacant lot into a beautiful community garden with sunflower-themed murals and beautiful landscaping. Shown above, the Franklin Square Sunflower Garden is a Community Managed Open Space that treats storm water from nearby buildings with rain gardens and sunflower beds.
The top design competition proposals will be selected as winners, and all winners will be provided with the resources to fully design and construct their winning ideas. Winners will be required to provide an ongoing maintenance plan. For more information and the application process for the Growing Green Design Competition, please visit www.baltimoresustainability.org/growinggreen
Announcements
Recreation and Parks to Host Planning Forums
Baltimore City Recreation and Parks will be hosting two public forums to gather input from Baltimore residents about what they think is important for BCRP to provide in recreation and parks. The Department is in the process of assessing its current recreation services and has hired a consultant to help think about the agency’s mission and vision moving forward.
Wednesday, May 28: South Baltimore
Cherry Hill - Baltimore Rowing Club, 3301 Waterview Avenue, 7-8:30 PM
Thursday, May 29: Northeast Baltimore
Clifton Park - Rita Church Community Center, 2101 St. Lo Drive, 7-8:30 PM
Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause
Through September 1, Maryland Science Center, 601 Light Street. Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause is a national traveling museum exhibit that looks at the story of drug abuse from initial production to the profound impact it has on all of us. Open your eyes to the science and facts behind drug abuse and addiction and explore the many costs and consequences to individuals, American society, and the world. Developed in partnership between the Maryland Science Center, the DEA Museum, and the DEA Educational Foundation. www.marylandsciencecenter.org
Community Calendar
Sherwood Gardens Tulip Dig
Saturday, May 24, 7:00am-11:00am, Sherwood Gardens, Stratford Rd. and Greenway. 30¢ per bulb – bring a shovel and bags or buckets to carry your bulbs home. Proceeds from the sale of tulip bulbs to benefit historic Sherwood Gardens.
Big Truck Day
Saturday, May 24, 10 am-2 pm, Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway. See some of the largest city-owned vehicles in the Baltimore City fleet on the Baltimore Museum of Industry's parking lot for free. Special museum admission rates for Big Truck Day attendees - $2.00 (13 and up) Children 12 and under free. For more information call 410-545-6541 or go to www.baltimorecity.gov
Sowebo Arts and Music Festival
Sunday, May 25, noon-8 pm, Hollins Market, 26 S. Arlington Ave. Come down to historic Hollins Market for live tunes, creative energy with arts and crafts, food and drinks, Baltimore Love Project Poster show, children's activities and more. Live music includes J Pope and Funk Fridays, Cubbie Bear, The Almighty Senators and more. www.soweboarts.org/festival.html
MEMORIAL DAY - CITY HOLIDAY
Memorial Day, Monday, May 26 is a City Holiday. Department of Public Works offices and yards will be CLOSED. Trash, recycling, and bulk collections are not scheduled for May 26. Citizen drop-off centers WILL BE CLOSED. Mechanical street sweeping WILL NOT take place. Parking meters WILL be in effect.
Meeting: Pregnancy and Tobacco Cessation Help (PATCH) Initiative
Wednesday, May 28, 11:30 am to 3:00 pm, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Ave. Baltimore City Health Department in collaboration with Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, invites you to join forces to prevent tobacco use in the City of Baltimore and promote cessation services in Maryland. (lunch provided) RSVP here For more information, please e-mail Sadiya.Muqueeth@baltimorecity.gov
A Vigil for Lost Promise
Wednesday, May 28, 7 pm. Kaufman Pavilion at Rash Field outside the Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St., Inner Harbor. Join the many Maryland community groups, families and friends who will share the light of their loved ones lost to drugs. The Vigil for Lost Promise is presented by the DEA Educational Foundation in association with the Maryland Science Center as part of the national traveling exhibit, "Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause." Info: 410-685-2370 x 5034.
Charles Village Festival
May 31-June 1, Wyman Park Dell, North Charles and 29th Streets. Start the summer right-enjoy continuous live entertainment on two stages, the variety of crafters, beer/wine and food vendors. For the kids, enjoy the kids games and face painting. Neighborhood Garden Walk for those of you who would like to stroll about, taking in the scents and sights of the neighborhood. www.charlesvillagefestival.com
Oriole Game BARCS Fundraiser
Saturday, June 7, 7:15 pm, Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Upper Reserve tickets for $14. $5 of each ticket purchased will benefit Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS). For any questions or accessible seating, please call 888.848.BIRD and ask for the Ticket Services team. To purchase go to www.orioles.com/tix/barcs
Jazz&Blues Wine&Art Festival
Sunday, June 8, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm, Federal Hill, Cross and South Charles Streets. This annual festival from Federal Hill Main streets is known for its great music, and this year is no exception. Hear from local and nationally renowned performers, and be sure to stop by the Boordy Wine Garden or Artist Alley. Arts & crafts vendors will offer a variety of wares, and you’ll find lots of great food & drink. Kids will enjoy Kids’ Kross Street, featuring moon bounces, a toddler play area, crafts, face painting, storytelling, and more. For more information, visit www.historicfederalhill.org
Tour dem Parks, Hon!
Sunday, June 8, 7am-2pm, various Baltimore City parks. All rides start and end in Carroll Park. Tour dem Parks, Hon! is an annual bike ride through Baltimore’s parks and neighborhoods offering a close-up view of regional parks like Carroll, Patterson, Herring Run & Druid Hill, as well as some quietly tucked away gems. Participants choose from 4 routes. Proceeds support Baltimore’s parks, as well as environmental, “friends of parks” and cycling groups. Tour dem Parks, Hon! has multiple rest stops and ends with a barbecue lunch and live jazz. tourdemparks.org
Honfest
June 14-15, 34th Street in Hampden, Saturday, 11 am - 10 pm, Sunday, noon-6 pm. Big hair, feather boas , great food and drinks, live music, and Baltimore's Best Hon pageant. Good clean old-school Balmer fun. honfest.net
African American Festival
June 21-22, Camden Yards Sports Complex, lots B and C, 1101 Russell Street. Baltimore’s African American Festival celebrates black history with an eclectic mix of regional and nationally-known entertainers, including top soul and R&B recording artists, educational exhibits, arts and crafts, foods and children’s activities. For more information, call 410-244-8861 or visit www.africanamericanfestival.net
LatinoFest
June 21-22, Patterson Park, Linwood and Eastern Avenues, Saturday noon-10pm, Sunday noon-9pm. LatinoFest hosts a fun-filled weekend of Hispanic culture featuring live musical performances, costumed dancers and traditional foods. www.latinofest.org
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