NeighborSpace Baltimore County News & Updates

Live Music and Ribbon Cutting at Graystone

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 22:27:07 GMT

Live Music and Ribbon Cutting at Graystone

7/28/26 | Will Kaselow, Community Conservation Manager

To properly celebrate the Graystone community and the park that we lovingly protect and steward together required a true team effort. Special thanks are in order for all who made it possible! Starting with Kimberly Edwards, President of the Graystone Community Association and Founder of the Woodlawn Mad Potters Garden Club. Kimberly chose the band and was instrumental in getting the park cleaned up and looking its best. In the weeks leading up to the event, we worked with the garden club to clean up the park and expand the perennial beds and add a few annuals for a pop of color around the park’s sign. Garden club volunteers not only showed up to our stewardship event on a steaming hot Saturday morning, but also came out on their own to make sure that the young trees and new plantings were all well-watered. Thank you to all the members of the Graystone community and the Woodlawn Garden Club for their time and efforts keeping the park healthy and beautiful!

Thank you to everyone who came out to NeighborSpace’s final concert of the summer! After the original date was cancelled due to wildfire-related air pollution, we were able to quickly reschedule and ended up lucking into one of the most beautiful nights of the summer so far. We were thrilled to see people from the community and beyond come out to enjoy Graystone Community Open Space.

Without funding from Baltimore Community Foundation, this idea would never have made it off the ground. Thanks to this grant funding, NeighborSpace was able to book Saudade, a Baltimore-based Brazilian Samba Jazz band, whose sound flowed through the park and out to the street where people would stop to dance and neighbors sat on their porches to listen. They provided the perfect soundtrack to a beautiful night full of play, dancing, and relaxation.

Kimberly Edwards about to cut the ribbon to celebrate the improvements made to Graystone Community Open Space in the past few years!

Like the music, the impact of this event also went beyond the boundaries of the park. NeighborSpace used some of the Baltimore Community Foundation grant funding to purchase native pollinator plants. Event attendees took home 72 free plants ready to be planted in gardens all over Woodlawn, Gwynn Oak and beyond. By supporting native gardens in neighborhoods surrounding NeighborSpace parks, we strengthen a network of critical habitat for the native insects that support the foundations of our ecosystems.

Live Music and Ribbon Cutting at Graystone

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:47:00 GMT

7/28/26 | Will Kaselow, Community Conservation Manager

Without funding from Baltimore Community Foundation, this idea would never have made it off the ground. Thanks to this grant funding, NeighborSpace was able to book Saudade, a Baltimore-based Brazilian Samba Jazz band, whose sound flowed through the park and out to the street where people would stop to dance and neighbors sat on their porches to listen. They provided the perfect soundtrack to a beautiful night full of play, dancing, and relaxation.

Happy New Year!

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:29:00 GMT

7/29/2026 | Phyllis Joris, Executive Director

Like many nonprofits, NeighborSpace operates on a fiscal year that runs July through June. This month, NeighborSpace staff and board members took stock of progress made in the past year and drafted a work plan for the coming year.

More details will be provided in NeighborSpace’s Annual Report, which will be mailed to members in September, but here is a sneak peek of the organization’s FY26 accomplishments and its plans for FY27. If you would like to receive the Annual Report but are not yet a NeighborSpace member, you can become one here .

In FY26, NeighborSpace finalized its Strategic Conservation Plan, which we will publish in the next few weeks. We have begun to lay the groundwork for a proactive, equitable approach to community conservation, and we are excited to pilot this approach in FY27. NeighborSpace added one new 16-acre conservation easement to its portfolio and has several more in the pipeline.

NeighborSpace completed a large and varied number of restoration and stewardship projects in the past year, including the installation of multiple microforest plantings at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve, tree plantings at several sites, the installation of benches at three parks, and of course the continued maintenance of all parks. We also developed and piloted a forest health assessment protocol, hosted our Neighbors for Native Plants course, put on many educational and hands-on stewardship events, and hosted NeighborSpace’s second live music series with partners! These initiatives will all be offered again in FY27.

During the legislative session, NeighborSpace worked with Forever Maryland to advocate for land conservation funding and policy, engaging with both state and federal legislators. We will continue to speak up together with colleagues for a greener, cleaner future in urban Baltimore County and beyond.

NeighborSpace is effective because of its network of donors, volunteers, partners and supporters. Thank you – for telling your friends and family about NeighborSpace, for volunteering with us, for supporting us financially. I hope you share my excitement for what lies ahead and I hope that you’ll join us for a program or project in FY27!

Introducing Our Summer Communications Intern and High School Volunteers

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:44:00 GMT

Thanks to donations from generous supporters like you, NeighborSpace was able to hire three interns this summer. We want to help young conservationists gain fieldwork and behind-the-scenes experience, and staff is grateful for the extra hands and minds!

We introduced you to our stewardship interns last month.
Now read on to meet our communications intern, Mykiah.

My name is Mykiah Plummer, and I’m a senior at Towson University, majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Film. I’m excited to work with NeighborSpace this summer because it’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to get out in the community and contribute in a meaningful way. Supporting the social media side of an organization that restores neighborhoods, protects green spaces, and brings life back into local communities feels important to me.

I’m originally from a small town in Prince George’s County, so I understand the love, effort, and genuine care it takes to keep neighborhoods thriving. NeighborSpace’s commitment to the environment and to community wellbeing is something I’m proud to be part of. After college, I plan to pursue a career in sports media, and I see this internship as a steppingstone that will help me grow my storytelling, content creation, and communication skills.

We would also like to welcome Bryson Gilchrist and Fionn McCann (not pictured), two local high school students who have graciously volunteered their time to help water new plantings at Ridgely Manor Park. Without them, the new trees and shrubs would struggle to survive!

Hi, I’m Fionn McCann, a Gilman high school student with a strong interest in environmental stewardship and service. I’m excited to volunteer with NeighborSpace and create a lasting positive impact on the community.

I’m Bryson Gilchrist. I go to Eastern Tech for the magnet program environmental technology with an interest in going into environmental engineering. I want to volunteer for NeighborSpace to find new ways I can help the environment.

Introducing Our New Board Members

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:11:00 GMT

Barbara Waters

While I grew up in Massachusetts and then spent 6 years in Northern Maine, I have now lived in Maryland for nearly 32 years. I had been involved in many things in the community, but that involvement really ramped up once the pandemic started. To combat isolation, I started walking daily, and have now covered more than 14,000 miles. Through these walks, I met many of the people involved in the organizations that I am now a part of, including NeighborSpace, Green Towson Alliance (GTA), Wiltondale Garden Club, Baltimore County Lynching Memorial Project (BCLMP), Athletes Serving Athletes (ASA), and Still I Run.

As a person that does not drive, access to green spaces in the community is extremely important to me. While we have many great parks and trails in Maryland, without a car those same places are inaccessible. For that reason, the spaces that NeighborSpace preserves are so vital to my wellbeing because nature is where I feel most at home.

ruth tyson

A plant-lover and naturalist at heart, ruth has invested in understanding her curiosity and passion for gardening as a bridge between the non-human and human worlds. she believes in the power of storytelling, art, technical skills development, and organizing as necessary healing modalities for individuals, communities, and ecosystems. She has brought her passion to the farming, food access, education, advocacy, research, landscaping, and foraging worlds of the DMV, national efforts, and most recently, Baltimore. Currently, with the University of Maryland Extension, she focuses on connecting communities to culturally relevant horticultural resources to cultivate more sustainable neighborhoods.

David Lynn

David Lynn is a partner in the international law firm Goodwin Procter LLP, practicing in Washington, DC. He is a leading expert in corporate and securities law, and he served for over a decade in various roles at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. David is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law Center and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. He has previously served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Securities and Exchange Commission Historical Society, and on the Board of Advisors of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. David lives in Towson, and his property is conserved by NeighborSpace.

Introducing Our Summer Stewardship Interns

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:21:00 GMT

Read on to meet our two stewardship interns, Ashley and Katie.

Hi! I am Ashley Metzbower. I just graduated from UMBC with a B.S. in Geography and Environmental Science. I am super excited to be an intern for NeighborSpace this summer to help monitor and maintain their sites for both the people and the ecosystems within them!! I am especially eager to spend time outside and learn more about different local plant species.

Hello! I am Katie Walsh. I am a junior at UMBC majoring in Geography and Environmental Science. I am very excited to be interning with NeighborSpace this summer because I have lived my whole life in Baltimore County and I always love to spend my free time exploring local parks and forests while helping out in any way I can, and now I get to continue doing that all while learning many important and new ways to contribute to my community!

June Live Music Events

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:12:00 GMT

6/29/26 | Will Kaselow, Community Conservation Manager

This month we welcomed the summer with song, hosting live music events at two of our sites! First, Patrick Alban and his Buena Vista Social Club joined us at Ridgely Manor Park in Towson on one of the hottest nights of the year so far. Despite the heat, people from the neighborhood and beyond came out to lounge, dance, and chat in the shade of the big beautiful oaks and beeches at the park. We also picked mulberries and played on the playground while soaking in the music. Special thanks to the NeighborSpace board members who came out to help, as well as our partners at the Baltimore County Arts Guild who brought out fun and creative activities for the kids who attended the concert.

Second, we worked with our partners at Neighborhood Companions to put on a beautiful Sunday Supper at Chestnut Park in Turner Station. The rain held off, we had a nice breeze, and the heart and soul of Baltimore’s jazz scene – Clarence Ward III and Dat Feel Good — got us moving. Chestnut Park filled up with people from around Turner Station to enjoy great food, music, and company.

Both of these events allowed NeighborSpace’s parks to really shine. People couldn’t help but talk about how far these urban pockets have come. These two nights are really a testament to the place-making and restoration that NeighborSpace and its community partners are capable of when working together. These parks now offer canopy trees that give us both shade and treats, pollinator-filled meadows’ blooms that provide pops of color, and so much more.

Milkweed season is underway and both Common and Butterfly Milkweeds are gracing the gardens and meadows at many of NeighborSpace’s parks. These beautiful native plants are providing nectar and pollen for countless beneficial insects and Monarch butterflies are not far behind. If you or someone you know has a space in their neighborhood that needs a pop of natural color, is prone to flooding during and after storms, or could just be doing more for the community as a park, please do not hesitate to reach out to NeighborSpace by emailing info@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org! We are always interested in talking to people and communities about whether or not a particular site fits the NeighborSpace model or to help identify a place that would.

Finally, if you already have a NeighborSpace park in your community and would like to have an event like the ones described above, please feel free to reach out! We are always looking for more input on how to best serve the communities in which we work.

Thank you all for your time and dedication to our mission and community!

Microforests at NeighborSpace Parks

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:33:00 GMT

6/29/26 | Conor Harrington, Land Steward

This spring, NeighborSpace installed its first microforest/Miyawaki plantings at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve in Owings Mills. With the help of some very dedicated volunteer groups from BGE and Stanley Black & Decker, we planted about 150 trees and shrubs in three contained locations of the preserve. The area covered by these microforests is relatively small, with the largest taking up no more than 1500 square feet. For context, many traditional tree and shrub plantings are dispersed over several, if not dozens of acres.

NeighborSpace decided to try out this method out after learning about the success of other microforests across the East Coast. While exploring this planting philosophy, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall survivability found in newly planted flora. First, having trees and shrubs packed tightly together increases water retention from rain events due to the proximity of so many roots. Second, deer proofing tends to be more straightforward, as the entire microforest is fenced off, rather than each individual planting. This is shown in some of the photos, where you can see the cattle wire around the perimeter of the plantings. Third, the overall density of new native flora helps suppress invasive species that may be lurking in the seedbank. Prior to our planting events, I removed several species of prolific invasives from the prospective areas in an effort to restore the health of the understory. Studies have shown that replacing invasive plant material with native plant material (whether through plugs, trees, or seeds) as soon as possible is the best way to get ahead of invasive species.

I recently stopped by Tollgate Wyndham to check on the various trees and shrubs, and I am very pleased with how everything is doing. Almost all plants are looking green and healthy, and various oak saplings have nearly doubled in size! Staff will continue to monitor the health of these microforests throughout the next several years, performing maintenance and watering as needed. As this is a trial run for microforests, we are eager to watch them develop, and just as eager to keep you all posted in the event that you would like to try growing a microforest of your own in the near future!

New Property: Stonegate

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:22:00 GMT

6/29/2026 | Phyllis Joris, Executive Director

NeighborSpace recently added a new site to its portfolio! With the addition of Stonegate, a beautiful 16-acre property in Catonsville, NeighborSpace now protects 116 acres across 22 sites for current and future residents of urban Baltimore County.

This property is co-held with Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), the state’s land trust in the Department of Natural Resources. That means that both NeighborSpace and MET are signatories on the deed of conservation easement. In practice, NeighborSpace is responsible for monitoring the site twice a year, troubleshooting and supporting the owner in stewardship initiatives. We can draw on MET’s wealth of knowledge and legal expertise when needed. NeighborSpace is grateful for MET’s partnership: Trust staff went above and beyond to take this project from start to finish and they’ve supported NeighborSpace staff with technical advice on a variety of other stewardship initiatives.

Current owner John Zebelean III has lived at Stonegate since he was a little boy. As a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force, he traveled around the world for many years, but he always knew he wanted to settle at Stonegate. The property has been in the Zebelean family since John’s grandfather purchased it in 1925.

In 1848, Gustav W. Lurman, a German immigrant, purchased a 600-acre homestead on a high hill in Catonsville with a view of Baltimore City and the harbor. He named it Farmlands. The main house was known as one of the more luxurious “country homes” that wealthy Baltimoreans kept in Catonsville to escape the summer heat. Mr. Lurman passed away in 1866 and his heirs subdivided the property amongst themselves in 1879. One of these parcels – lot #7 – is the parcel now known as Stonegate.

The Catonville area has seen intense development in the past century, but while the Stonegate property was used in different ways over the years – including as a horse pasture and a cornfield – it remains relatively unchanged. With almost 11 acres of forest, it serves as an important buffer to the two streams that run along the edges of the property and provides habitat for forest-dwelling birds, red foxes and coyotes.

We look forward to working with John to take care of this unique green space forever. Tree planting plans are already underway!

Volunteer Spotlight: Christie Bianco

Fri, 29 May 2026 12:11:00 GMT

This month we would like to thank Christie Bianco for her time and dedication as a NeighborSpace volunteer!

Christie has lived in the Dunmore community for 21 years and first connected with Levickas Woods through her children, who would play in the woods and catch crayfish in the stream. She considers the woods to be a local treasure and incredible resource for the community, providing opportunities for mindful relaxation and to engage with the natural world.

To Christie, stewardship is about caring for and protecting a place so that the community can continue to enjoy it well into the future. Over the years, she has seen the woods become more accessible with the addition and maintenance of trails. She emphasized that the improvement and maintenance of a place doesn’t just happen. It takes hard work to make sure that the community can continue to enjoy the woods. Christie spoke on the importance of engaging youth in a variety of ways so that the value of the woods is not lost on them. This engagement is essential for building new generations of caring stewards who will inherit the park.

This sentiment is echoed in the strategies and approaches that NeighborSpace employs as we strive to protect land for communities in perpetuity. Thank you Christie for your time, insights, and efforts at Levickas Woods!

Spring Recap and Will’s Introduction to NeighborSpace Sites

Thu, 28 May 2026 12:06:00 GMT

As summer starts to peek around the corner, it’s a good time to reflect on what the warmer weather has brought us and do our best to extend a season that can feel far too short. For me, it is also a time to reflect on my first couple months working with NeighborSpace! Spring was a good, if challenging, time to start at NeighborSpace. It is our busiest season, and over the last two months I have criss-crossed the county getting to know our greenspaces, the communities that steward them, and the programs we offer.

I wrapped up my second week with my first NeighborSpace event. Conor and I worked with Stewardship Partner Mike Strzelecki to lead a community bird walk at Levickas Woods in Dunmore. We arrived at the woods with muted expectations for both bird sightings and attendance on a brisk March morning, but those expectations were quickly exceeded. The Dunmore community showed up and the birds did too! A pair of American Elms mark the entrance to Levickas woods, and as people arrived we watched the trees fill up with Golden-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers. Elms are often the first flowers to bloom in spring. Their dainty red-brown flowers are a beacon to the residents of the forest, representing a long-awaited source of pollen and nectar after a harsh winter like the one we just had. Kinglets and Creepers are small but hardy birds who are always some of the earliest spring migrants through our area. As we made our way into the woods, the dense edge habitat gave way to a stunning riparian forest. The ghostly amber color of beech leaves still clinging to their branches dotted the mid-story as white oaks, tuliptrees, maples, and more rose around them. I was immediately delighted. Pleasant surprises like this would become a theme of my first months with NeighborSpace.

The following week, as part of my on-boarding process, Conor and I went on a nine-and-a-half hour, 90-mile road trip covering seven sites. That week I visited a total of 10 sites, meeting as many community partners as I could along the way (apologies if you’re reading this and we haven’t yet met!). This tour showed me the incredible diversity of NeighborSpace sites–from the 16-acre forest at Volz Neighborhood Park to the 1,300 square foot garden at Greenbrier–and got me thinking that NeighborSpace may be punching above its conservation weight-class. This sentiment was continually reinforced over the course of the spring.

Year to year, my calendar is marked by the coming and going of birds and blooms. This spring, part of my job was documenting these shifts at NeighborSpace sites! The season started with ephemeral wildflowers. Healthy groves of Mayapples and carpets of Virginia Springbeauty could be found flourishing at multiple sites throughout April, and Yellow Trout Lilies took refuge among the boulders and fallen logs at Levickas. I also encountered salamanders, frogs and toads, and native insects. Gray Tree Frogs, Spring Peepers, and American Toads called from deep within the spicebush swamps and Red-backed Salamanders were found under rotting logs at Volz.

Starting in late-April, bird migration really picked up. Our sites supported numerous species including Eastern Towhees, Northern Flickers, Scarlet Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles, and 21 species of Warblers! Many of these colorful and charismatic birds are just passing through, but some may be sticking around for the summer to build nests and raise young. I hope to pilot a program this summer where volunteers contribute to monitoring the breeding birds at our sites. These monitoring efforts are already occurring in a small but impactful way. Combining my personal sightings with those from bioblitzes and independent eBird and iNaturalist reports, NeighborSpace sites supported a total 92 species of birds and 63 species of plants, insects, and fungi collectively from March 28th through May 17th. These numbers are impressive on their own, but given the limited sample they represent, it really speaks to the potential that our sites hold. I am hoping to expand our participatory science programming so that we can better understand and support the diversity of life at our sites.

Left: A male Eastern Towhee; Right: A Northern Flicker perched in a Red Maple – Both photo credits: Will Kaselow

This article focuses primarily on the wealth of flora and fauna that our sites host, but the impression made by the incredible communities we work with across the county cannot be overstated. From a laughter-filled weeding workshop and clean-up at Graystone Community Open Space to English Ivy removal at Levickas Woods and a truly inspiring turn-out for Turner Station’s Earth Day stewardship event at Chestnut Park, I am in awe of you all and am excited to continue working with you!

Piloting a Proactive Approach to Conservation

Thu, 28 May 2026 10:18:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is excited to share that it was awarded a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency through its Thriving Communities program. Although we received notice of our award in November, we’ve hesitated to share the news publicly due to the significant disruptions that this grant program has faced in the past year and a half. While litigation is pending, NeighborSpace has begun to implement the project and I’m eager to share more information with you.

The Thriving Communities grantmaking program was created under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program to distribute over $600 million to community-based nonprofits working to address environmental and public health hazards in underserved communities. In the Mid-Atlantic region, the grants are administered by the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI). Both GHHI and Environmental Protection Network (EPN), a nonprofit network of EPA alumni volunteering their time and expertise, have been incredibly supportive in helping NeighborSpace navigate the complex and ever-changing requirements that come with federal funding.

NeighborSpace was awarded $129,000 to develop the framework for and pilot a proactive approach to conservation, as outlined in its new Strategic Conservation Plan (which will be published soon).

NeighborSpace conserved each of its current 21 sites in response to a request from a resident or from a County government representative. While this approach has the benefit of guaranteeing at least one park champion and a certain level of community buy-in, requests are not distributed equitably across NeighborSpace’s service area. There are many areas with a high need for green space that NeighborSpace does not yet serve; conversely, several of the sites that it currently conserves are located in areas with a relatively low need for additional open space.

In order to achieve a more equitably distributed portfolio of sites, NeighborSpace needs to take a two-pronged approach to community conservation. On the one hand, we need to establish a set of objective project evaluation criteria and a clear, transparent process for responding to requests. On the other hand, NeighborSpace needs to make every effort to ensure that communities across its service area have the opportunity to work with us. This begins with awareness and access but will also require investments in community outreach and community capacity-building. The Thriving Communities grant is funding the development and pilot implementation of this latter “proactive” approach.

The project will be implemented in three phases and is slated to be completed by the end of this calendar year.

Phase 1: Identify target communities

The first step is to identify and prioritize communities in NeighborSpace’s service area. NeighborSpace will use its GIS tool to map communities with a high need for open space and apply its conservation priorities to further distinguish between communities according to the Strategic Conservation Plan. Before this can be done, the GIS model needs to be updated with recent data, an effort that is currently underway thanks to NeighborSpace’s GIS consultant. NeighborSpace has already met with the Baltimore County Department of Planning and the Department of Recreation and Parks to discuss this project and to solicit input on which areas to prioritize. Community Planners have generously shared their recommendations of community associations and properties to consider. We will meet with the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability next, to identify areas and properties that are a priority for Small Watershed Action Plans or that would help address other environmental issues.

Phase 2: Awareness campaign

NeighborSpace will prepare outreach materials and resources for communities interested in conserving green space. This will include: social media posts, emails, flyers, postcards, surveys, and resources on its website including video testimonials, information about current sites, an application form, an intake form, and a conservation guidebook. We are currently working with consultants to improve the website and develop these materials.

Once the website and outreach materials are ready, NeighborSpace will launch a campaign to raise awareness of its services and of this project with a focus on the priority communities identified in Phase 1. This will include the following activities: leverage current partnerships to connect with community representatives; post digital and print flyers; attend community meetings, events and resource fairs; and possibly mail postcards. We will work together with the Baltimore County Office of Outreach and the County Council to connect with community leaders and to learn more about their needs and capacity.

Phase 3: Engage interested community leaders in the conservation process

Once NeighborSpace has assembled a cohort of community leaders interested in exploring conservation in their neighborhood, we will host a series of opportunities to become familiar with the process of creating and stewarding community green space. Potential activities include: virtual meetings, a field trip to existing NeighborSpace communities and sites, and workshops on such topics as community engagement, capacity building, site design, site maintenance and programming.

NeighborSpace is ready to take this next step toward proactively providing green space and we look forward to working with new communities.

Where in the URDL is our Executive Director?

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:01:00 GMT

If you are a child of the 80s, you might remember playing the computer game Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? In elementary school, I looked forward each week to computer lab, where we were paired up and assigned to one of the giant PCs to play Where in the World or The Oregon Trail. I don’t believe I ever made it to Oregon – my trip was invariably cut short by dysentery or drowning – but Carmen Sandiego took me all around the world.

My work with NeighborSpace doesn’t lead me quite as far afield but I find it no less exciting. I get to explore neighborhoods across urban Baltimore County, check out beautiful properties and meet people with big hearts and fascinating stories. Of course, as the ED, I spend the majority of my time at my desk, planning and implementing projects, applying for and managing grants, meeting with partners and taking care of administrative duties. But the beauty of this work is the incredible variety that it offers. Walk with me through the past month to get a glimpse of what NeighborSpace has been up to!

Week 1

I start the week with a kick-off meeting with NeighborSpace’s new Community Conservation Manager. Will has a strong background in environmental education and lots of enthusiasm. I share the history of the organization, where NeighborSpace currently is, and information about upcoming events. We discuss projects that are underway or in the works and what we should prioritize. There is a lot going on but Will is ready to dive in! I leave the meeting excited to have Will on our team and with some ideas to draw on their unique skill set for future programs.

On Tuesday, I meet Conor, NeighborSpace’s Land Steward, and Ndamona, our high school intern, at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve. Ndamona has been working with us since August and has assisted with a variety of activities. Since the late fall, she has honed in on forestry work and performed invasive removal, surveyed for NeighborSpace’s forest health assessment, and monitored the streams for salt levels at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve, Volz Neighborhood Preserve, and Levickas Woods. Today, the BCPS staff member who oversees the high school internship program is stopping by for a site visit. Ndamona demonstrates how she tests for salt and we discuss the result, how it compares to previous measurements, and why it matters. In the next few weeks, Ndamona will report on her work to her peers and teachers.

Wednesday is a meeting marathon, beginning with the monthly NeighborSpace staff meeting. We switched from virtual meetings to getting together in-person a year ago and it has been fun and inspiring to share ideas and lessons learned. I’m lucky to have a truly excellent team and always walk away energized! I head back to my desk for the next several meetings: a biweekly check-in with our team at the National Park Service to discuss progress on NeighborSpace’s strategic conservation plan, a meeting with our partners at Patapsco Heritage Greenway to discuss how we can support their new Watershed Engagement Plan, and the monthly Executive Committee meeting of Forever Maryland. Serving on the Board of Forever Maryland has been a great way to learn more about the issues challenging land conservation across the state and I am always in awe of my colleagues’ knowledge and efforts. I end the day in my garden shed: Conor and I inventory all the NeighborSpace tools and take stock of what needs to be repaired or replaced.

NeighborSpace received a new request for conservation, so on Thursday I stop by this potential site with Marsha and John. As former planners and longtime NeighborSpace Board members, Marsha and John know what to look for in a property and what questions to ask of the landowner. As is often the case, the property is a hidden gem and the owner’s love for the land is palpable. I take copious notes and pictures. Later, I’ll collate a summary of these with the results from NeighborSpace’s custom GIS model and some desktop research and share this report with the Applications Committee.

On Friday, I meet one of my favorite donors for breakfast. We discuss what his support has helped NeighborSpace accomplish over the past few months and how he would like to be involved going forward. I love talking about our work and hearing from our members who make it all happen, so this is a great way to start the day! I stop by one of NeighborSpace’s two private properties, Landfall Preserve, to perform the annual monitoring visit. The owner takes a proactive approach to stewardship and has recently cleared a large section of his forest of invasives, which he plans to restore with native shrubs and trees. He is also replacing a large section of turfgrass with a pollinator meadow and vegetable garden. NeighborSpace visited the site several months ago and provided recommendations for woodland species to plant and invasives to watch out for. It’s nice to see this project take shape.

After completing the monitoring protocol, I head to my desk for virtual meetings with our brand new fundraising champions. NeighborSpace recently completed a Development Plan that provides a strategic framework to grow the organization’s membership and unrestricted income through a number of new and fun initiatives. Its implementation relies on Board member “champions” who take the lead on these initiatives. I’m proud and grateful to report that the champion roles were filled in no time and that they are hitting the ground running!

Week 2

On Monday, I visit Powhatan Park with staff members of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This community park was enhanced with stormwater BMPs in 2022 thanks to funding from DNR’s Resiliency through Restoration Initiative. The Department is now providing an opportunity to apply for adaptive management funding. The two bioretention ponds that were installed in 2022 don’t seem to be taking on stormwater, or at least not as much as was anticipated, so I’ve requested funding to assess their function and explore adjustments if needed. We take a walk around the park and talk through what information DNR needs from NeighborSpace to submit a request for funding. We also discuss stewardship challenges at this park and in general and I leave with some new connections to reach out to.

The middle of the week is filled with meetings with individual staff members, Board committees and partners. The Governance and Nominating Committee reviews the recommendations made by the board development consultant that NeighborSpace has been working with and begins to plan for implementation of these changes. We also discuss potential new Board members to meet with. In the monthly meeting of the Advocacy and Public Policy Committee, members discuss Forever Maryland’s efforts in Annapolis this legislative session and the candidates forum that the Baltimore County Land Trust Coalition is hosting in May. Committee members will continue to inform current and potential future County Council members of NeighborSpace’s parks and programs. I tune into the bi-monthly meeting of the BGREEN coalition, of which NeighborSpace is a founding member. BGREEN stands for Baltimore Greater Regional Environmental Equity Network and was founded to increase collaboration and build capacity among communities in the Baltimore area to address local environmental issues.

The bulk of my time this week is invested in rolling out NeighborSpace’s new EPA-funded project: Providing green space for disadvantaged communities . This project is intended as a pilot for a more proactive approach to conservation. NeighborSpace will map priority areas based on their need for public open space and then proactively reach out to priority communities to engage them in the process of protecting, restoring and stewarding pocket parks. The first steps are to map priority areas, develop outreach materials and build out the NeighborSpace website as a resource hub that is useful and easy to navigate for community members. A small but dedicated team of Board members works with me to review contractor quotes. On Friday, I meet with each of the three selected contractors to kick off their portion of the project. I’ve been looking forward to identifying priority areas and piloting a proactive approach for a long time, and I’m very excited to start this work!

Week 3

Monday is dedicated to writing grant reports and reviewing our quarterly progress on NeighborSpace’s annual workplan and budget. We’ve gotten a lot done and are on track to achieve most of our strategic goals for this fiscal year, but I’d like to double down in a few areas before the year ends on June 30.

After a day spent behind the computer, I’m happy to take the train to Washington DC on Tuesday to participate in the Land Trust Alliance’s annual Advocacy Days event. My Maryland colleagues and I run (literally!) from legislator to legislator to share challenges that we are currently facing and to advocate for adequate funding of conservation programs, adequate staffing of the federal agencies that we rely on (such as the US Forest Service), and for a thoughtful approach to the siting of solar panels and power lines. I’m heartened by the level of concern expressed by the legislative staff and by their understanding of the issues at hand. At the end of the day, I stop by the reception to catch up with Land Trust Alliance staff and colleagues from across the country. Without fail, the LTA staff has helpful advice for me to think about, and I enjoy hearing what other land trusts are working on.

The remainder of the week is a whirlwind of meetings and planning activities to move the EPA-funded project forward and to prepare for upcoming events. I meet with Carol, NeighborSpace’s Administrative Manager, to review the fundraising data that she has pulled and to discuss next steps in the implementation of NeighborSpace’s new Development Plan. We are eager to roll out a more structured membership program but there are some details we need to figure out first. We also talk through our wants and needs for the new NeighborSpace website and touch base on grant reports, bookkeeping, and the monthly e-newsletter. Carol wears many hats at NeighborSpace but she manages to balance all her activities efficiently and effectively and keeps us all on task!

On Saturday, I get to spend a lovely morning in the woods of Volz Neighborhood Park learning about native flora and fauna from local expert Judy Fulton. Her identification skills are amazing and I love her holistic take on forest stewardship. I stop by the hardware store on my way home to pick up additional shovels and close out the work day by watering the baby trees in my driveway so we’re all set for NeighborSpace’s volunteer planting activity on Monday. I’m happy to report that almost all of the trees survived the winter and are sending out new bright green shoots.

Week 4

Happy Earth Week! This is NeighborSpace’s busiest week of the year. Our first event is a maintenance training at Powhatan Park. It turns into a conversation with community leaders about stewardship priorities for the park, enhancements we’d like to install and events we’d like to host later this spring. When I leave the park, the big pile of mulch is still there and the bioretention ponds still need weeding, but I’m grateful for the time spent with our stewardship partners. This conversation helped to clarify our mutual priorities for the park, and we’ll come back another day with a larger group to get the hands-on work done.

Tuesday starts bright and early! I deliver tools and trees to Tollgate Wyndham Preserve, where Board member Chloe’s team of volunteers unloads them for planting. Together with Conor, they install two Miyawaki-style plantings in the interior of the forest. Over the winter, Conor worked tirelessly to clear several large areas of invasive Japanese angelica tree. Like many urban forests, Tollgate suffers from heavy invasive and deer pressure. Conor has come up with a restoration plan that involves very dense plantings of native trees, shrubs and perennials. He aims to complete all the planting this spring and will then carefully monitor and maintain these native patches with volunteers. Conor has become an expert at plant ID and knows this forest better than anyone, so I’m hopeful that this will prove to be a successful restoration strategy that we can replicate at NeighborSpace’s other wooded sites.

I leave Tollgate and head to my desk for meetings with staff members, the Development Committee and a landowner interested in conserving his property.

On Earth Day, Conor hosts a group of volunteers from Stanley Black and Decker for more planting at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve and Will hosts a bio blitz with iNaturalist training at Ridgely Manor Park. I spend most of the day writing grant reports, then head to Towson University to table at the Student Meet & Greet. This is an opportunity for students to connect with local nonprofits. I have a great time talking to students with a range of interests and majors and figuring out how they might like to engage with NeighborSpace.

Thursday starts with the quarterly meeting of the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership. BUWP is a large partnership of federal, state and local government agencies, universities and nonprofit organizations focused on improving the Patapsco River watershed. The meetings are a great place to connect with subject matter experts and stay abreast of best practices and new research. I always learn something new!

On Friday, I review a draft easement that we’re working on and consult with members of the Applications Committee, and we make a second trip to the potential new property that we visited in Week 1.

By 7am on Saturday, I’m on my way to Chestnut Park. Each year, Turner Station Conservation Teams hosts a big Earth Day event to clean and green the Turner Station community. The turnout is great and we succeed in weeding three large garden beds. I even learn some new – to me – history about Turner Station in the process!

Earth Week at NeighborSpace!

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:33:00 GMT

This past week saw NeighborSpace hosting a flurry of fun, environmentally-minded events for communities all over Baltimore County in celebration of Earth Week! This included a pair of bioblitzes, a community clean up, and several tree planting days, all of which involved different groups from within and outside of the respective communities.

Our bioblitzes, led by our Community Conservation Manager Will Kaselow, focused on connecting communities with the natural world at their local parks. By using iNaturalist, a flora and fauna identification app, participants were able to get a better understanding of the trees, shrubs, flowers, and animals around them. Our shiny new technology (in the form of tablets) allowed participants to begin identifying the flora and fauna immediately, without the need to download anything on their own devices. These events were hosted at both Adelaide Bentley and Ridgely Manor Parks, and we hope to continue running bioblitz events like this throughout the county!

Over at Turner Station, Will and Executive Director Phyllis Joris worked with Turner Station Conservation Teams to help clean up and beautify the Turner Station Neighborhood during their annual Dumpster Day. Volunteers aided our staff at Chestnut Park by cleaning up trash and removing weeds from the gardens, keeping the community gathering space clean and beautiful!

Lastly, a huge effort to plant native trees, shrubs, and perennials at Tollgate Wyndham Park was finally completed through three separate planting events, led by me, NeighborSpace’s Land Steward. This effort, months in the making, capitalized on a whole winter’s worth of invasive plant removal throughout a third of the park. Volunteers from corporate groups such as BGE and Stanley Black & Decker planted no less than 150 trees and shrubs in “Miyawaki Forests,” which are densely planted (~2 trees/shrubs per meter square) stands of native vegetation. In next month’s newsletter, we will talk more about this method, and why we decided to start planting in this fashion, so stay tuned!

Thank you again to all the volunteers who joined us at events this week. We couldn’t do the work without you and we hope to see you again soon!

Welcome Will, Community Conservation Manager!

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:51:00 GMT

Hello everyone, my name is Will Kaselow and I am so excited to be joining NeighborSpace of Baltimore County as the new Community Conservation Manager! I know I have big shoes to fill, so I’m eager to start getting to know everyone and hit the ground running this spring.

Originally from the beautiful Garden State of New Jersey, I have moved around quite a bit while building a career in ecology and environmental outreach. I moved to Baltimore City in 2023 to attend UMBC, where I earned my M.S. in Geography and Environmental Systems. At UMBC, I conducted community-engaged research focused on understanding different approaches to environmental education in and around the city. I fell for the area in the process and began to put down roots.

You can often find me exploring green spaces around the city and county from Patterson Park to Rocky Point, Loch Raven, Patapsco Valley State Park, and more. I am excited to learn about the many hidden gems that NeighborSpace supports while working with communities to restore and conserve their beautiful green spaces. See you all soon!

Bear Creek Heritage Trail: Nearing Construction of Phase 3

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:38:00 GMT

If you’ve been following NeighborSpace for a while, you’ll know that the Bear Creek Heritage Trail in Dundalk has been years in the making.

Since 2012, NeighborSpace has been working with the Dundalk community to design and construct the Bear Creek Heritage Trail. This 1.25-mile trail will serve the dual goal of connecting community members with the area’s history and with the Bear Creek waterfront. With technical support from the National Park Service, NeighborSpace published a Phasing Plan in 2021 that described the six phases in which it intended to develop the trail. Construction of the first two phases of the trail was completed in the fall of 2024: community members, history buffs and hikers can now walk from the trailhead at North Point State Battlefield, through Battle Acre Park, to Wallford Drive.

Complementing the design-build efforts, a dedicated team of volunteers worked with historian Dr. Glenn Johnston for more than two years to interpret the area’s history. The team’s work shed light on the physical and societal landscape of Patapsco Neck in the early 1800s and provided novel insights that significantly changed the interpretation of the Defense of Baltimore during the War of 1812. Dr. Johnson’s final report can be found on the NeighborSpace website .

Thanks to a $105,000 Baltimore County Community Improvement Grant, NeighborSpace was able to keep the momentum going and begin to design Phase 3. It connects Phase 2 with Battle Monument School and runs along the head of Bear Creek on a trail easement that NeighborSpace holds on private property.

NeighborSpace is excited to announce that all permits have been submitted and we hope to begin construction in a few months! Construction will be funded by a $275,880 grant from the State Highway Administration through the federal Recreational Trails program.

NeighborSpace has been working with Brenton Landscape Architecture, community members and the property owner since the summer of 2024. Together, we’ve designed a trail that connects visitors with the Bear Creek waterfront, beautifies the property, and not only minimizes impacts to the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area but enhances local environmental health.

This segment of the trail will be 650ft long and 8ft wide and constructed of asphalt to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists and be as accessible as possible. Native trees and shrubs along its length will provide habitat for wildlife and screening for residents of the Charlesmont Apartment Homes. The proposed design also includes a 1,000 square foot rain garden and replaces 2,000 square feet of asphalt with native plantings.

We are excited to see this vision come to life! If you have any questions, please contact Phyllis at phyllis@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org.

Clean Up and Planting at Cherry Heights

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:30:00 GMT

This past Saturday, NeighborSpace staff joined our stewardship partner Muriel Cruickshank at Cherry Heights Woodland Garden to remove trash and invasive plants, and replace them with native trees and shrubs. With the advent of spring (finally!), NeighborSpace is keen to begin planting in order to ensure the long-term health of its parks.

Cherry Heights is located in Overlea and is fast becoming a popular destination for the neighborhood, whether for playing, walking, or just relaxing on one of the natural benches. In recent years, the highly invasive Lesser Celandine has begun to creep into the park, covering the forest floor in a blanket of green that prevents native perennials from establishing themselves. Muriel and her neighbors are well aware of this fact and have begun removing patches by hand in an effort to stymie its growth. By starting early in the season, they stand a good chance of limiting its spread, as the rhizomes by which it spreads have not fully developed yet.

In addition to removing this particular plant, neighbors planted several native tree and shrub species, including a White Oak, Swamp White Oak, Willow Oak, two Silky Dogwood, and several Black Chokeberry. These plantings will help plug canopy gaps and shade out some of the Celandine, while also providing important food, habitat, and shelter for the birds and other animals that call Cherry Heights home.

Stop by Cherry Heights Woodland Garden today to check out the new look! The park is located between 7011 and 7205 Beech Ave, Baltimore, MD 21206.

Winter Forest Walk at Volz Park

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:12:00 GMT

Guest article by Adreon Hubbard

In late February, with the long streak of subfreezing, snowy days finally over, I had the honor of leading a forest nature walk on a beautiful day at Volz Park for members of the Green Towson Alliance (GTA). Volz Park, one of NeighborSpace’s three wooded riparian buffer sites, is a 16-acre forest preserve surrounded by townhome developments in the Bird River Watershed in Middle River. As a volunteer naturalist and TreeKeeper, I was excited to become better acquainted with this little gem and introduce it to my GTA colleagues. Armed with binoculars, a hand lens, the Winter Tree Finder key, and the trusty iNaturalist app, I made observations and came up with a species list and tips for my fellow “nature nerds.”

Winter Woodies: Tree ID Tips

Leaf arrangement : Are the leaves or leaf buds opposite (in pairs), or are they alternate (single), along the branches? If they are opposite, it’s probably a maple, ash, or dogwood. Most tree species have alternately arranged leaves. Volz has a number of mature red maples, easily identifiable in winter by their leaf and flower buds appearing in opposite pairs and the red color of the twigs. Hint: look for fallen leaves on the ground nearby–red maple leaves have 3 lobes.

Bark type : What type of bark does the tree have–ridged and furrowed, peeling, shaggy, blocky, or smooth? Note: the bark can vary from the bottom to the top of the tree and according to the tree’s age. Hint: It is very difficult to identify a tree by its bark alone, especially trees with ridged and furrowed bark, a common bark type. Always try to use multiple features of a tree when trying to identify it.

Twig anatomy : Examine a tree twig up close. Look at the bud at the end (terminal bud). If the terminal bud is long, skinny, and brown, like a little cigar, the tree may be an American Beech (see photo). If there are multiple terminal buds clustered together, it may be an oak. Hint: if you want to “geek out” on twig anatomy, the Winter Tree Finder key by Watts & Watts is very helpful.

Lenticels : Lenticels (LEN-ti-sels) are tree pores in the bark that facilitate gas exchange, and they come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and textures. Lenticels on Spicebush are raised white dots, while lenticels on Black Cherry trees are horizontal lines.

Conspicuous Features : If the above tree ID tips seem esoteric, try focusing on more conspicuous clues such as leaves remaining on the tree in winter: this is called marcescence (mar-SES-ence). Beeches and oaks are often marcescent. The golden-tan leaves of beech trees in winter, especially when shimmering and rustling in the breeze, immediately catch one’s eye or ear in the otherwise bare woods. Fallen leaves or fruits/nuts/acorns can be diagnostic as well. You can’t miss the profusion of spiky “gumballs” from Sweetgum trees littering the ground at Volz!

The group identified about 10 native tree species overall: American Beech, Black Cherry, Blackgum, Pignut Hickory, Red Maple, Red and White Oak species, Sweetgum, Tuliptree, Virginia Pine, as well as plenty of Spicebush. I love the cinnamon-like aroma of this hardy shrub!

Winter Birds at Volz

As someone who prefers not to get up early, I was pleased to have identified about 20 bird species at Volz in the afternoon/evening this winter. Birds I heard or saw: American Crow, American Robin, Brown Creeper, Canada Goose, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Common Grackle, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Fish Crow, Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal, Northern Flicker, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, Tufted Titmouse, Turkey Vulture, White-breasted Nuthatch, and White-throated Sparrow.

Bird ID Tips:

LISTEN. Use the free Merlin Bird ID app, which identifies birds by their sounds.

LOOK. Look for movement in the sky, canopy, understory, brush, and on the ground. Use binoculars to zoom in once you see something.

NOTICE. Birds can often be identified as much by what they are doing as by their appearance. Knowing this can help you figure out birds even without binoculars. A bird creeping head-first down a tree trunk can only be a White-breasted Nuthatch. A bird flying through the forest with a flap-flap-glide wingbeat pattern may be a woodpecker.

Brown Creepers
One of the most intriguing birds I’ve seen at Volz is the Brown Creeper. This elusive, tiny bird’s brown, streaked back makes it perfectly camouflaged against tree bark. It is often described as a “piece of bark come to life.” Creeping jerkily up tree trunks in a corkscrew pattern, it uses its long, stiff tail feathers to brace itself against the tree and its down-turned beak to probe bark crevices for tasty arthropods. Rather than creeping face-down like a nuthatch, it flies down, resembling a falling leaf, to the next tree, where it scampers up again. Brown Creepers rely on mature trees whose bark is craggly enough to harbor the tasty spiders and caterpillars they seek, so their presence is said to be a sign of a healthy forest ecosystem. Keeping some dead and dying trees, as well as snags, allows Brown Creepers to make their pouch-like nests behind loose tree bark. See https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Creeper/overview . Maybe you will spot a Brown Creeper or hear its high-pitched vocalizations on your next visit to Volz!

Fungi and Fireflies

Turkey Tail mushrooms are common on dead wood and sport concentric bands of tan, grey, blue, and reddish-brown, resembling their namesake. Turkey Tail can be seen throughout the park. Pull one off the tree or log and feel its velvety top and rough underside, which is covered in tiny pores that resemble coral. False Turkey Tail is a lookalike that has a smooth underside.

Winter Firefly : Winter Fireflies overwinter in tree cracks and are often the first insect to emerge in late Winter or early Spring. The adults are diurnal, or active in the day, so they do not bioluminesce as adults. They sometimes fall into maple syrup buckets, hence their other common name, Sap-Bucket Beetle. This little guy at Volz (see photo) was my first encounter with one. It is always exciting to discover a new species!

I am grateful to NeighborSpace for preserving the forest at Volz and inviting me to lead a walk there. I can’t wait to visit in all four seasons!

Adreon is a retired teacher and Certified Maryland Master Naturalist volunteer. She can be reached at hubbardesol@gmail.com .

2026 Stewardship Luncheon

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:33:00 GMT

At the end of January, NeighborSpace had the pleasure of hosting our fourth annual Stewardship Luncheon at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood in Dundalk. Initially created to thank our stewardship partners for their hard work, the luncheon has also provided a way to foster communication and cooperation between park stewards from all around urban Baltimore County.

Our stewardship partners are critical to the success of NeighborSpace parks and sites. They are neighborhood leaders who donate hours of their time and energy to maintain their sites and help facilitate NeighborSpace events. Along with both staff and board members, we were fortunate to have representatives from nine of NeighborSpace’s parks, including Adelaide Bentley Park, Bear Creek Historical Trail, Carroll Watkins Park, Chestnut Park, Graystone Community Open Space, Greenbrier Memorial Garden, Cape Newburg Park, Powhatan Park, and Tollgate Wyndham Preserve.

We cannot thank our stewardship partners enough for all your hard work, year in and year out. We’ll see you out at our sites this spring!

Winter Tree Identification – Part II

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:57:00 GMT

We’re back again this month with more trees to identify during the winter using your newfound bark ID skills! This month, we’ll be looking at four more common native trees in Maryland: Black Cherry, American Beech, Tulip Poplar, and Northern Red Oak.

As with before, start by identifying one tree in this list, and wait to move on to the others until you are comfortable with the first. That will prevent overloading your system with a bunch of new tree-related information.

First up on our list is the Black Cherry tree. This is a personal favorite, as the bark of this tree becomes more like fish scales as it matures. While a young sapling, the bark of the Black Cherry tree is similar to other cherries, displaying the trademark horizontal “bands,” i.e. lenticels, throughout the tree. The exception to this is the base of the trunk, which begins to form irregular cracks, even while the tree is young. As it grows older, these cracks will become more uniform, spanning the length of the trunk, and adopting the characteristic “fish scale” look. The youngest growth of the tree, namely the upper branches, will retain the smooth bark with horizontal bands, though you may need binoculars to see this on particularly large specimens. As you walk through your local forest, keep an eye out for several of these trees growing near each other in loose stands.

Black Cherry

Next up, we have the American Beech. This particular tree is very easy to identify during the winter, due to its habit of retaining the previous season’s leaves until the spring. When you walk into a beech forest, you’ll immediately be greeted by trees with light tan leaves all around you. While this is a pretty good metric to identify the tree, we’re here today to learn about the bark. The bark of this tree is very unique, with its smooth, silver-grey color broken up by characteristic “eye” shapes. These “eyes” are actually lenticels, which allow for gas exchange between the tree and its environment. It’s just a coincidence that they have such a definitive shape!

American Beech

Our third tree for the month is the Tulip Poplar, also known as the Tulip tree. This arboreal giant grows fast and lives life fast, with an average age of 80-100 years. For context, your average White Oak will live 350+ years. This makes it a common sight in early successional forests, where it will grow up and provide a canopy for the slower growing oaks and hickories. Identifying this tree by bark can be a little tricky at first, as it resembles many other types of trees at an initial glance. Upon closer inspection, we begin to find clues that help us out in our identification mission. The bark of older Tulip Poplar trees is deeply rutted, and will appear to “criss-cross” from nearly the bottom of the trunk to the tops of the branches. The very base of the trunk, however, is different, and looks very much like paper mache to me. Another way to tell that you’re looking at a Tulip Poplar is to look at the tips of the branches. Oftentimes during the winter, the Tulip trees will retain many of their dried out blossoms, and combined with your bark sleuthing skills, this is usually a dead giveaway.

Tulip Poplar

Lastly, we will cover one of our long-lived native trees, the majestic Northern Red Oak. This species is fairly common in our intact forests, and will oftentimes be found alongside its cousin, the White Oak. This is an interesting tree species to ID, as they take a bit of time to distinguish from surrounding trees, especially while saplings. The older the tree becomes, the more distinct its bark will be. The oldest parts of the bark (i.e., the portions that are most raised) are a dark grey color, while the youngest parts of the bark (i.e., the bark you see deep in the ruts and cracks) are orange-red, giving this tree its name. To confirm that you are admiring a Northern Red Oak, look for the distinctive “ski-tracks” that will form along the length of the trunk. The old dark-grey bark will usually be separated by shallow troughs of middle-age, light grey bark, which gives the appearance of a well-used ski slope.

Northern Red Oak

That’s all we have for this month. Get out there and start identifying your local trees in the forests and parks surrounding your home. I would suggest beginning with the American Beech, and working up to the other trees from this article afterwards. If you have any questions or are simply enjoying this series and would like to see more, please let us know at info@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org. We would love to hear from you. Stay warm!

Fond Farewell to Amanda

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:56:00 GMT

Dear Friend of NeighborSpace,

I am very sorry to share that Amanda Glassco is leaving the organization. I am grateful for the two years that we worked together and for the progress that NeighborSpace was able to make thanks to her contributions.

Amanda joined NeighborSpace part-time in November 2023 to support implementation of the Community Climate Change Resilience project in Turner Station. She quickly took the lead on the Resilience project and developed relationships with Turner Station community leaders and residents. As time and money allowed, Amanda’s position grew to full-time, and she became NeighborSpace’s point of contact for stewardship partners and volunteers. Under her leadership, NeighborSpace strengthened its stewardship relationships, rolled out community science programs, piloted its Neighbors for Native Plants course and other workshops, and completed restoration projects such as the installation of pollinator gardens, bayscapes and rain barrels.

If you’ve met Amanda, you’ll know that she has a way of putting people at ease and engaging young and old in the activity on hand, whether it’s pulling weeds, looking for bugs in streams, or observing plants and wildlife. I’ve found Amanda to be a wonderful listener who asks thoughtful, insightful questions and has a talent for distilling big, rambling ideas into structured programs and well-defined projects. Her positive attitude and great sense of humor kept us all engaged and motivated.

I can confidently say that Amanda’s contributions strengthened NeighborSpace and improved the organization’s capacity to steward the communities we serve and the lands we conserve. I know she will do the same in her new position and I wish her the best of luck.

NeighborSpace hopes to hire a new Community Conservation Manager soon. Please share the Community Conservation Manager position announcement with your networks. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Winter Tree Identification

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:05:00 GMT

Have you ever walked by a tree in winter and wondered what species it might be? Without its leaves, one of the typical defining characteristics of tree identification, it can be hard! But here is a way to ID a few of our more common tree species during the cold months – by looking at the bark. While the bark of many trees can seem similar, if not exactly the same, at first glance, a closer look reveals its secrets. This article will take a look at five separate tree species in our area and attempt to separate them by bark ID alone.

The best way to start learning a tree species by bark is to identify a few trees on your property or at nearby parks that you may already know. That tall White Oak tree that shades your driveway during the spring, summer, and fall, now bereft of leaves, could be a perfect example. Look closely at the tree, now leaf-less, and see how its bark changes from the base of the trunk to the tops of the branches. White Oak bark is different from many other native oaks, as it starts off segmented at the base, where the oldest growth is, and becomes shaggier as you look up the tree, towards the new growth. This is a defining characteristic on all but the youngest White Oak trees. After examining one tree, see if you can find others nearby that share this description. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your eyes adjust to find nearly all of the White Oaks in your neighborhood or local park!

White Oak

This is just one example of winter tree identification by bark. See if you can get comfortable with finding White Oak trees around you before attempting to ID the other trees in this article.

Next up on the list is the Sycamore, a beautiful tree that is oftentimes planted as a street tree for shade. The bark of this tree is unlike any other in the area, making it perfect for winter identification. Due to this tree’s tendency of flaking off older bark to make way for new growth, the Sycamore has a patchwork look, with tan, brown, pink, and blueish blotches up the trunk and throughout the branches. The base of older Sycamore trees will often be a uniform brown, with a knobby-like appearance. As you walk along your neighborhoods, see if you can spot this wonderful tree growing along county-maintained parkways and other similar areas.

Sycamore

The third tree that we will attempt to identify is the Eastern Black Walnut tree. This is one of my personal favorites, as the bark grows in such a characteristically uniform way. With deep furrows that start from the base of the trunk and continue up the tree and throughout the branches, it can be hard to miss once you become familiar with it. Unlike trees that have bark patterns at the base that change as you look up to the branches, the bark of the Black Walnut remains the same throughout the entire tree. If you’re ever on the fence as to whether the tree you’re examining is a Black Walnut, take a break from the bark and look at the ground. If it is in fact a Black Walnut, the ground around it will be littered with its characteristic baseball-sized fruit!

Eastern Black Walnut

The next tree we’ll examine together is the ubiquitous, gorgeous Red Maple. Red Maples are one of (if not THE) most common trees in North America. They can be found growing almost anywhere that has soil. Identification of this tree by bark is fun, as they change quite a bit as they age – though not so much that you can’t ID them! Young Red Maple trees will have an almost uniformly smooth, light-grey trunk. In older trees, this smooth, gray bark can be observed higher up the trunk and on the branches, i.e. the younger parts of the tree. The base of older Red Maples will become gnarled with age, almost irregularly so, though the smooth gray bark will always be present higher up. The older the tree, the more the trunk will have a gnarled appearance. For this tree, it’s fun to find your nearest forest or forest patch, and spot the differences between both young and old specimens.

Red Maple

The last tree we will take a look at today is the Black Gum, also known as the Black Tupelo. They display beautiful fall foliage, oftentimes yellow and crimson leaves in the late fall. The bark of this tree is no less striking, and is often described as “crocodile” bark. As you look at the attached photos, you might see what I mean! The bark near the base of all but the youngest Black Gum trees does in fact have a segmented, crocodile-like look to it that appears very different from other trees in the forest. This one takes a little time to recognize, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t pick it up immediately.

Black Gum / Black Tupelo

Winter tree identification can certainly be tough, but with practice year after year, you will start to look at trees in a different way. There are many different guides out there on the internet that you can use to further your knowledge of tree bark ID as well. The most helpful way to get started is to examine trees that you already know. For trees that you don’t know, write your guesses down and return in the spring to check your work!

If you’d like to see more tree ID articles in the future, please reach out to info@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org and let us know.

Bayscape Planting in Turner Station

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 13:00:00 GMT

This fall, NeighborSpace installed thirteen bayscapes at residences in the Turner Station community of Dundalk, replacing more than 2,000 square feet of lawn with native plant gardens designed to absorb and filter stormwater runoff. We also distributed 10 bayscape kits for residents to install at home, 30 trees and 50 rain barrels. The implementation of these stormwater best management practices served as the final phase of NeighborSpace’s contribution to the Community Climate Resilience Project. This project was funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Coastal Resilience Fund and was a partnership between Baltimore County government, Turner Station Conservation Teams, NeighborSpace and others.

What exactly is a bayscape? This useful type of green infrastructure focuses on using plants that excel in the sandy soils of Dundalk to slow and sink rainwater. Species used include New England aster, cardinal flower, columbine, swamp goldenrod, and golden groundsel. The location of a bayscape is equally important. The Turner Station bayscapes were installed by Victor Bennett of Wildside Nursery; he walked each property and identified low areas that were known to flood during rain events. In these areas, Victor removed the sod, decompacted the soil and shaped it to channel excess water away from homes and garages. Finally, each new garden was planted densely with native vegetation that does well in moist, well-drained soils. When rainfall sheets off impervious surfaces such as roads, roofs, and driveways, it now flows into the bayscapes. Besides preventing flooding, the native plants used will also remove pollutants from rainwater while cooling the water before it reaches our streams. This in turn protects sensitive species of aquatic insects that form a vital part of our riparian ecosystems.

Shortly after installing the bayscapes, we were hit with a huge rain event. This provided the perfect opportunity to test the efficacy of our new plantings, which performed admirably! All but one of the bayscapes had slowed and sunk rainwater by the following day, with no standing water observed. The final bayscape, which had received an exceptionally large amount of runoff from a nearby road, had fully drained by the second day after the rainstorm, well within the 72-hour accepted limit.

The plants used in the construction will continue to grow and put forth roots, strengthening the bayscapes in their ability to absorb water year after year. It is NeighborSpace’s hope that the success of this initial project will embolden more community members to plant bayscapes of their own, improving the neighborhood’s ability to deal with increased flooding due to climate change.

Greenspace Equity Improvements at Graystone

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:59:00 GMT

This fall, Graystone Community Open Space, affectionately known as “The Lot” by neighbors, received exciting improvements funded by the Maryland Greenspace Equity Program, a new initiative designed to expand equitable access to parks and green spaces across the state. NeighborSpace is proud to be among the first organizations funded through this program, with the Graystone project serving as one of its inaugural success stories.

Thanks to the Greenspace Equity program, the 0.3-acre neighborhood park now includes boulder steps, two benches, and newly planted native trees and shrubs. These amenities make the space more inviting and accessible for all visitors, and provide shade, beauty, and valuable wildlife habitat. A Little Free Library will soon be installed, offering another way for neighbors to connect and enjoy the space.

These improvements build upon the success of last year’s pollinator garden, planted in fall 2024 through a Keep Maryland Beautiful grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. The garden, designed with native perennials such as spotted beebalm, blazing star, lyreleaf sage, elmleaf goldenrod, New England aster, and brown-eyed susan, now flourishes along the park’s slope, providing essential habitat for pollinators while adding color and beauty to the park’s entrance.

NeighborSpace has partnered with the Graystone Community Association since 2009, when it responded to the Association’s request to preserve and steward this green space in Woodlawn. Over the years, the park has become the neighborhood’s “living room,” hosting community meetings, crochet circles, movie nights, flea markets, and more.

With the addition of new seating, plantings, and an upcoming Little Free Library, Graystone Community Open Space continues to grow as a model for community-led stewardship, showing how investment in small, local parks can make a big impact on neighborhood well-being.

Thank you to the Graystone Community Association, Wildside Nursery, Live Green, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Maryland DNR, and the many volunteers who continue to make “the lot” a welcoming and thriving space for all.

As we look ahead to Giving Tuesday on December 2, we’re asking the NeighborSpace community to help us take the final step toward improving Graystone Community Open Space. With just $400 left to raise for a handrail, we can make the newly installed steps accessible to neighbors of all ages and abilities. Every contribution, large or small, brings us closer to ensuring this park is safe, welcoming, and fully usable for everyone.

If you’re able, please consider supporting NeighborSpace’s Giving Tuesday campaign. Donations can be made online at www.neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org/donate or by check to NeighborSpace of Baltimore County, P.O. Box 6715, Towson, MD 21285. Your support helps keep our community spaces open, accessible, and thriving.

Volunteer Appreciation Event

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:58:00 GMT

Earlier this November, 20 NeighborSpace volunteers joined staff, Board members, and stewardship partners at Peabody Heights Brewery for our annual Volunteer celebration.

After a few words from Phyllis Joris, Executive Director, and new Board President Pat Keller, attendees enjoyed beer, refreshments, and warm company. NeighborSpace also hosted a raffle, and thanks to generous donations from NeighborSpace Board members, every single volunteer went home with a prize, ranging from water bottles and books to business gift certificates.

We cannot thank our volunteers enough for all of your hard work, this year and every year. We hope you enjoy a safe, healthy, quiet winter, and we look forward to seeing you out in a park next year!

Welcome Ndamona, NeighborSpace Intern!

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:53:00 GMT

I’m Ndamona, a senior at Dulaney High School who plans to study chemical engineering in college. I plan to work in environmental engineering so working with NeighborSpace gets me practical experience working with environmental issues.

I enjoy the outdoors and I’m happy to be able to help make a difference in the surrounding environment and community. My favorite part about working with NeighborSpace so far is the passion everybody has for the environment and their work.

Ndamona has been assisting with forest health assessments, restoration planning and hands-on volunteer events. She will be with us through the end of the school year. If you see her at a NeighborSpace event, make sure to say hi and ask her what she’s working on!

Tollgate and Volz Forest Plantings

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:34:00 GMT

October saw not one but two forest plantings at NeighborSpace sites! Over one hundred trees and shrubs were planted at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve and Volz Neighborhood Park by dedicated volunteer groups from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, FedEx and BGE, with the dual goal of filling in the forest and providing valuable habitat for local wildlife.

These plantings are part of a larger project to broaden the diversity of local forests, specifically at NeighborSpace’s three wooded riparian sites (Volz Neighborhood Park, Tollgate Wyndham Preserve, and Levickas Woods at Dunmore). By increasing the diversity of trees and shrubs, the forests will provide improved shelter and food for a plethora of bird species, both migrant and year-round. These plantings will also serve to stabilize the soil along stream banks and throughout the park. This in turn will limit erosion and excess sediment in local waterways. In addition, the roots of these plants will cool rainfall before allowing it to recharge the groundwater while simultaneously filtering out pollutants from runoff and other sources.

The tree and shrub species were selected based on the wildlife species observed at each park and careful research of each plant’s desired habitat, preferred soil moisture, and ecosystem services as stated above. Plants were placed in areas where they would not only succeed, but where they would have the greatest chance of improving the health of each forest. For example, volunteers planted Red Twig Dogwoods along the streams at both Tollgate and Volz in order to help stabilize the banks. These Dogwoods like being close to the water and are known to put out strong roots that help prevent erosion. We also planted a number of different oak species, including White, Red, Black, Pin, Scarlet, Willow, Chestnut and Burr Oak. These slow-growing long-lived trees will grow up and provide beautiful focal points for both people and wildlife to enjoy and utilize for decades, if not centuries, to come.

All of the newly planted trees and shrubs will be monitored as part of NeighborSpace’s yearly forest health assessments to gauge the overall health of these three riparian sites and to help inform our restoration efforts. By utilizing GPS, we can pinpoint the location of every tree and shrub planted and visit the plantings throughout the year to monitor for deer damage, disease and invasive pressure. These assessments are an exciting new addition to NeighborSpace’s annual site monitoring. If you are interested in getting involved with forest health monitoring, please reach out! NeighborSpace will be looking for volunteers to help early next spring.

NeighborSpace would like to thank the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for funding the riparian forest buffer restoration project and for providing on-the-ground support, and the FedEx and BGE teams for their enthusiastic help with planting.

Forest Bathing in Levickas Woods

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:26:00 GMT

In early October, NeighborSpace had the privilege of hosting a forest bathing event in coordination with Forest Harmony and Howard EcoWorks. Neighbors from the Dunmore community joined us at Levickas Woods in Catonsville to release built up tension and stress by connecting with the forest around us.

For those who haven’t heard of the concept of forest bathing, worry not! I wasn’t familiar with the term until planning for this event had begun. There’s no actual bathing during the session; rather, it focuses on engaging the senses in a mindful way, utilizing the plant life of the forest. By “bathing” your senses – in this case touch, smell, sight, and hearing – in connection with the forest, we are able to focus our attention on the present moment, rather than letting our minds wander to things that are stressing us out. This allows our overall heart rate to relax, regulating our central nervous system and inducing a state of calm that places us on solid mental and emotional ground.

Our guide for this event was Dhruv Veda, the founder of Forest Harmony. He gave us a brief history of Forest Bathing by talking about its roots in 1980s Japan and its crucial role in alleviating a mental health crisis there. The types of trees and shrubs that occur in Japan are similar, yet different, to those that occur here in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. and Dhruv has constructed his walks with these differences in mind. To start us off, all participants had their heart rate variability (HRV) measured, i.e. the average space of time between heartbeats. The higher the number, the less stressed you were. Most participants were somewhere between 200-350, whereas my HRV clocked in at 37! Eager to change that, I followed Dhruv in the group’s first activity, or “invitation”, which involved selecting a tree or shrub and allowing your senses to experience it. We focused on what the tree felt like, looked like, sounded like, and smelled like. Afterwards, we shared our experiences with the group. The entire invitation brought our small band together through shared experience, while appreciating the differences in details observed by each member.

We continued to follow Dhruv’s lead through two more activities, ending each with a moment to share our experiences with each other. To tie the whole forest bathing activity together, we ended by sharing tea under the shade of a large oak tree and measuring our final heart rate variability. I was pleased to see that my score had risen drastically, from 37 to 328! While chatting with others in the group afterwards, I talked about how being guided through this activity helped me to relax, as I was focused on each successive mindfulness activity and not my day to day stressors and responsibilities. Truly, there’s nothing like starting off your Saturday with a relaxed mind!

For readers who are interested in participating in forest bathing walks with Dhruv in the future, feel free to reach out to him at myforestharmony@gmail.com or take a look at his website at forestharmony.org . As always, check out the upcoming events on our website to stay involved with all things NeighborSpace!

Rally Conference Experience

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:19:00 GMT

Guest Article by Edie Brooks and Arkia Wade

Each year, the Land Trust Alliance hosts its national “Rally” conference, a key gathering opportunity for members of the land trust community to share best practices, celebrate achievements and strengthen the land conservation movement. This year, NeighborSpace was represented by staff members Phyllis Joris and Amanda Glassco, stewardship partner Edie Brooks and Board member Arkia Wade. Read on to hear Edie’s and Arkia’s takeaways!

Rally: The National Land Conservation Conference was held September 3-6 in Cleveland, Ohio. The annual conference brought together 1,653 passionate land conservation practitioners from 56 states, countries, and territories around the world — all dedicated to protecting and preserving the cherished places that make our communities special.

On the first day, we joined Phyllis for an outstanding day-long field trip with Ohio’s largest land trust, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, a powerhouse in Northeast Ohio. Matt Zone, our dynamic guide and Chief Advocacy Officer, was a former Cleveland City Councilman for 20 years. The Conservancy shared a real passion for protecting natural resources and revitalizing and uplifting communities. Their phenomenal work “moved at the speed of trust”. They have acquired Euclid Beach Mobile Home Community, covering 28.5 acres on Cleveland’s North Collinwood lakeshore. The property has officially become part of the public park system, marking a milestone in the creation of a unified, publicly accessible green space along Lake Erie. They are also in the process of converting a 25-acre historic landfill to Brighton Park, as well as having demolished numerous vacant structures and repurposed vacant lots in Cleveland.

During the field trip, we explored a vibrant community garden created in partnership with a local church — complete with its own irrigation system and a sturdy fence to keep curious deer away. We also visited inspiring examples of neighborhood revitalization, including thoughtful green spaces that tell powerful stories: a memorial honoring a local police officer who lost his life in the line of duty and the moving “Garden of Eleven Angels,” a tribute to eleven women from the community. The experience was both heartwarming and empowering — a beautiful reminder of how green spaces can heal, unite, and inspire hope.

We then jumped into a variety of inspiring workshops — from Financial Leadership for Land Trust Executive Directors and Advanced Leadership: Developing an Empowered Management Team to Connecting Children to Nature. Along the way, we met passionate land conservation leaders from across the country, exchanged ideas, and came home energized with fresh perspectives and new connections!

On the last day of the conference we co-presented a workshop, titled ”Cultivating Relationships: Community-Centered Conservation Successes and Challenges”, with Phyllis and Amanda and colleagues from The Conservation Foundation, a land trust in Illinois. We shared a slide show about NeighborSpace, focused on our experience with protecting, restoring, and stewarding Chestnut Park in Turner Station, and hosted breakout groups around different topics. The session was well attended and warmly received. And while in Cleveland, we found time to visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. What a wonderful trip!

Still Growing: Celebrating Kerri Lastner’s Leadership at Graystone Community Open Space

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:25:00 GMT

“We look at growing the grass, the pollinator garden. We also need to look at growing people,” says Kerri Lastner, Graystone community leader. “I think this is the problem with how we think about conservation. We shouldn’t have to reconnect with nature. We are always connected.”

For Kerri, serving as the stewardship partner for Graystone Community Open Space has been both a labor of love and a personal transformation. What began as an effort to protect land from development became a journey of co-creating a space for neighbors, deepening her connection to nature, and reimagining what conservation means.

Kerri has always loved gardening and being outside. As a mother of two, she homeschooled her children, weaving in camping trips and science experiments that sparked their lifelong passion for the natural world. Both are now grown and pursuing careers in science.

When she first partnered with NeighborSpace, Kerri thought of conservation as simply preventing development. Over time, her perspective has shifted. Planting and tending the pollinator garden, and seeing neighbors come together to weed, water, and care for it, helped her understand conservation as a relationship.

“I’ve been so changed by the pollinator garden,” she says. “This green space isn’t just for the humans; it’s for the insects that pollinate the plants, support the flowers, and support our food systems. It’s not just for us, it’s for them too.”

Kerri marvels at how a small patch of flowers can bring so much color and life, supporting countless pollinators. She plans to bring out a chair this fall to spend time observing and cataloging the species it attracts. Even her mother, who prefers more manicured, English-style gardens, now reminds her to “make sure you drive by the garden” when she’s out on errands.

From Threat to Community Treasure

Graystone is a residential neighborhood in Woodlawn, made up of single-family homes on rolling hills once known as Powhatan, after the local mill. Though the mill and much of the old town are gone, the history remains, including the story of the Powhatan Methodist Episcopal Church, which was rolled across the frozen Gwynns Falls on whiskey barrels in 1902.

In 2007, Graystone neighbors learned that a historic home on the hill off Gwynn Oak Avenue was up for rezoning after a family tragedy. They feared the property would be sold for development, or worse, turned into overflow parking for the pub across the street.

“We realized we needed a way to share our voice and have a say in the decisions being made,” recalls Kerri. “There wasn’t a way for us to speak out as a collective, so we needed to amplify our voices. It’s one thing if a parcel is divided and another house is built. A parking lot is another thing entirely.” When neighbors met and organized around the issue, there was concern that the rezoning could, as Kerri puts it, “change the feel and flavor of a community”.

Neighbors organized, forming the Graystone Community Association, Inc (GCA). With help from NeighborSpace, they successfully conserved the parcel. On June 29, 2009, Graystone Community Open Space, affectionately called “The Lot,” was officially acquired.

Even before the purchase was finalized, the community association secured a grant for a gateway sign, later unveiled at the official ribbon cutting on July 14, 2010.

Over the next ten years, neighbors turned The Lot into a lively gathering place. Movie nights, flea markets, games, and festivals became community traditions. At the first movie nights (showing The Incredible Mr. Limpet ), Kerri’s husband, Joe, strung up a painter’s tarp between the apple trees, and neighbors watched on blankets under the stars.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

For years, The Lot thrived through collective effort. Kerri’s kids and other neighborhood children mowed the grass, and neighbors organized events. Kerri remembers that when concerns arose about kids mowing the steep hillside, people donated plants and labor to transform it into a garden. “It was neighbors helping neighbors,” she says. “People came together and volunteered their time and resources for a solution.”

As time passed, use of The Lot slowed, but during COVID, Kerri once again stepped in. When quarantine kept people inside and isolated, Kerri had the idea to gather outdoors. “We set up our chairs in the grass and did social distancing,” she recalls. “We invited people to come and have a conversation on the lot. Just to be together. And slowly people started coming out, and slowly the care and interest in the property started coming back.”

Renewed energy followed. Neighbors began organizing events again, new volunteers stepped forward, and plans for the pollinator garden took root.

Passing the Torch

When Kerri attended a workshop years ago, one idea stuck with her: grassroots leadership roles in community spaces aren’t meant to be forever. “Someone at the workshop said that you step into these roles in your neighborhood so that you can turn it over to someone else,” says Kerri. “It’s not a lifetime role. No one can do it forever. You have to be very dedicated, and eventually, people will burn out. You need new energy, you need to give others an opportunity to lead with new ideas.”

For Kerri, that time has come. The time for new leadership, energy, and ideas. A new slate of officers was recently elected to the GCA board. She is proud of the president-elect and new leaders. For her part, Kerri is happy to play an advisory role. “It’s a good time to step back and get perspective on everything we’ve accomplished together. I’m very proud of what we’ve done as a community.”

Alonzo Sellers, who has already played a key role in tending the pollinator garden, will take over as stewardship partner. “I could really see Alonzo’s passion for the garden, and under his care, the plants have flourished,” Kerri says.

Still Growing

At the 2010 ribbon cutting for Graystone Community Open Space, Kerri invited neighbors to return on July 14, 2030, to celebrate again, twenty years later. With that date approaching, she looks forward to watching a new generation of leaders write the next chapters.

As she said in her original speech:

In this next chapter, Kerri sees The Lot and other community open spaces as helping people, especially in urban areas, grow in “our relationships with nature”.

“We have literally shut our doors to nature,” she reflects. “We need to help people, help each other grow, like we help plants grow. We need to water people, nurture one another in our communities, and grow in our relationships with nature.

Calling All Birders and Bird Enthusiasts!

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:46:00 GMT

Calling all birders and bird enthusiasts! For those of you who have visited some of our parks around Baltimore County, you’ll notice that birds are fairly constant throughout. Whether you see them flitting in and out of nests or calling from high above, they’re everywhere. NeighborSpace has been keen to document the different types of birds that visit our sites year around in order to cater future restoration efforts to these wonderful creatures. By understanding the diverse avian communities at our parks, we can better select trees, shrubs, and other plants that will directly benefit our winged friends and encourage them to return year after year.

In order to tackle the undertaking of cataloging all bird species at our sites around the county, we have instituted a volunteer-based community science program. Volunteers chose a site to ‘monitor’ once a month, recording all species that they see or hear. This has revealed a plethora of fascinating bird species, such as Black Vultures, Red-shouldered Hawks, Pileated Woodpeckers, Northern Mockingbirds, Winter Wrens, Eastern Wood Pewee’s, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Northern Waterthrushes, and much, much more!

NeighborSpace is currently looking for more volunteers eager to take ownership of one of our parks for at least a three month period with the express purpose of cataloging the bird species there. We are currently in the process of scheduling both virtual and in-person trainings for anyone interested in getting involved. Reach out to Amanda Glassco at amanda@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org for more information.

We would like to thank bird monitors Kelly and Mike Strzelecki and Anna Payne for their hard work recording bird species at our parks! Their observations have already significantly enriched NeighborSpace’s understanding of the animals that inhabit its preserves.

The History of Volz Park and Thoughts from the Outside

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:38:00 GMT

Guest Article by Daniel Dean

Daniel Dean is the research chair for the Marshy Point Nature Center Council, a member of the Archeological Society of Maryland, and a member of the Maryland Free-State Treasure Club. In addition to historical research, he has been unearthing the physical items of Marshy Point park with the help of the Central Chapter of the ASM and permission from the Baltimore County Parks and Recreation director. In this article, Daniel shares some of his recent discoveries about Volz Neighborhood Park.

In January of this past year, mutual friend Kathy Martin of Marshy Point Nature Center Council and NeighborSpace of Baltimore County reached out to me with a few opportunities she thought I may be interested in joining. One of the events was a walking group with a DNR Natural Resources Planner at Volz Park in Middle River. As someone who enjoys nature and the hidden history below the trees and leaves, I took Kathy up on the invitation and started the journey back in time. What few realize is that our current sections of wooded areas may have been cleared fields over 200 years ago, with new settlers setting up homes and farmland. It is true that there were vast woods of untouched grounds as well, but once colonial settlements took place, we had an onslaught on the trees and brush across the region. These trees were needed for building, heating, and the large industry of iron works. The furnaces at the forges required large amounts of fuel to gain the heat needed for this production. With that in mind, remember the importance of replanting and replenishing the earth and how grateful we are to have organizations like NeighborSpace of Baltimore County allowing the new generation of woodland to stay safe from falling into the next clearing for communities as our population grows.

This story is about historic survival. It tells the story of a tree from centuries ago and the mystery of its disappearance from our memory. The area has an interesting recorded history dating back to the 18th century with two primary land patents, which fall within this 14-acre park. One section of this park is within a land patent called “Jacob’s Choice” (1724). The other section is in “Doggwood Thickett” (1710). Although the lands can overlap and transform over the years with different landowners, I focused on these two patent names using KML data transferred from map-maker.org and various historical maps. It was a beautifully crisp day for this walk in the old boundaries. We did not see any Dogwood trees or bushes, but our guide was very informative with his knowledge.

One of the interesting historical features which stand out is a Big White Oak Tree. It is mentioned in the land patent for Jacob’s Choice (1722 survey, 1724 patent). Over the years, there is mention in the 1877 Hopkins Map of Baltimore County with “Big Jacobs Choice,” the 1898 and the 1915 Bromley map with the same “Big Jacobs Choice” designated. There is a tree symbol on each map at the same location as the original land patent.

On the land deed from 03/18/1985, Book 6911, Page 306, there is mention of a large white oak tree as the boundary. It is even marked with a “J.C.” and mentioned as the beginning tree for the tract of land called Jacob’s Choice. There is a possibility of this carrying over from previous deeds, unless recently surveyed in the 1980s.

Sadly, on my second visit to this park on February 5 ^th , 2025, to see if this tree still existed, I only found two visibly possible areas where this “Big White Oak” may have once stood. There is a large pit which stands out in the wooded area. It is the size of a large cellar hole and has one single cinder block at the bottom. Looking over aerial images dating back to the 1950s, this area was all wooded and there was no farming at the location of the tree. There is an offshoot stream, part of White Marsh Run, and it could have been a spring house at one time but it is hard to tell. The second suspected site, which matched with the map location better, is an open area that has been taken over by brush and is inaccessible without clearing out the thicket. It is dense with few trees in close proximity.

The merchant owner who held both land patents, James Crooke, has a very interesting past and a case of slander where he was accused by a widow with allegations against him in 1704. Her fiancé called off their wedding based on some vulgar language he used in reference to their relationship. We find this in the publication, Fortune’s Orphan: The Troubled Career of Thomas Macnemara in Maryland , 1703-1719 , by C. Ashley Ellefson. A lot more can be learned of this property with interesting possibilities for these open green areas in the future.

As the Research Chair for Marshy Point Nature Center Council, I speak with groups dealing with history and nature. It is important to keep both perspectives in the foreground as history is easily forgotten within parks. Even the most mundane walkways, sport fields, and perimeters of development existed in another form since the beginning of the Earth we stand on aside from movement from man or nature. As we change our landscape, let us continue to honor the life it had and those who interacted with it.

Presentation to the NHSM Herpetology Club

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:46:00 GMT

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to give a virtual presentation to the Natural History Society of Maryland’s Herpetology club regarding an infectious fungal pathogen affecting amphibian populations around the world. Folks from the club gathered to listen about the origins of this pathogen (known by its scientific name of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ), and the harmful disease it causes, known by many as amphibian chytrid. Members of NeighborSpace’s staff and board also tuned in to learn about the pathogen’s methods of spread, life cycle, and facilitation by certain resistant species of amphibian.

To give a very brief look at the content, the presentation covered the background, life cycle, and spread of this fungal pathogen, followed by a case study I completed for my M.S. thesis. This study examined the facilitation of the pathogen by none other than American bullfrogs* to other species of amphibians in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. This phenomena of American bullfrogs as a potential host vector for the fungal pathogen has been studied all over the world, looking at environments where bullfrogs have been introduced, either intentionally or unintentionally. The hardy American bullfrog can often withstand the deleterious effects of the fungal pathogen and the disease it causes, while many smaller amphibians are not so lucky.

So how does this all wrap back around to our mission here at NeighborSpace? The key is land conservation. As many of our readers already know, our fast-paced, industrious way of life threatens natural habitats in various ways, with commercial development, pollutants, waste, invasive species, and climate change putting a strain on populations of plants and animals. These variables and more reduce a population’s chances of survival, thereby making them more susceptible to novel infectious diseases. Therefore, it is paramount that we continue to focus on protecting and restoring our natural environments, in order to give plants and animals a fighting chance not only in the present, but the future as well.

NeighborSpace would like to thank Rebecca Baldwin and the NHSM Herpetology club for this presentation opportunity! If you’re interested in learning more about amphibian chytrid and the Herptofauna at NeighborSpace sites, please send an email to conor@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org .

*It’s important to note that American bullfrogs are in fact native to the eastern United States, and therefore play an important role in our local ecosystems. Always treat them with respect when you see them! It goes to show that any plant and animal can become problematic when introduced outside of its range, including our own native species.

Adelaide Bentley’s Edible Forest

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:38:00 GMT

Our edible forest at Adelaide Bentley park has weathered the hot summer months and is looking great! The persimmon, black cherry, and pawpaw trees continue to grow upwards, slowly but surely reaching for the canopy as they leaf out in a beautiful manner. The elderberry, blueberry, and black chokeberry have begun to put out new shoots and even fruit, providing the local wildlife with a new source of food. Our hazelnut and beech plums are doing equally well thanks to the rain storms and consistent waterings of the past few months.

The fruiting trees and shrubs are not the only successful highlight of our edible forest so far. Several hundred perennials were also planted in late May around many of the new food forest plantings, including hoary mountain mint, cardinal flower, swamp milkweed, and spotted bee balm, the last of which is starting to bloom right now! These perennials form an important layer in the new edible forest by growing out and protecting the ground level from invasive plant encroachment. This works in conjunction with the shrub and tree layer planted, which will grow up and out to discourage invasive plants in those respective layers of our forest ecosystem. The perennial species chosen also provide an important source of food and shelter for native pollinator species.

While the trees, shrubs, and perennials are thriving, they will need continued watering, maintenance, and care throughout the fall, and indeed over the course of the next year or two while they establish themselves. NeighborSpace staff is currently seeing to the needs of our food forest ecosystem in coordination with the Wiltondale Garden Club, but more help is always appreciated! Invasive vines need to be clipped off the new plantings at regular intervals, and the space around each new plant needs to be cleared of invasive plants so that it has room to grow and spread. If you’re interested in helping take care of this wonderful new feature at Adelaide Bentley park, feel free to reach out to me via email at conor@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org ! I would be happy to demonstrate watering, weeding, and give information about the prime fruiting seasons of each plant.

Be sure to stop by at Adelaide Bentley over the next few weeks to see the edible forest plantings and all the blooming goldenrod, asters, bee balm, and other flowering plants!

Building Climate Resilience in Turner Station: Barrels, Bayscapes, and Beyond

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:30:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is proud to be a partner in the Community Climate Resilience Project in Turner Station , funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Coastal Resilience Fund. Working alongside Baltimore County, the Turner Station Conservation Teams (TSCT), The Nature Conservancy, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the project’s goal is to create a community-informed roadmap of solutions to address chronic flooding in this historic waterfront community.

NeighborSpace’s Role

Since October 2023, NeighborSpace has been leading community engagement efforts, building on our longstanding partnership with TSCT through the conservation of Chestnut Park. Our role has included conducting a community-wide survey , with 140 residents participating, to better understand the social, economic, and health impacts of flooding. Residents also submitted photographs of flooding events, which Baltimore County used to help calibrate a new hydrologic model. Together, this community knowledge and technical data have informed the Turner Station Resilience Roadmap , which will be released this fall.

Barrels & Bayscapes: Hands-On Resilience at Home

While larger-scale infrastructure projects are in the works, NeighborSpace and TSCT are committed to delivering immediate, practical solutions residents can implement at home. This summer, we launched our Barrels & Bayscapes initiative with a community event on July 26th.

At the event, residents learned how to:

Install and care for rain barrels, which capture and store stormwater for later use. Participants could sign up for a free rain barrel and installation kit.
Plant a bayscape garden, replacing small patches of lawn with native plants that absorb up to 40 times more stormwater than turf grass. These gardens not only reduce standing water but also attract pollinators and bring seasonal color to yards. We gave away bayscape kits that included 24 native plants, compost, mulch, watering tools, and an installation and care guide.
Add trees for shade and stormwater absorption. Thirty native trees, including redbuds, serviceberries, and sweetbay magnolias, were distributed.

Residents also had the opportunity to sign up for professional bayscape garden installations. NeighborSpace is partnering with Wildside Nursery to install 12 residential bayscape gardens this fall, building on our previous collaborations to install the pollinator garden at Graystone Open Space and residential pollinator patches in the Greenbrier and Dunmore neighborhoods.

Starting Small and Scaling Up

Small-scale, home-based practices like rain barrels and bayscape gardens may not solve flooding alone, but they can:

Empower residents to take action.
Beautify yards and community spaces.
Demonstrate small-scale, practical, affordable, and effective stormwater management practices.

Together, these projects build momentum for the larger infrastructure solutions identified in the Resilience Roadmap.

Looking Ahead

Baltimore County is actively pursuing funding to bring the Resilience Roadmap’s larger projects, such as upgraded storm drains and bioretention facilities, to life.

In the News

This project, NeighborSpace’s work with TSCT and the community, and Turner Station’s historical struggle against flooding were recently featured in The Nature Conservancy’s national magazine. You can read the article here: Life at Water’s Edge .

Mapping, Monitoring, and Restoring: The Next Step in Forest Conservation

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 11:49:00 GMT

NeighborSpace has developed and launched a detailed Forest Health Assessment to understand the ecological conditions of the forests we protect. This process involves mapping the site, surveying the variety of plants and animals through a community-driven “bioblitz,” and examining different layers of the forest, from the tallest trees to the ground cover. We also look closely at soil quality, signs of disease or pests, and human impacts like foot traffic, soil compaction, or litter.

These findings help us rate the overall health of the forest, identify challenges like invasive species, and guide restoration efforts. By pinpointing which areas need the most care and selecting the best native plants to support local wildlife, we can create thoughtful restoration plans that protect and improve these valuable natural spaces for the community and future generations.

We are very grateful for the support and guidance from Francis Smith of the Maryland DNR. This month, Francis joined our staff onsite at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve to fine-tune parts of the forest health assessment, including conducting a walkthrough to identify dominant tree species and potential focus areas for restoration.

Tollgate Wyndham Preserve is a relatively young forest that has grown following a period of development. It is primarily dominated by poplars, maples, and hickories. The park also features a wetland area near the stream that supports native plants such as skunk cabbage, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and jewelweed.

Like many urban forests, the understory at Tollgate Wyndham has been impacted by deer browsing. While a healthy population of spicebush, which deer tend to avoid, thrives throughout the preserve, the understory overall needs greater diversity to enhance biodiversity and improve habitat quality.

Our ongoing restoration plans include fencing off saplings of black gums, hollies, and oaks to protect them, as well as planting understory trees in areas where invasive species have been removed. These efforts build on last fall’s planting of 20 understory trees and represent a continued commitment to restoring the preserve’s ecosystem.

To develop this assessment, we researched protocols used by conservation groups such as Maryland DNR and Baltimore Green Space. Our approach is unique because the data will be collected by volunteers working alongside our staff as part of our community science programs. The assessment tools are scientifically designed to provide meaningful insights for restoration recommendations and are tailored for volunteer implementation.

Stay tuned for information on how to get involved and volunteer this fall! If you would like to be notified of our Fall Forest Health Volunteer Training, please complete this form: Volunteer Interest Form- Forest Health Assessment .

Meet Our Forests

NeighborSpace conserves 5 forested sites, 2 forest patches, and 2 additional forested sites protected through private conservation easements.

Tollgate-Wyndham Preserve

Tollgate-Wyndham Preserve is a 7-acre urban forest in Owings Mills. Once part of a family farm, the land has remained undeveloped and now features wooded hillsides, wetlands, mulched trails, and an outdoor classroom. The preserve supports native wildlife and plant species, including mature maples and tulip poplars, and plays an important role in managing stormwater and filtering runoff into the nearby Gwynns Falls tributary. Community members, schools, and volunteers help care for the space through stewardship activities like invasive species removal and educational programs.

Volz Park

NeighborSpace holds a conservation easement on Volz Park, a 15.8-acre urban forest in Middle River donated in 2007 by Lydia and Charles Volz. Once part of the Volz family farm, the park is now permanently protected and open to the public. It features a rich diversity of native plants, including mature trees, ferns, shrubs, and spring ephemeral wildflowers.

Levickas Woods at Dunmore

Levickas Woods at Dunmore is a 6.7-acre protected forest in Catonsville, featuring mature oaks and beeches, wetlands, and a tributary of Herbert Run. The site provides important habitat for birds, deer, and other wildlife, while serving as a natural buffer and stormwater filter for the surrounding neighborhood. Donated as a conservation easement in 2014, the woods are permanently protected for their ecological value and recreational use. Local trails wind through the forest, offering residents a peaceful place to explore, while ongoing stewardship addresses erosion, invasive species, and habitat preservation.

Sawmill Branch

Sawmill Branch is an 11-acre wooded property in Catonsville that features steep slopes, wetlands, and a tributary of the Patapsco River known as Pierpont’s Run. The site holds historical significance with remnants of a 19th-century sawmill, gristmill, and a hand-built stone dam. Once remediated for contamination, the land is now used as passive open space and offers habitat for local wildlife while helping to preserve forest and stream buffers. Neighboring homes and proximity to Patapsco Valley State Park make it a valuable green space for both ecological conservation and community enjoyment.

Norman Creek

Norman Creek is a 4.5-acre wooded property in Essex that serves as a vital green buffer near the Chesapeake Bay and the Middle River Watershed. Located next to the Cottages at Norman Creek neighborhood, it offers mature forest, walking trails, and supports local stormwater management efforts. Though bordered by residential development, the site remains undeveloped and provides important ecological value as part of the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. NeighborSpace protects this land to preserve open space, forest health, and habitat in a fast-growing suburban area.

Cherry Heights Woodland Garden (Forest Patch)

Cherry Heights Woodland Garden is a small, wooded open space located on Beech Avenue in Overlea, Baltimore County. Once part of a natural creek corridor, the site still supports mature trees and offers a quiet green buffer in a residential neighborhood. Community efforts are helping to address invasive plants like English ivy and prevent dumping, preserving the garden’s ecological value. Though small, this forest patch provides important habitat and a peaceful retreat for local residents.

Adelaide Bentley Park (Forest Patch)

Adelaide Bentley Park is located in Historic East Towson. NeighborSpace acquired the land in 2007 to preserve it as open space and named it after community leader Adelaide Bentley in 2013. The park features both upland and wetland habitats and a substantial and diverse tree canopy. Local groups have helped turn the park into a welcoming community space with native plants, a walking trail, and a performance stage, all stewarded by volunteers.

Happy New Year!

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:33:00 GMT

Happy new year!

More details will be provided in NeighborSpace’s Annual Report, which will be mailed to members in September, but here is a sneak peek of the organization’s FY25 accomplishments and its plans for FY26. If you would like to receive the Annual Report but are not yet a member, you can donate here .

In FY25, NeighborSpace worked with National Park Service experts and a dedicated group of stakeholders to lay the foundation for a Strategic Conservation Plan. We will build on this work in FY26 by soliciting additional stakeholder input and drafting the final Plan. Although NeighborSpace didn’t add any new properties to its portfolio last year, there is one easement in the pipeline that we are currently working to protect together with Maryland Environmental Trust.

NeighborSpace completed a large and varied number of restoration and stewardship projects in the past year, including the installation of a large pollinator garden at Graystone Community Open Space, planting of more than 100 trees at multiple sites, the installation of an edible forest at Adelaide Bentley Park, professional and volunteer invasive removal in three riparian forest buffers, meadow restoration at Ridgely Manor Park, and of course the continued maintenance of all parks. We also hosted two sessions of our new Neighbors for Native Plants course, many educational and hands-on stewardship events, and put on NeighborSpace’s first live music series with partners! These initiatives will all be offered again in FY26.

During the legislative session, NeighborSpace increased its advocacy for land conservation funding and policy, engaging with both state and federal legislators. We will continue to speak up together with colleagues for a greener, cleaner future in urban Baltimore County and beyond.

NeighborSpace is effective because of its network of donors, volunteers, partners and supporters. Thank you – for telling your friends and family about NeighborSpace, for volunteering with us, for supporting us financially. I hope you share my excitement for what lies ahead and that you’ll join us for a program or project in FY26!

Group Volunteering in July

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:33:00 GMT

Volunteer support from neighbors and the community constitutes a cherished resource for non-profit organizations like NeighborSpace. Consistent help is key in order to address the ongoing needs of sites, not to mention the number of proactive projects we continue to implement in our green spaces for wildlife and the local community. July saw two passionate and driven volunteer groups join with NeighborSpace staff and board members in an effort to keep our green spaces beautiful and inviting. Interns from Stanley Black and Decker aided in the removal of invasive plant species at Adelaide Bentley Park in Historic East Towson, while volunteers from Union Church removed trash and cleaned graffiti from trees at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve in Owings Mills.

As some of our readers may know, NeighborSpace installed an edible forest at Adelaide Bentley Park in the late spring in an effort to provide fresh fruits for wildlife and community members, and I’m pleased to report that the plantings are continuing to grow and some are even producing fruit this season! The group from Stanley Black and Decker directly aided our fledgling food forest by removing four whole bags of invasive vines from around new plantings, giving those shrubs and trees room to breathe and grow.

Over at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve, the persistent rainstorms we’ve had over the past few weeks had washed debris and trash into the park. Despite the heat and Maryland summer humidity, volunteers from Union Church cleaned 6 whole bags of trash from around benches, paths, and the stream, including an old car tire! They also cleaned graffiti from several large tulip poplar trees, restoring the overall natural beauty of the site.

The staff and board at NeighborSpace would like to extend a huge thank you to both volunteer groups for donating their time and energy towards the beautification of our parks. We couldn’t have done it without them! If you know of an organization or are part of one that might be interested in volunteering with us, feel free to get in touch! We would love to host you for a work day at one of our parks, and who knows, you might just find a new favorite local green space!

Introducing Two New Board Members!

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:04:00 GMT

Arkia Wade

Arkia Wade is the Executive Director and Founder of Neighborhood Companions Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life in Turner Station, a historic African American community in Baltimore County.

As President of the Baltimore County Arts Guild Board and Treasurer of the Turner Station Conservation Teams, Arkia promotes cultural and community revitalization. She also leads a local Girl Scouts Troop and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Psi Phi Omega Chapter.

Inspired by her grandfather, a trailblazing physician who served Turner Station, Arkia’s work supports the elderly while addressing social and environmental challenges. She holds a BA in Marketing and Sociology from The College of William and Mary and enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.

Carlton Sexton

Carlton is a lifelong resident of Baltimore County, presently living in West Towson, and retired from a career as a diagnostic radiologist at Union Memorial Hospital.

In his community work, he has focused on parks and waterways in the city and in the county, on the Board of Blue Water Baltimore, and on The Lake Roland Nature Council. He has cleaned streams and pulled invasives. He has worked in Development and represented the local Amateur Gardeners Club at the D.C. National Affairs and Legislation Meeting.

Although he and his wife Betsy travel to Oakland, California for four months a year to be with their two sons and four grandchildren, his environmental home is Baltimore. He wants to help NeighborSpace succeed in bringing the fascinating and rejuvenating natural world of suburban parks to his neighbors.

Neighborhood Pollinator Patch Installations

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:18:00 GMT

Summer is here! The days are heating up, flowers are in bloom, and pollinators of all shapes and sizes are perusing our gardens for nectar and habitat. You may have noticed that bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds tend to prefer certain flowering plants in your garden while avoiding others. Most likely, many of those preferred plants are native species! Our native pollinators, like the American Lady and the Baltimore Checkerspot tend to visit plants that are familiar to them, while eschewing unfamiliar, non-native plants. Sadly, many of our home gardens are planted with non-native, ornamental plants, which offer no benefits to the pollinators we know and love. In an effort to raise awareness about the important role that native plants play in pollinator success, NeighborSpace offered pollinator patch installations in the Greenbriar and Dunmore communities of Towson and Catonsville respectively.

A total of 9 neighbors agreed to have a portion of their front lawns converted to beautiful gardens full of native plants that our pollinators thrive on. Species such as Sambucus canadensis (Elderberry), Eurybia divaricata (White Wood Aster), Chelone glabra (White Turtlehead), Monarda punctata (Spotted Beebalm), and Pycnanthemum incanum (Hoary Mountain Mint) were planted, just to name a few. Victor Bennett of Wildside Nursery donated these plants and his time to help NeighborSpace staff make these pollinator patches a reality.

In addition, a pollinator garden was installed at Greystone Community Open Space last fall, one of NeighborSpaces parks in the Woodlawn area. This patch of native plants not only provides benefits for our native pollinators, but adds a strikingly beautiful feature that is visible when passing by on Gwynn Oak Avenue.

So far, we’ve talked about why native plants are important for pollinators. What then, makes pollinators so important for ecosystem health? Besides being critical in the successful reproduction of a multitude of flowering perennials and other plant species, pollinators and their larvae make up an integral part of native food webs. Without them, a critical source of food for young birds, mammals, and other critters would disappear, creating a cascading effect throughout the environment! Each aspect of our local ecosystems is important for a healthy and functioning environment.

Interested in learning more about pollinator gardens? Reach out to us via email at info@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org or through our website for more information!

June Live Music + Art Event Series!

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:28:00 GMT

Throughout June, NeighborSpace hosted multiple live music and art events at our parks, in partnership with the Baltimore County Arts Guild and funded by a grant from the Baltimore County Commission on Arts and Sciences. Starting on June 6th, NeighborSpace and Ridgely Manor Community Association hosted a Friday evening full of music at Ridgely Manor Park in Towson. Park neighbors and NeighborSpace supporters and staff gathered on the lawn and enjoyed a lively set by Celtic band Galway Strays!

The following weekend, the Northeast Towson Improvement Association, with support from NeighborSpace, hosted a neighborhood Paint ‘n Sip event. Neighbors of all ages gathered for the painting class at Carver Community Center in Towson. Participants were guided through the steps of painting elephants, resulting in a room full of vibrant multicolored masterpieces!

Finally (for this series, at least!), on June 21st, NeighborSpace and Graystone Community Association hosted a community celebration at Graystone Community Open Space in Woodlawn! Neighbors gathered for a summer afternoon outdoors, participating in a community art project and enjoying live music by Patrick Alban and his Buena Vistas band.

Thank you to everyone who assisted and attended these events! It was wonderful to witness communities coming together to enjoy music, art, the outdoors, and each other. One of our live music and art series events had to be cancelled due to inclement weather. We are hoping to reschedule that event in August – stay tuned for details!

Wildflower Walk

Thu, 29 May 2025 12:51:00 GMT

If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know that Volz Neighborhood Park, NeighborSpace’s 14-acre forested site in Middle River, is home to a large variety of native plant species. Late last month, NeighborSpace treated its Conservation Champions to an exclusive “wildflower walk” in Volz Park.

We were extremely fortunate to have not one but two native plant experts share their knowledge with us:

Native plant expert Judy Fulton guided the walk, stopping to draw attention to interesting specimens and to point out identifying characteristics of different species. Judy is Vice President of the Maryland Native Plant Society, and a member of the Maryland Invasive Species Council and the Board of the Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council. During recent Maryland legislative sessions, she helped to write and pass the 2023 Maryland Native Plants Program and the 2024 Maryland Invasive Plant bill. In addition, she has co-authored the widely recognized Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas – Field Guide , which NeighborSpace uses as a resource in its Neighbors for Native Plants course.

Lisa Kuder started us off with definitions, shared information about the Maryland Native Plants Program, and answered questions about gardening with natives. Lisa is the new Native Plants and Landscapes specialist at the University of Maryland Extension. She is responsible for rolling out the Maryland Native Plants Program, legislated by the aforementioned 2023 bill and designed to increase the understanding of the importance and supply of native plants in Maryland.

Of all the native species identified during the Wildflower Walk, the Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron periclymenoides) in full bloom was likely the showiest.

Judy pointed out different characteristics to look for when distinguishing between fern species, such as tapering of the leaf, a clumping or spreading habit, and the shape of the pinnae (“leaflets”). We counted 7 different fern species at Volz Park.

Left to right: A type of Lady Fern ; Sensitive Fern, so called because it dies back at the first touch of cold ; a type of Wood Fern ; Christmas Fern, Maryland’s most common evergreen fern

Volz Park is home to hundreds of Jack-in-the-Pulpits. This unique native plant prefers consistently moist, rich soil and can live for over 25 years. It has the ability to change from male to female (and back again) depending on growing conditions from year to year.

The spring ephemerals are fading away again but I look forward to returning to Volz Park throughout the spring and summer to see the ferns leafed out and the pepperbush in full bloom!

Interested in opportunities like these? Become a member of NeighborSpace’s Giving Circle! Conservation Champions are donors who give $1,000 or more in a year. Contact Phyllis at phyllis@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org or (443) 850-2756 to learn more.

Neighbors for Native Plants in Spring 2025

Thu, 29 May 2025 12:16:00 GMT

The beginning of this month saw the completion of the final practical session for our Spring 2025 Neighbors for Native Plants course! With this, all 15 neighbors who signed up for the course are certified to remove and replace invasive plants on NeighborSpace, residential, and community-owned properties around the Baltimore County area.

The overall goal of this course was to 1) identify and differentiate native and non-native plant species, 2) understand the importance of native species, 3) develop practical invasive species management, and 4) apply sustainable landscaping and planting techniques. In order to effectively teach these principles, we split the course into two separate segments. The first portion of the course consisted of two classroom meetings at the Irvine Nature Center where NeighborSpace staff, aided by the knowledge and advice of Don Callihan (Board Vice President at Gunpowder Falls Conservancy), led participants through a systematic process of native and non-native plant identification. The beneficial characteristics of prominent native plants were contrasted with the harmful effects of non-native invasive species often found in the area. Participants were then encouraged to create a plan for the removal of harmful non-native plants in their own yards and community properties, with NeighborSpace staff making suggestions of beneficial native plant replacements. Instruction on how and when to properly remove non-native invasive plants was discussed during classroom portions of the course.

The second portion of the course consisted of an outdoor classroom experience followed by a practical workshop, both held at our Tollgate-Wyndham site in Owings Mills. This provided participants with hands-on experience that put their recently acquired knowledge of native and invasive plant species to the test. Non-native invasive plants discussed during the previous part of the course were identified in the field by participants and subsequently removed. In addition, course members learned how to identify and avoid native poison ivy while working in the woods.

We’d like to thank all of the wonderful folks who signed up for the course and whose enthusiasm for learning made the experience a joy for the staff at NeighborSpace! Rusty Rothenburg, one of the course members, said “I really felt I learned a good introduction to native plants in Baltimore County, and I will sign up to learn more!” It’s thoughtful comments like these that inspire us to continue doing the work we do throughout Baltimore county. We would also like to thank Don Callihan for his invaluable help and support in teaching and running the course.

For those of you who missed the class this time around, don’t worry! We are offering the course again this upcoming fall. For those interested, reach out to info@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org for more information. We hope to see you there!

NeighborSpace House Party

Thu, 29 May 2025 11:59:00 GMT

Gratefully dodging rainstorms, NeighborSpace hosted a house party on Thursday, May 22nd. Over 50 attendees gathered in Catonsville at the home of former Board President Klaus Philipsen and his wife Nayna, who graciously offered their space for the event. It was exciting to see a variety of NeighborSpace supporters, from state and county officials to park stewards and neighborhood members, gathering together to discuss the importance and effects of open green space in our local communities.

After a few words from Executive Director Phyllis Joris and new Board President Pat Keller, and a retrospective on Klaus’ Board tenure by longtime Board member Kathy Martin, three park stewardship partners addressed the crowd. Edie Brooks of Chestnut Park in Turner Station, Cliff Palmer of Levickas Woods in Catonsville, and Aaron Barnett of Powhatan Park in Woodlawn shared stories of their respective parks and discussed the importance of these green open spaces to their communities.

NeighborSpace would like to thank everyone who attended this event, and every one of our supporters, for your time, your attention, and your voice. We appreciate the tremendous effort involved in creating and maintaining open spaces in Baltimore County, and we could not do this work without you. Thank you!

Apply to Be a Volunteer Bird Monitor with NeighborSpace!

Thu, 29 May 2025 11:59:00 GMT

Do you love birding and want to support local conservation efforts? NeighborSpace is currently seeking experienced birders to help monitor bird activity in our protected green spaces throughout Baltimore County.

As a Volunteer Bird Monitor, you’ll play a key role in collecting data to help establish a baseline understanding of the bird species present in our parks and to track changes and migratory patterns over time.

What’s Involved?

Volunteer Bird Monitors will…

Visit a designated NeighborSpace site once a month
Complete and submit a birding checklist
Commit to monitoring the same site for a minimum of 3 months

You may choose to work solo or as part of a small team, sharing monthly observations and data collection. All volunteers will receive training before beginning their assignments.

Upcoming Training Session

To get started, volunteers must attend a virtual training session:

Thursday, December 11, 7-8p

Link to Google Meet

We will offer an in-person training in March 2026. Stay tuned for more details!

New to Birding?

No problem! We welcome enthusiastic beginners. In addition to attending a training session, volunteers with limited experience will be asked to complete a self-paced course: A Beginner’s Guide to Birding & Citizen Science , offered through the University of Maryland Extension.

Ready to Get Involved?

Complete the Bird Monitoring Volunteer Application, before or after training:
Apply Now

Join us in protecting and learning from the natural spaces that make NeighborSpace parks special!

Volunteer With Us – City Nature Challenge 2025

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:04:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is excited to participate in the City Nature Challenge again this year, and we need your help! Volunteers are invited to photograph wildlife and plants in NeighborSpace parks to contribute to this global community science event.

Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or simply curious about the nature in your neighborhood, the City Nature Challenge is a great way to connect with the outdoors and support scientific research. At NeighborSpace, the data collected through this initiative (as well as other bioblitzes and community science surveys) helps us document biodiversity across our 21 protected sites in Baltimore County. These observations inform our stewardship and restoration efforts to enhance wildlife habitat, plant diversity, and the urban tree canopy.

The City Nature Challenge is an annual event encouraging people worldwide to document urban biodiversity using the free iNaturalist app. Since launching in 2016 as a friendly competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco, it has expanded to hundreds of cities globally. This year, the observation window runs from April 25 to April 28 , with time to upload and identify observations from April 29 to May 4 .

Volunteer Opportunity

Sign up to participate by observing and recording nature in one or more NeighborSpace parks. We encourage volunteers to set a time goal, such as 30 minutes or an hour, for a bioblitz . A bioblitz is where individuals or groups aim to document as many species as possible in a short time. You can record plants, animals, fungi, or signs of wildlife such as tracks, nests, or burrows.

Individuals and groups are welcome. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

Most Observations
Most NeighborSpace Parks Visited
Most Plants
Most Birds
Most Insects

How to Participate

Download the iNaturalist app and create a free account (or sign in at iNaturalist.org ).
Visit a NeighborSpace park and take photos of plants, animals, or other organisms using the app
Try to identify your observations. If you’re not sure, upload your photo without a genus or species identification; others in the iNaturalist community can help.

Need Help Getting Started?

Contact:
Amanda Glassco
Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator
NeighborSpace of Baltimore County
amanda@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org
812.374.9923

BioBlitz Workshop

New to iNaturalist? Want a refresher before the event? Join us for a BioBlitz workshop.

Friday, April 25
5:00–6:30 PM
Carroll Watkins Park
(next to 5830 Flannery Ln, Gwynn Oak, MD 21207)

Register for the Workshop

April Events at NeighborSpace!

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:44:00 GMT

Spring Ephemerals

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 12:43:00 GMT

As spring warmth and sunshine increase around the region, observant residents can start to spot spring ephemeral blooms among the early plant growth.

According to the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, an ephemeral plant “in botany, [is] any short-lived plant, usually one that has one or more generations per year, growing only during favourable periods (as when adequate moisture is available) and passing the unfavourable periods in the form of seeds.”

Spring ephemerals in Maryland are woodland wildflowers that quickly emerge, bloom, reproduce, and die back in the spring, usually within a span of only a few weeks. They start growing as soon as there is enough light reaching the forest floor in early spring, living their entire life span in the sweet spot between winter freeze and summer heat, and providing some of the earliest food for pollinators coming out of dormancy.

Some spring ephemerals you might find in Baltimore County include: Virginia springbeauty (Claytonia virginica) , Dutchman’s breeches ( Dicentra cucullaria ), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) , Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) , Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) , Cutleaf toothwort ( Cardamine concatenata ), and White Trillium ( Trillium grandiflorum ).

Clockwise from upper left corner:

Cutleaf toothwort (photo by Robert Severynse of Native Plant Scapes, https://nativeplantscapes.com/ )
Dutchman’s breeches (photo by Matthew Beziat, submitted to Maryland Diversity Project, https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/ )
Virginia bluebells (photo by Sean McCandless, submitted to Maryland Diversity Project, https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/ )
White trillium (photo by Jim Brighton, submitted to Maryland Diversity Project, https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/ )
Mayapple (photo by NeighborSpace, taken in Volz Neighborhood Park)
Bloodroot (photo by Kerry Wixted, submitted to Maryland Diversity Project, https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/ )
Virginia springbeauty (photo by Kimberly Booth, submitted to Maryland Diversity Project, https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/ )

Stream Monitoring for Restoration

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 11:19:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is excited to launch a Stream Monitoring Protocol to assess streams in our forest buffer sites. NeighborSpace conserves five sites, totaling 45 acres, that serve as stream buffers: Levickas Woods and Sawmill Branch in Catonsville, Tollgate Wyndham Preserve in Owings Mills, Volz Neighborhood Park in Middle River, and Norman Creek Park in Essex. This initiative, funded by a Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), is modeled on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stream monitoring program and will help NeighborSpace track long-term changes in water quality and habitat conditions.

What is a Stream Buffer?

A stream buffer is a vegetated area along a stream that helps maintain water quality, stabilize banks, and support biodiversity.

Why Stream Buffers Matter

Healthy stream buffers provide a number of ecosystem services and benefits to water quality and human health. Vegetation along the stream absorbs and filters pollutants, such as excess nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment, from stormwater before they reach the stream. Plants also help reduce erosion; plants with deep root systems stabilize the soil and prevent sedimentation. Buffers also regulate water temperature. The vegetation provides shade, keeping water cooler and maintaining oxygen levels needed for fish and aquatic life. Additionally, natural leaf litter, woody debris, and roots create shelter and habitat for fish and insects.

Our team recently completed the first stream assessment at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve. We plan to conduct assessments annually to monitor changes over time. The stream running through Tollgate is an unnamed branch of the Upper Gwynns Falls. Overall, the stream health received a score of “fair” due to erosion in some areas, as well as concerns about sedimentation and nutrient pollution from stormwater runoff. The stream scored well in healthy vegetated buffer areas, aquatic habitats, and presence of macroinvertebrates. These findings suggest that the stream is providing habitat, cooling the water, and providing ecosystem benefits. The assessment also highlights the need for stronger riparian buffers and stormwater management solutions to reduce erosion and run-off to improve long-term water quality.

Restoration Methods: Science-Backed Solutions

NeighborSpace is using the results from stream assessments at our riparian buffer sites to inform our ongoing restoration efforts. Our restoration efforts focus on stabilizing streambanks, filtering pollutants, and enhancing habitat. One area of focus is strengthening riparian buffers by planting native trees and perennials such as red maple, sycamore, river birch, spicebush, and elderberry to anchor soil and absorb excess pollutants. These plants also provide habitat for wildlife.

One method to increase vegetation is live staking, a planting method which involves inserting plant stems and branch cuttings directly into the soil along streambanks. You can live stake with specific species, such as silky dogwood, black willow, and buttonbush, along streambanks. These plants take root quickly, stabilizing soil and preventing erosion.

We will also be considering upstream stormwater management solutions like rain gardens and bioswales to slow and filter runoff, capturing pollutants before they enter the stream. Additionally, post-assessment restoration efforts may include improving in-stream habitat by retaining natural leaf litter and fallen branches that support macroinvertebrate populations. These conditions create pools and slow water flow to improve conditions for fish and aquatic insects.

How You Can Get Involved

After conducting our initial set of stream assessments this year, NeighborSpace will be seeking volunteers to assist with future stream monitoring, macroinvertebrate surveys, and restoration plantings. You can also join us at this spring’s Stewardship Saturdays at the following forest buffer sites to learn more about stream buffers, wildlife, and participate in stream restoration plantings.

Saturday, April 19th – Earth Week Celebration – Levickas Woods at Dunmore in Catonsville

Saturday, May 10th – Bird Bash – Volz Neighborhood Park in Middle River

Saturday, June 7th – Buffer Day – Tollgate Wyndham Preserve in Owings Mills

March Herpetology Walks

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:46:00 GMT

Calling all Herpetology fans! The month of March has brought with it some warmer weather and increased rainfall! These are the perfect conditions for many of our amphibians and reptiles (i.e., Herps) to wake up and show their faces. Frogs, toads, and salamanders alike are beginning to make the journey from their winter homes in the forest to vernal pools near you, while turtles and garter snakes sun themselves on logs or the forest floor. Vernal pools are shallow depressional areas in the ground that fill with snow melt and rainfall during the spring, providing critical breeding habitat for many of our native amphibian species. Without these vernal pools, many of our favorite species would be barred from reproducing, and beautiful creatures like the Spring Peeper, Wood Frog, American Toad, and Spotted Salamander would be in dire straits. NeighborSpace is proud to provide habitat for native reptiles and amphibians at many of our sites, including Volz Neighborhood Park, Levickas Woods at Dunmore, and Tollgate Wyndham Preserve, providing protected habitat for Maryland Herps for decades to come.

Reptiles and amphibians are an extremely valuable part of our local ecosystems, feeding on a plethora of plants, invertebrates, and vertebrate species. They also provide sustenance for many of our mesopredators (medium sized predators) and birds of prey. Without them, our intricate food webs would be severely degraded, and our parks and wildlands would follow soon after.

Common garter snake found during Norman Creek Herpetology Walk!

As an organization, we would like to have a better idea of the fantastic flora and fauna at each of our conserved sites. To do this, we are creating a running catalogue of native species observations to better inform the stewardship of our parks. To discover more about our sites, we joined with the Natural History Society of Maryland’s Herpetology club this past month to explore some of our riparian (stream adjacent) parks in search of Herps. We discovered several common garter snakes and a few eastern redback salamanders. We also heard several Spring peepers beginning to call from temporary ponds. As rain continues to fall and temperatures continue to rise, we will see more of our little friends out and about. The next few weeks are a great time to get out and see some of our spring Herps, such as the Spring Peeper, Box Turtle, Common Garter Snake, and American Toad. As we move closer to the summer months, keep an eye and ear out for Green Frogs, Gray’s Treefrogs, and American Bullfrogs as they start calling.

If you’d like to join us for a Herp Hike over the next several months, feel free to get in touch! Send your interest and any questions you might have to conor@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org , or keep an eye out for flyers!

Volunteer Spotlight: Mike Strzelecki

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:26:00 GMT

NeighborSpace would like to thank volunteer and Levickas Woods park steward Mike Strzelecki for his leadership and his outreach for work days at Levickas Woods in Catonsville. Mike and his wife Kelly also conducted bird surveys at three of our forested sites recently. The surveys will help establish a baseline understanding which bird species call our urban forests home.

“I am a preservationist, and the most efficient way to preserve open space is to procure the land and groom it in a manner that best suits its conservation purposes. NeighborSpace are experts in this process. They are an invaluable resource for the preservation of local lands for future generations.” -Mike Strzelecki

Volz Park Winter Tree Walk

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 13:56:00 GMT

by: Briana Golding, Intern

Thank you to the volunteers who joined NeighborSpace and Natural Resources Planner Francis Smith for our Volz Park Winter Tree Walk earlier this month!

Volunteers had the pleasure of touring Volz Park while learning interesting, insightful facts about the trees that call the park “home”. Natural Resources Planner Francis Smith guided volunteers through one of the park’s main trails and gave expert insight on forest management. Francis is a trusted partner of NeighborSpace, who has worked with the Department of Natural Resources and expanded his expertise over the years. During the tour, volunteers were taught how to identify certain tree species and the efforts that need to be taken to conserve them.

When it comes to forest management, Francis emphasizes the importance of invasive management. For healthy, abundant forests such as Volz, invasive plant species are a critical threat to the ecosystem. To fight against these pesky plants, he suggested getting to know your invasives and the native plants that can be re-introduced to repair the ecosystem. Luckily the diverse trees and shrubs at Volz Park help to maintain a healthy balance. Shrubs like the Spicebush play an important role in protecting the area from the spread of invasives and possible damage to young trees caused by deer.

The work doesn’t end with invasives! To keep forests like Volz healthy, environmentalists of all levels must help to maintain the environment. You may not perform stream or forest assessments like Francis, but you can remove litter and invasives. NeighborSpace is excited to work with Francis in the future to continue conserving Baltimore County’s forests!

Featured fun facts:

Volz is home to various trees including: Black gum, Sweet gum, Red maple, Willow oak, and Beech trees (but you see primarily maple and gum trees!)
Deer hate Spicebush, but that doesn’t mean you can’t love it! Try steeping the twigs in water to make tea, or try seasoning your meal with the berries next time you spot a Spicebush.
Look out for Black gum ( Nyssa Sylvanica ). It can be recognized by its horizontal branching pattern and its distinct “crocodile” bark!
Liquidamber Stryaciflua ( commonly known as “Sweet gum”) was given its name based on the liquid under the bark that Native Americans used for gum.
Next time you run out of toilet paper in the forest, find a Swamp White Oak! Their leaves are surprisingly soft !

2025 Stewardship Luncheon

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 13:12:00 GMT

In late January, NeighborSpace hosted our third annual Stewardship Luncheon at Matthew’s 1600 restaurant in Catonsville. Initially conceived as a way to thank our stewardship partners for all of their hard work, the luncheon has also proven a way to foster communication and cooperation between various park stewards from park sites across Baltimore County.

Stewardship partners are absolutely vital to the work that NeighborSpace does. They are neighborhood leaders who donate hours of their time and energy to acquire, design, construct, and – most importantly – maintain their neighborhood sites. Alongside staff and Board members, we were fortunate enough to have representatives from eight NeighborSpace parks in attendance: Carroll Watkins Park, Chestnut Park, Graystone Community Open Space, Greenbrier Memorial Garden, Levickas Woods at Dunmore, Newburg Park, Powhatan Park, and Tollgate Wyndham Preserve.

We cannot thank our stewardship partners enough for all of your hard work, this year and every year. We are excited to join you all outside in 2025!

NeighborSpace Launches New Environmental Site Assessment Protocol

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 13:12:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is taking a big step forward in urban land stewardship with the launch of our new Environmental Site Assessment Protocol. This initiative aims to provide a detailed catalog of the environmental conditions in our community-managed open spaces. By documenting native and invasive species, assessing tree health, and outlining targeted restoration plans, the new protocol will enhance conservation efforts and guide future improvements.

What the Assessment Covers

Each environmental assessment includes:

Site Descriptions: ecosystem types, dominant species, and landscape conditions
Tree Surveys: number and type of species, age, and health assessments
Bioblitz Species Inventory: catalog of native, naturalized, and invasive species
Environmental Concerns: analysis of invasive species pressures and other ecological threats
Restoration Plans: prioritized action plans for removing invasives and restoring native habitat

For example, in a recent environmental assessment of Adelaide Bentley Park , our staff and volunteers identified 126 unique plant and wildlife species, including a canopy of black walnut as well as young box elder and eastern redcedar trees. The park also faces significant invasive pressure from species like porcelainberry ( Ampelopsis brevipedunculata ) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), which will require ongoing management.

How Volunteers Can Help

NeighborSpace relies on dedicated community members to support these environmental efforts. Volunteers can get involved by:

Participating in Bioblitzes – Help identify and document species through iNaturalist.
Joining Restoration Projects – Assist with invasive species removal and native plantings.
Monitoring Tree Health – Report observations of stressed or dying trees to guide future plantings.
Mulching and Trail Maintenance – Help maintain paths and prevent erosion in protected areas.

Looking Ahead

By implementing this new protocol, NeighborSpace can make data-driven conservation decisions, ensuring the long-term health and biodiversity of the urban green spaces we conserve. The assessments will guide our planning with each park’s stewardship partners to design targeted interventions, such as clearing invasives, planting resilient native species, and restorative practices to improve habitats for people, pollinators, and native wildlife.

Want to get involved? Visit the NeighborSpace website to learn about upcoming educational workshops and volunteer opportunities.

Passing the Baton

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:34:00 GMT

Klaus Philipsen is known for many things: business owner; architect; adjunct faculty; nonprofit leader; community association president; author; blogger; international, national, regional and local speaker; and many more. He can always be counted on to share the full history of the situation with plans and options to pursue a vision he can clearly see for the untidy land parcels we first acquire.

For us at NeighborSpace, he’s been steadfast at the helm as Board President for 11 years, through good and lean times, 3 Executive Directors, 4 County Executives, numerous Councilpersons, the COVID pandemic, and countless meetings. His depth of knowledge and history of award-winning community revitalization work, coupled with his business and community connections, have been invaluable to our continued growth to an inventory of 100 acres in 21 parks around the county. These bits of open space are the gems of our partnering communities where neighbors gather, similar to how Klaus recalls his days growing up in Germany. His bona fides are impressive but he puts all that aside as he listens to folks talk about their dreams for their community.

Barbara Hopkins, former Executive Director, shared that during her time as Executive Director, “[she] found Klaus to be a complementary partner and deeply valued his subject matter expertise, wise counsel and steady hand at the helm”. When Barbara moved on from NeighborSpace in 2022, Klaus stepped up and quickly familiarized himself with day-to-day operations, successfully guiding the organization through the transition. Klaus has continued to lead design and construction of the Bear Creek Heritage Trail in Dundalk and NeighborSpace celebrated the opening of the first two trail phases in November.

But never fear, Klaus has a continued spot with NeighborSpace as Past President, so his history, guidance and community support will carry on. Thank you, Klaus, for your dedication, your spirit and your guidance. We look forward to many more fruitful years working together.

Following in Klaus’ footsteps is new Board President Pat Keller. Pat has served on NeighborSpace’s Board since 2021 and chairs the Advocacy and Public Policy Committee. Pat is the former Director of the Baltimore County Department of Planning, where he served for over 16 years. He is also the President of the Perry Hall Improvement Association and is a member of the Planning Advisory Committee for the Morgan State University, Department of Urban Studies.

~Kathy Martin, Board Vice President

New Faces at NeighborSpace!

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 14:35:00 GMT

Conor Harrington, Program Assistant

Hey everyone! My name is Conor Harrington, and I’m excited to join the NeighborSpace team as it’s new Program Assistant! I’m eager to bring my passion for conservation, science education, and environmental field work to both the communities and greenspaces of Baltimore County. I’ve spent the last few years doing a wide variety of things, including research on pathogens affecting amphibian populations, invasive species management, community education and outreach, and teaching college classes. Born and raised just south of Baltimore, I received a B.S. in Ecology and Evolution from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.S. in Biology from San Francisco State University.

I recently moved back to Maryland, and I’m thrilled to be able to protect and improve natural areas for community benefit. I enjoy reading, camping, board games, backpacking, and spending time with my dogs. Feel free to reach out to me anytime at
conor@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org!

Briana Golding, Intern

Hello! My name is Briana Golding. I am a senior at Towson University majoring in environmental science, focusing on ecological restoration. During my freshman year, I originally decided to work with the environment as an excuse to work outside and be around plants. Courses such as Ecology, Biodiversity, Conservation Biology, and Plant Taxonomy expanded my understanding of how our environment is interconnected and fueled my passion for restoration ecology. During my time at Towson, I have worked with environmental clubs to restore parks and clean our reservoirs to ensure they are habitable for wildlife in the area. I also have been working with nonprofits such as NeighborSpace to plant trees and monitor our water quality. Experiences such as these encouraged me to take a hands-on approach to my future career and focus on the small changes I can make to maintain a healthy and sustainable environment for us all to thrive in.

After moving to Baltimore, I realized there are beautiful parks in this area, but access to these green spaces may be difficult. I am excited to work with NeighborSpace because their mission aligns with my goals of restoring our green spaces and connecting those around them. I will be here to assist with workshops and to help monitor and restore our 21 sites. I believe they will promote a sustainable environment for those in the area, and I can’t wait to see the progress to come!

Behind the Scenes: NeighborSpace’s Winter Work

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 14:20:00 GMT

Winter’s already in full swing, but at NeighborSpace, the work doesn’t slow down—it just shifts focus. This season is critical for planning, monitoring, and maintaining our 21 sites around Baltimore County. Here’s a peek at what keeps us busy during these chilly months.

Site Monitoring

Winter provides the perfect opportunity to assess the condition of NeighborSpace’s parks and open spaces. Site monitoring, a legal requirement for properties with conservation easements, ensures that boundaries are respected, park use aligns with conservation goals, and any maintenance or restoration needs are identified. At a site monitoring visit, staff and volunteers walk the property boundaries and check the condition of amenities like trails, benches, and signage. These evaluations guide our stewardship plans for the upcoming year.

Annual Meetings with Stewardship Partners

Stewardship partners are the heart of our parks and communities. These dedicated individuals and groups maintain the daily upkeep of NeighborSpace’s community-managed spaces and foster connections with neighbors to encourage stewardship and use. Our winter check-ins allow us to review the past year’s accomplishments, discuss challenges, and plan for the future.

Spring Events and Restoration Planning

Though spring may seem far off, we’re already planning for events, including a new series of programs called Stewardship Saturdays. Stewardship Saturdays will combine education, community, and restoration activities. From tree giveaways and habitat restoration to nature surveys, bird walks, art, and music, there will be something for everyone. We’re collaborating with stewardship partners and community members to schedule these events, ensuring they reflect the needs and interests of each neighborhood.

Neighbors for Native Plants Course

We’re excited to bring back the Neighbors for Native Plants course this spring at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve in Owings Mills. This program empowers participants to make a difference in their communities by learning about native plants and their role in local ecosystems.

Winter Fieldwork and Restoration

Even in winter, there’s plenty of hands-on work to be done. Our team and volunteers tackle tasks like tree care, pruning, mulching, and installing signage. Winter is also an ideal time for habitat restoration and removing invasive species like English Ivy and Asiatic Bittersweet, which can be cut from trees during the dormant season.

Winter at NeighborSpace is a season of preparation, partnership, and care. By laying the groundwork now, we ensure our parks are ready to bloom and thrive in the months ahead. Stay tuned for updates on our events and programs —we can’t wait to see you there!

An Urban Waters Update

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 14:03:00 GMT

As we shared in September , NeighborSpace was awarded a $60,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through its Five Star and Urban Waters program for a project that blends hands-on restoration with public educational opportunities and a community science program and that will run through February 2026.* The ultimate goal is to restore and sustain healthy habitat at the three NeighborSpace sites that serve as riparian forest buffers: Levickas Woods (Catonsville), Tollgate Wyndham Preserve (Owings Mills) and Volz Neighborhood Park (Middle River).

The first step is to thoroughly get to know these sites, on a number of levels.

Canopy and understory health: Do we have a healthy population of mature canopy trees of different species and at various stages in their life cycle? Are there areas where trees are threatened by vines? Is the next generation of saplings robust or do we need to supplement the understory with younger trees or different species? If species diversity is adequate, what native tree species are present and thriving and might we want to plant more of in similar conditions?

Groundcover health: What is the ratio of native to non-native shrubs, perennials and groundcovers? What native plant species are present? How can we help those species thrive and spread? Do we want to add other native species to the landscape? What invasive species are present and what threat do they pose? We will likely divide each site into different areas, tiered by their level of infestation, the prevalent species of invasive plant and the speed at which it is known to spread. In general, when removing invasives, we prioritize areas with the lowest density of infestation to prevent the spread and then gradually move inward, with the ultimate goal of replacing the invasive population with a healthy native ecosystem.

Wildlife: Which animals already call these sites home? How can we improve their habitat? Are certain animal species absent that we would expect to see, and what habitat essentials might be missing from the site?

From left to right: juvenile red-shouldered hawk at Levickas Woods, wood frog and humans at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve, green frog at Volz Neighborhood Park

Stream health: Is the stream connected to its floodplain or are the banks severely eroded? What do simple measurements tell us about the water quality and are there actions we can take to improve it?

A portion of the streams at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve (left) and Levickas Woods (right). Being able to see rocks clearly in a stream is one visual indicator of good stream health. The spaces between layers of gravel, small stones and boulders provide crucial habitat for small aquatic bugs such as caddisflies.

These observations will inform which restoration actions we take in the next phase of the project. For example, Yellow Warblers prefer to nest in dense shrubs, so if we observe Setophaga petechia at one of our sites, we might plant alder or willow shrubs along the stream, and maybe some wax myrtle to supplement their summer diet. Or if stream banks are eroded and suitable tree species are present, such as willows or red twig dogwood, we might consider live staking as an effort to stabilize the banks. If we uncover healthy sedges while removing invasives, for example, the best approach might be to keep the area clear to allow them to spread or we might choose to fill in the cleared soil with additional quarts of Carex pensylvanica .

A sedge (left) and a rush (right) at Volz Neighborhood Park. If you have trouble remembering which is which, the rhyme “sedges have edges and rushes are round” can prove helpful.

All this to say, we want to understand the existing ecosystem and establish a baseline to measure future progress against. Restoration activities should strengthen the existing ecosystem by allowing species that are already doing well to flourish and by supporting struggling species by removing threats and bringing in missing elements. By continuing to make observations on a regular basis, we’ll be able to track the impact of our restoration efforts, observe which techniques are successful and adjust our approach where needed.

Over the winter, NeighborSpace staff has consulted a variety of resources and a number of experts and we are working to finalize a new assessment protocol to collect, document and track data on trees, other plant growth, wildlife, stream health and possibly soil health.

This is where we could use your help! If you would like to assist in surveying NeighborSpace sites, please let us know. If you are a plant ID expert, a birder, an amateur entomologist or herpetologist, and you are willing to donate a few hours to make observations at one or more NeighborSpace parks, we would greatly appreciate it. If you don’t fall in any of those categories but you are an outdoor enthusiast willing to share your time with NeighborSpace, we would welcome your help. Please reach out to me at phyllis@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org or (443)850-2756 to set up a meeting with a staff member.

An Update on Strategic Conservation Planning

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:11:00 GMT

A year ago, I shared that NeighborSpace was embarking on a strategic conservation planning process. NeighborSpace Board and staff members completed an overall 5-year strategic plan in the summer of 2023, but we still needed to work out in detail the organization’s approach to protecting new properties. (You can find a summary of the 5-year strategic plan on the NeighborSpace website, under Financials .)

A Strategic Conservation Plan is necessary in order for NeighborSpace to protect new land and enhance more communities at a higher pace, while continuing to steward the spaces we currently conserve and to strengthen our existing partnerships. As the Land Trust Alliance explains, “the purpose of a Strategic Conservation Plan is to guide the land trust’s conservation priorities and to identify strategies for advancing those priorities. Outlining priorities and criteria helps to avoid missed opportunities on the one hand and to avoid acquiring properties that don’t fit the land trust’s mission on the other hand.” By streamlining the project selection process and by mapping priority areas, a Strategic Conservation Plan actually helps the land trust increase its pace of conservation. With its focus on social factors, NeighborSpace also wants to ensure that it is providing public open space in an equitable manner.

As in all its work, NeighborSpace is centering community in its approach to the Strategic Conservation Planning process. Thanks to a Keep Maryland Beautiful grant, NeighborSpace was able to host a professionally facilitated brainstorming session in January 2024 for staff, Board members and stewardship partners. This session clarified shared priorities, common challenges and successes, and the type of support that partner communities value most. In trying to use this information to draft a comprehensive but cohesive plan that provides clear direction for the years to come, NeighborSpace realized that it needed to engage a broader group of stakeholders and incorporate observations beyond what is currently measured by its custom GIS tool, such as community capacity, environmental justice issues, threat of development, etc.

To this end, NeighborSpace applied for and was awarded technical assistance through the National Park Service’s Rails, Trails and Conservation Assistance program in May 2024. Starting in July, I’ve been meeting monthly with a team of three planning experts who have been assigned to NeighborSpace to facilitate the creation of a strategic conservation plan. The first several sessions focused on gaining insight into NeighborSpace’s model and sharing its successes and challenges. We then narrowed down which processes this strategic conservation plan needs to provide guidance for. NeighborSpace is unique in that it protects green spaces that have not previously been cared for to create parks from scratch and then very actively steward them. Because we take a community-centered approach to each of these phases, from conservation through restoration to ongoing stewardship, a strategic conservation plan for NeighborSpace needs to provide much more than simply a list of criteria and priorities. It needs to outline not only what type of property we’re looking to protect in which area, but also how we plan to reach out to and engage with communities, what our restoration priorities are, and what support we provide to neighbors to ensure sustainable stewardship.

We’ve taken some time to look at the work and plans of similar organizations elsewhere, considered stakeholder groups and discussed a timeline. The next step was for the NPS experts to get to know the NeighborSpace sites and communities! Earlier this month, the NPS team joined me for a tour of nine NeighborSpace sites and met some of NeighborSpace’s stewardship partners. We are excited to move on to the next phase in the new year and begin to meet with stakeholders.

At Greenbrier Memory Garden and Ridgely Manor Park with stewardship partner Dale Cassidy in Towson

New Trees from Grow Home Baltimore!

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 11:03:00 GMT

We are excited to announce that Powhatan and Ridgely Manor parks are home to new trees!

Twenty-nine trees were planted in Ridgely Manor Park, including a diverse mix of plum, oak, black cherry, redbud, white oak, red oak, linden, and dogwood trees. At Powhatan, 40 trees were planted, including black gum, bald cypress, swamp oak, flowering dogwood, American holly, Allegheny serviceberry, and blackhaw viburnum. To safeguard the new trees at Powhatan, protective cages were installed to deter deer activity.

Grow Home Baltimore’s field crew planted the trees at both parks. We are thrilled to partner with Grow Home, whose mission is to empower local leaders and create jobs by transforming neglected green spaces into thriving community hubs. Grow Home’s programs include workforce development and training for green jobs and environmental restoration.

Fall is an ideal time to plant trees in the Mid-Atlantic region. Cooler air temperatures and warm soil create perfect conditions for robust root growth without the stress of summer heat. Additionally, consistent autumn rainfall reduces the need for supplemental watering, giving young trees the moisture they need to establish themselves.

During the fall, trees focus on building strong root systems rather than growing leaves or branches. This allows them to enter winter dormancy well-prepared and emerge in spring with a solid foundation for new growth.

Fall also offers fewer environmental stressors. Maryland’s summers bring intense heat, drought, and active pests, which can challenge young trees. In contrast, the cooler fall months provide a calmer environment with less pest activity, giving newly planted trees the best chance to thrive.

By the time spring arrives, these trees will be ready to grow and contribute to the beauty and ecological health of our parks.

The Face Behind the Space: Valarie Gaines

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 10:48:00 GMT

Valarie Gaines is a dedicated volunteer at Chestnut Park in Turner Station. A long-time Turner Station resident, Valarie has been involved at the park since its beginning. Valarie volunteers regularly at stewardship work days and keeps an eye on the park. She tends to and waters all new tree and perennial plantings at Chestnut Park.

Thank you, Valarie, for your dedication to Chestnut Park and NeighborSpace!

Volunteer Appreciation Event

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 10:37:00 GMT

On a chilly November weeknight, over 30 NeighborSpace staff, Board members, stewardship partners, and volunteers gathered at Peabody Heights Brewery in Baltimore to celebrate!

After a few words from Phyllis Joris, Executive Director; Marsha McLaughlin, Board member and stewardship committee lead; and Klaus Philipsen, Board President, attendees enjoyed beer, refreshments, and warm company. NeighborSpace also hosted a raffle, and 10 volunteers went home with items ranging from tools to books to local business gift certificates.

We cannot thank our volunteers enough for all of your hard work, this year and every year. We hope you enjoy a quiet holiday season and winter, and look forward to seeing you in a park next year!

Woodlawn History Tour

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:47:00 GMT

Early in the morning on Saturday, October 20th, more than 50 participants gathered at the Emmart-Pierpont Safe House on Rolling Rd, the first stop on NeighborSpace’s history tour of Woodlawn. Owner Shirley Supik shared a wealth of stories about the house and its previous owners.

Built in 1791, withstanding every presidency within the country, the safe house was owned by a farmer and Underground Railroad stationmaster named Caleb Emmart. Emmart married a woman named Susannah Zimmerman, who was an abolitionist along with her sister Elizabeth and brother-in-law Nicholas Smith, a conductor on the Underground Railroad. In the 1800s, Emmart and his family opened their home, the present-day Emmart-Pierpont Safe House, to enslaved runaways who were seeking shelter before continuing their path to freedom. The Safe House became a Baltimore County Landmark in 2007. The Supiks are seeking funding to restore the house with hopes of welcoming students and visitors to learn about their local history.

The bus then drove to Mt. Olive Cemetery, where, among others, the Emmart family are buried. Pictured is the grave of Susannah Emmart.

Next, the group stopped at Emmarts United Methodist Church, for which Caleb Emmart donated the land. It is said that the Church also served as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

On the way to Gwynn Oak Park, community leader Dawn Seestedt shared the story of Mabel Grant, who lived on Dogwood Rd. Ms. Grant bravely integrated the then-segregated Gwynn Oak Amusement Park with her young niece, Lydia Phinney Wilkins, at the request of the AFRO newspaper.

Gwynn Oak Amusement Park brought in guests with fun attractions like bumper cars, a wooden roller coaster, a merry-go-round, and a giant ferris wheel. The park was very popular, did well financially, and was open for about 80 years. However, the park owners, the Price family, refused to desegregate. On July 4th, 1963, the protests of Gwynn Oak Amusement Park began. Protesters included activists, community leaders, church members and students. They were exposed to confrontation, abusive language, and assault; more than 300 were arrested. The protests soon received national attention and the Prices finally decided to desegregate the park. On August 28, 1963, Gwynn Oak opened its doors to people of all races.

History tour participants had the opportunity to hear a first-hand account of the protests from Charles Mason, who was a Baltimore chapter leader for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Mr. Mason also shared his experiences with racism while living in Baltimore and working at the Woodlawn Social Security offices as a young man.

After lunch, the tour group heard from Nancy Goldring, Bev Bickel, and David Truscello of the Baltimore County Lynching Memorial Project about their work. Nancy also shared some of the history of Historic East Towson and her vision for the Road to Freedom Trail being developed there.

The final stop on the tour was Legacy Awards (formerly Joe Manns Awards) to visit a display set up by the Hubert V. Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball. The Negro Leagues in Woodlawn were part of the broader Negro League baseball system, providing Black athletes the opportunity to showcase their talent during segregation. These leagues played a key role in both the local community and the larger struggle for racial equality, helping pave the way for the integration of Major League Baseball. Co-founder Ray Banks and his colleagues presented information about women in the Negro Leagues and shared stories of individual players.

This history tour was made possible by an award from Maryland Humanities through its Marilyn Hatza Memorial Strengthening the Humanities Investment in Nonprofits for Equity (SHINE) Grant Program. NeighborSpace co-hosted a History Walk of Historic East Towson in June with the Northeast Towson Improvement Association and we are working with Turner Station Conservation Teams to plan a history tour in Turner Station for the spring of 2025.

NeighborSpace is developing a page on its website to host the information shared by community leaders during the Woodlawn History Tour. In the meantime, below are some resources with additional information.

Allana Therese Calahatian, The Emmart-Pierpont Safe House , CCBC Invisible History
Linda Worthington, Runaway Slaves found refuge at Emmarts UMC , Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church Online Archives
The Afro July 9, 1963, Mabel Grant, Lydia Wilkins
Emmanuel Mehr, Rethinking Baltimore’s July Fourth: Anti-Segregation Protests at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park, 1963 , Baltimore Histories Weekly
Gwynn Oak Park , Wikipedia
Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Oral History at the Lewis – Charles Mason
Hubert V. Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball
Freedom Trail
Baltimore County Lynching Memorial Project

NeighborSpace Pilots Pollinator Patch Program in the Greenbrier Community

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:17:00 GMT

Together with Wildside Nursery and the Greenbrier Garden Club, NeighborSpace installed 5 “pollinator patches” in the Greenbrier community on Saturday, October 26th.

It is well-established that pollinators are imperiled and populations are declining across the nation, largely due to disappearing habitat. The US Fish and Wildlife Service states that “conserving our nation’s pollinators and their habitat is key to conserving our land and waters, delivering natural solutions to the changing climate, and providing all Americans with access to nature and its many benefits”. In his third book, “Bringing Nature Home”, entomologist Doug Tallamy issued a call to action. The main idea of the book revolves around the concept of the “Homegrown National Park,” which encourages individuals to cultivate native plants in their yards, parks, and public spaces to create interconnected corridors of habitat that support local wildlife populations.

As an urban land trust, NeighborSpace believes that it is perfectly positioned to implement this concept. NeighborSpace sites are protected from development in perpetuity, provide enough square footage to install a high number and variety of native pollinator plants, and are centrally located in densely developed (sub-)urban neighborhoods. NeighborSpace’s vision is for each of its community open spaces to form a “node” of pollinator habitat, with habitat corridors radiating outwards across connected properties to form a “homegrown national park”. Ultimately, our vision is to create a network of pollinator habitats across NeighborSpace’s service area: urban Baltimore County.

For this small pilot in the Greenbrier neighborhood, we started at the community garden. After NeighborSpace staff shared a short introduction on the benefits of (replacing lawn with) native pollinator plants, Victor Bennett of Wildside Nursery shared information about specific native wildflower species and demonstrated proper planting technique. Neighborhood volunteers planted a new pollinator bed along the streetfront.

The group then moved through the neighborhood to install four residential pollinator patches. Properties were selected based on their proximity to the community garden, visibility, and growing conditions. Homeowners are committed to maintaining their patches and NeighborSpace staff will monitor the gardens and provide technical support for at least two years.

NeighborSpace hopes to scale up this approach for future iterations and install networks of pollinator habitat in neighborhoods that include a higher number of gardens and larger patches. We would also like to provide more robust education and encourage neighbors to take part in a community science program to collect observations of native plants and pollinators.

Thank you to Wildside Nursery for providing free labor and plant material, and to the Greenbrier Garden Club for organizing the project. We hope to co-host a garden tour in the spring – stay tuned!

If you are interested in creating a network of pollinator patches in your neighborhood, please reach out to phyllis@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org.

For more information, visit:

https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation

https://www.fws.gov/initiative/pollinators

https://homegrownnationalpark.org

Leave the Leaves This Fall!

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 11:16:00 GMT

Raking leaves every autumn may seem like a tradition, but did you know that leaving them on the ground can benefit your yard and the environment?

Here’s why you should consider skipping the rake this year:

1. Natural Fertilizer: Fallen leaves break down over time, adding valuable nutrients back into the soil.

2. Wildlife Habitat: Some insects, like monarch butterflies, migrate to avoid the cold temperatures, but there are many insect species that overwinter in various life stages (egg, larva, nymph, pupae, or adult) in Maryland. For example, the great spangled fritillary butterfly overwinters as caterpillar larvae in fallen leaves. Some bird species also rely on these insects for food. Plant stems, leaves, and other debris can be home to critters that are waiting on warmer days before they emerge this spring.

3. Water Retention : A layer of leaves acts like mulch, helping the soil retain moisture and reducing the need for extra watering. It also helps prevent soil erosion during rainy months.

4. Reduce Waste: Bagging leaves and sending them to landfills contributes to unnecessary waste. Instead, you can let leaves decompose naturally.

5. Save Time and Energy: Skipping the rake means more time to enjoy fall activities like hiking, pumpkin carving, or cozying up with a warm drink!

Give your leaf blower and rake a break and leave the leaves this fall!

Please complete our volunteer survey!

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 11:15:00 GMT

Attention, NeighborSpace volunteers!

Have you volunteered with NeighborSpace once, twice, or more times than you can count? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Help us shape our volunteer, social, and educational programs by taking a quick 5-minute survey to share your experience.

Thank you for your time and input. If you have any additional feedback or questions about volunteer opportunities with NeighborSpace, please reach out to Amanda at amanda@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org or Phyllis at phyllis@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org .

Click here to complete the volunteer survey!

Neighbors for Native Plants

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 11:10:00 GMT

This fall, NeighborSpace launched Neighbors for Native Plants , a pilot training course featuring four sessions that blend classroom and fieldwork. Participants explored topics such as Maryland Piedmont ecology, the significance of native plants, identifying native and invasive species, and effective techniques for invasive plant removal.

This course emerged in response to the many Baltimore County residents who expressed interest in gaining skills to help manage invasive plants, and from NeighborSpace’s desire to restore healthy native ecosystems at its sites and in its communities. NeighborSpace regularly provides brief tutorials at stewardship events, but Neighbors for Native Plants offers a more comprehensive learning experience. Graduates will be prepared to lead stewardship efforts in NeighborSpace parks and apply their knowledge within their own communities.

The pilot is funded by a Baltimore County watershed grant in partnership with MD Sea Grant Extension. Course development was led by NeighborSpace staff in collaboration with Claire Cambardella, a watershed restoration specialist with MD Sea Grant Extension, and Don Callihan, Vice President of the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy and board member of Oregon Ridge Nature Center. We are also grateful to the Baltimore City Parks and Recreation Weed Warriors program for sharing materials to support course design.

Neighbors for Native Plants will be offered again in Spring 2025. To receive updates on the spring course schedule, sign up here: Interest List .

Turner Station Community Flooding Survey Report

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 11:01:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is proud to be a partner on the Community Climate Resilience Project in Turner Station. This initiative, funded by a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Coastal Resilience Fund grant, is a collaboration among Baltimore County, Turner Station Conservation Teams, NeighborSpace, The Nature Conservancy, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and the Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition.

Since joining the project last October, NeighborSpace has worked closely with Turner Station Conservation Teams, Inc. on community outreach efforts, including a survey to assess the environmental, economic, social, and health impacts of flooding. Together with local leaders and youth, we hosted 20 outreach events and canvassed over 1,200 homes.

NeighborSpace extends its gratitude to the many Turner Station residents who completed the survey, shared flooding photos, and supported canvassing efforts. The survey results and photos were used by Baltimore County to calibrate its new flood model of Turner Station and will inform green and gray infrastructure recommendations. These recommendations will be combined to develop a Climate Resilience Roadmap for Turner Station in Eastern Baltimore County.

The survey results, published in September, are available to the community on our website: https://www.neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org/…/turner…/

September Stream Clean-Up at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 11:35:00 GMT

Thank you volunteers who came out this month for a stream clean-up at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve! Volunteers removed litter from the stream and trails, filling up a total of seven bags. We also cleared a section of invasive privet. Some of the areas cleared will be the sites of new tree plantings as part of a partnership with Howard EcoWorks. Stay tuned for news about this upcoming tree planting project!

Restoring NeighborSpace’s Riparian Forest Buffers

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 11:27:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is excited to announce that it was recently awarded $60,000 through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration grant program. The award will fund immediate improvement of riparian habitat at three heavily used NeighborSpace sites as well as grow community capacity to sustainably monitor and steward these sites in the future. Through an invasive removal workshop, community science programs to assess forest health and inventory wildlife, and lessons at a neighboring high school, NeighborSpace will provide education on native plant, bird, amphibian and reptile species and on the importance of providing healthy riparian habitat by keeping streams clean, reducing stormwater runoff and removing invasive plant species. These educational activities will be paired with professional invasive removal, the planting of native trees, shrubs and perennials, and regular stream clean-ups.

This project will focus on the following three NeighborSpace sites.

Levickas Woods is a 7-acre wooded property in Catonsville. Along its southern property line runs a tributary of the Patapsco Lower North Branch. Neighbors make use of the woods to walk their dogs and play.
Tollgate Wyndham Preserve is a 7-acre forested site adjacent to both Owings Mills Elementary and High Schools in the Gwynns Falls watershed with a stream running through it.
Volz Neighborhood Park is a 14-acre forest tucked behind three developments in Middle River. It is crisscrossed by multiple trails and a small tributary of Whitemarsh Run, which in turn feeds into the Bird River.

All three sites are riparian forest buffers. A riparian buffer is a vegetated area along the banks of rivers, streams, and other bodies of water that helps protect the aquatic ecosystem. This buffer zone typically consists of native plants, trees, and shrubs, which stabilize the soil, reduce erosion, and filter pollutants from runoff before they enter the water. Riparian buffers provide critical habitat for wildlife, enhance water quality, and contribute to the overall health of the watershed. In (sub-)urban areas, where dense development has decreased wildlife habitat and increased stormwater runoff, these natural barriers play an essential role in maintaining the ecological balance and protecting water resources.

Prior to receiving this grant, NeighborSpace had already begun to take small steps to assess and enhance these three sites. As is customary for land trusts, NeighborSpace performed a baseline assessment of each site at time of conservation, but staff and Stewardship Committee volunteers are now assessing each site in more detail, including taking inventory of native and invasive plant species and identifying areas of concern and opportunity. At Levickas Woods, NeighborSpace has partnered with the Dunmore Community Association and other partners to host multiple invasive removal sessions and a stream cleanup paired with a bug blitz. The Tollgate community has come out time and time again to remove litter from the Preserve.

Volunteer groups have helped remove invasives and the Natural History Society of Maryland’s Herpetology Club searched the site for amphibians in the early spring last year. We are only just getting started at Volz Park in the Bird River watershed, but cursory assessments by NeighborSpace staff, Baltimore Bird Club, and the Herpetology Club identified a surprising diversity of native plant, amphibian and bird species.

The Five Star grant will allow us to build on these activities. We will continue to host bird walks, herp walks, stream clean-ups and invasive removal sessions, and we plan to host the Neighbors for Native Plants course again next spring. Additionally, NeighborSpace is partnering with the University of Maryland’s Sea Grant Extension program and Science Department staff at Owings Mills High School to enrich the 9th and 10th grade curriculum. Funding will also be used to contract with a professional environmental service to perform invasive removal on a larger scale at all three sites. Other partners on this project include: Dunmore Community Association, Tollgate Action Group, Baltimore Green Space, Patapsco Heritage Greenway, and Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition.

October is Riparian Buffer Month, so it’s a great time to kick off this project! If you are interested in joining us, keep an eye on our events calendar .

A New Garden for Graystone

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:59:00 GMT

NeighborSpace has been working with the Graystone Community Association since 2009, when it responded to the Association’s request to purchase the 0.3-acre property that is now Graystone Community Open Space. This grass lot in Woodlawn, Baltimore County, is affectionately referred to as “the neighborhood’s living room” or simply “the lot” by neighbors. The Community Association makes use of the space to host community meetings, crochet circles, Easter Egg hunts, flea markets, movie nights, and more.

While the site in its current state has served the community well, the Association Board had a more ambitious vision for the Open Space. They hoped to create a neighborhood park that draws people in and allows for a range of activities, from quietly communing with nature, to playing volleyball or watching a movie, or even hosting flea markets and neighborhood celebrations.

Thanks to a Keep Maryland Beautiful grant, NeighborSpace was able to implement a first element of the University of Maryland students’ master plans and install a large pollinator garden along the slope. It was important to community members that the pretty view of Woodlawn remain open. NeighborSpace and the Community Association worked with Wildside Nursery to select a variety of native perennials that provide pollinator habitat and year-round interest. Some of the species planted include spotted beebalm, turtlehead, blazing star, and brown-eyed susan.

With help from Victor at Wildside Nursery , volunteers planted more than 200 perennials on September 7th. We were even able to install a small garden around the neighborhood sign! Baltimore County Master Gardeners provided information and advice on gardening for pollinators, and rolled up their sleeves to remove English Ivy from one of the canopy trees along the fence.

We can’t wait to watch this garden grow in the spring!

The NeighborSpace Annual Report FY24 Is Here!

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:38:00 GMT

Dear Friend of NeighborSpace,

We are well into the 2025 fiscal year at this point but I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the past year. FY24 was a whirlwind of projects, events and gatherings!

NeighborSpace made significant progress last year on long-term projects such as the construction of the Bear Creek Heritage Trail and the upkeep of Adelaide Bentley Park. NeighborSpace also embarked on new projects, including assisting with community climate resilience in Turner Station, Dundalk, and activities to highlight the history of Baltimore County’s older neighborhoods. Throughout the year, the organization made renewed efforts to grow its impact by conserving additional sites and expanding programming to increase site use and grow stewardship capacity. We hosted more than 35 events and volunteers contributed over 2,000 hours of work! You can find a snapshot of these activities in NeighborSpace’s full Annual Report .

This fiscal year, NeighborSpace staff and Board members have already been working hard to continue to move the organization toward its 5-year goals . This includes enhancements such as performing updated and more detailed site assessments, developing a more structured volunteer program, and drawing up a robust strategic conservation plan. New initiatives include our Neighbors for Native Plants course , a community-led historic tour of Woodlawn , riparian forest buffer restoration, the installation of new and expanded pollinator habitat, and more.

A small organization like NeighborSpace can only have a big impact with strong support from its stakeholders. Donations from individuals like you allow NeighborSpace to build relationships with the land we protect and the people who care for it. These relationships are central to our work and crucial to safeguarding green space for future generations. If you’ve enjoyed learning about NeighborSpace’s work, please consider becoming a member by making a donation .

As always, I welcome your questions and suggestions. I hope to see you at a NeighborSpace park soon!

Meet Your Natives: Solidagos

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:21:00 GMT

Late summer is the season of Goldenrods (genus Solidago , family Asteraceae ). In flower beds, along roadsides, and throughout native meadows, bright yellow flowers begin to open in August, with blooms lasting well into October. With over 100 varieties native to North America, and several native to Maryland, these late-blooming wildflowers provide vital nectar and habitat for pollinators preparing for the approach of winter. Due to the diversity of goldenrod species, there is a goldenrod for almost every habitat one could find on their property in Baltimore County.

According to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay ,

Though one of the most beneficial plants to support a native ecosystem in Maryland, goldenrod gets a bad reputation. This is likely due to it being confused with ragweed, the bane of those with autumn allergies. Goldenrod pollen is heavy and sticky, requiring insects for pollination. Ragweed pollen is light and able to take to the air, as ragweed is pollinated by the wind. Do not make the mistake of shunning goldenrod from your native garden! It will not contribute to allergies.

Instead, goldenrod will contribute to the biodiversity of your region. Where I live, according to the Native Plant Finder from the National Wildlife Federation , 118 species of moths and butterflies use goldenrod as a caterpillar host plant. Not only does it support moths and butterflies, it supports hundreds of insect species, including as one of the most recurrent host plant genera for native pollen specialist bees, as described in this study by Jarrod Fowler and Sam Droege. Because they create tall hollow stems, they act as nesting resources for stem-nesting bees.

If you are looking for a powerhouse native plant to add to your garden, look no further than a hardy, beneficial, beautiful Solidago !

In Memoriam: Patricia Paul

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 11:18:00 GMT

NeighborSpace was saddened to hear that Bear Creek Steering Committee member Patricia Paul passed away unexpectedly on August 24th. Patricia was a lifelong community advocate and staunch supporter of the Bear Creek Heritage Trail project. She pioneered the idea of a trail that would highlight local history and connect community members to the waterfront, and made sure to keep the project moving through multiple partnerships.

Over the past two years, Patricia worked with Dr. Glenn Johnston and other community and professional historians to detail the history of Bear Creek’s role in the defense of Baltimore in the War of 1812 and to highlight local stories. She continued to be an active member of the Steering Committee, weighing in on trail design and working tirelessly to keep community members informed.

Just a few weeks ago, Patricia spoke with NeighborSpace about future phases of the trail and expressed her contentment in knowing that her community’s history is at last compiled and preserved for future generations. We were fortunate to capture Patricia’s voice in this video .

Final Bear Creek Historical Research Report Published

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 11:10:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is proud to present its final report on the historical role of Bear Creek and its people. Principal investigator Dr. Glenn Johnston worked for more than two years with a team of professional historians, community historians, and Stevenson University students to analyze military operations during the War of 1812 and to document the natural and cultural landscape of Patapsco Neck leading up to the War. The full report can be accessed here and print copies will be available for loan soon. Highlights of the study are summarized in these pages .

Significant outcomes of the team’s research include an improved and altered understanding of the role of Bear Creek in the defense of Baltimore. Original documents provide evidence that Bear Creek was a piece of key terrain and contributed significantly to the Battle of Patapsco Neck and the land defense of the port of Baltimore. Bear Creek served both as an avenue of approach for the British barges to attack the Americans and as a logistical transportation route for British forces during their attack. A limited but significant engagement at Lower Bear Creek slowed, if not stopped, the British advance. These findings confirm what community members have long thought to be true. Bear Creek was part of the battlefield on which engagements were fought and operations conducted as part of the defense of the port of Baltimore in 1814, and the people of Patapsco Neck were widely represented on its field of battle or performing supporting duties as civilians.

While a study of the Patapsco Neck community was difficult due to the fact that in those times data was gathered for a larger administrative unit (the lower Patapsco Hundred), the research team was able to make the following observations:

Women were marginalized at the time of the War of 1812 and little evidence of their lives exists. However, the research team was able to develop narratives for three prominent women.

Native American encampments have been documented in the vicinity of present-day North Point State Park and Bear Creek, and North Point very likely runs along an old Native American trail.

Many more African Americans lived in the Lower Patapsco Hundred than initially thought. Of the total population recorded in the 1810 census (2,670), 38% were African Americans. Of those residents, only 43% were free, accounting for 51 families. Most of these free Black families lived in six clusters in the Lower Patapsco Hundred.

Unsurprisingly, the natural landscape of Patapsco Neck looked very different at the time of the War of 1812. Much of the area, possibly as much as 50%, consisted of unimproved tree-covered lands. An officer present in the British advance observed that

Today, very little of that green space remains in the Dundalk area, and public access to the waterfront is especially limited. The Bear Creek Heritage Trail will not only share the above history with the public but will provide the community with access to green space along the waterfront. NeighborSpace is currently working with Brenton Landscape Architecture to design Phase 3 of the trail.

A Summer Saturday in Carroll Watkins Park

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 10:32:00 GMT

Saturday was a beautiful morning to be out in Carroll Watkins Park. Thank you to all the volunteers who came out for the garden work day and Bug Blitz!

Volunteers arrived early Saturday morning to weed, transplant, and collect seeds at Carroll Watkins Park in Gwynn Oak. They weeded around the garden sign and transplanted golden ragwort that was growing under park benches.

We installed new plant identification signs, funded by a BGE Green grant. The signs include information about each plant’s appearance and special characteristics. Keep an eye out for more plant identification signs at other NeighborSpace parks.

Don’t worry, these milkweed bug nymphs observed last weekend are not “bugging” the native Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed) and Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed). Milkweed bugs, Oncopeltus fasciatus , are native to Maryland and feed on milkweed plant seeds. Like other native organisms with native host plants, milkweed bugs and plants have co-evolved together. The milkweed bugs do not damage or harm the host plants. Their bright orange or orange-red and black coloring is to warn predators that they are toxic and taste bad. Like monarch butterflies, milkweed bugs feed on milkweed sap, which contains toxic chemicals called cardenolides. The bugs store these toxins in their bodies, making them distasteful to predators that eat them.

Blue Water Baltimore led a macroinvertebrate bug hunt in the Gwynn Oak Park. Volunteers turned over rocks in the Gwynns Falls to count macroinvertebrate species.

Among the Bug Blitz finds were crayfish, mayfly nymphs, clams, and hellgrammites. Mayflies and hellgrammites are especially sensitive to water pollution. Their presence in the stream indicates that pollution is low and water quality is good!

Neighbors for Native Plants

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 10:07:00 GMT

We are excited to announce the launch of Neighbors for Native Plants , a pilot course starting in October. This course will introduce participants to the importance of native plants, methods for identifying and removing invasive species, and hands-on environmental restoration practices.

Funded in part by a Baltimore County grant, this new program is developed in collaboration with the University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension, which is assisting with the curriculum and materials. Additionally, Baltimore City has generously allowed NeighborSpace to use and adapt instructional materials from their well-regarded Weed Warriors course.

Neighbors for Native Plants was created to give County residents an opportunity to learn techniques for identifying and removing invasive plants. NeighborSpace’s course is unique because it also emphasizes the importance of native plants for pollinator species and overall ecosystem health, including practical instruction on the selection, planting and care of native species.

Participants who complete the course—consisting of one virtual and two in-person class sessions and one practical restoration workday—will be certified to conduct restoration activities (invasive removal, native planting, and site assessment) in NeighborSpace parks. We hope that graduates will take leadership roles in planning and leading NeighborSpace workdays and apply their new knowledge about native plants to their own backyards and home communities.

The response to the course has been very positive, with several messages of support received via social media and email. We have already reached our registration capacity and are now maintaining a waitlist for the fall course. Fortunately, NeighborSpace will offer the Neighbors for Native Plants course again this spring! To be notified of the spring course dates and details, please sign up on the Spring 2025 Interest Form . The spring course will be held in Owings Mills, with hands-on restoration work focusing on Tollgate Wyndham Preserve.

Introducing Three New Board Members!

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 09:56:00 GMT

Please join NeighborSpace in welcoming Chloe Bean, Elias Darraj, and Michael McCann to the Board! Read on for a brief introduction, and we invite you to join us at a future event to meet them all in person.

Chloe works on electrification and decarbonization initiatives at Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE). She enjoys knitting, hiking, traveling, and sitting down with a good cup of tea. A long time Baltimore City resident, Chloe has recently moved to Lutherville with her husband Wick and is looking forward to caring for local green spaces, both in her backyard and with the NeighborSpace community.

Elias Darraj currently serves as a Business Relationship Manager for the Quality team at CareFirst. A driven and goal-oriented professional, Elias is committed to expanding his knowledge and experience while fostering teamwork and collaboration. In addition to his professional role, Elias is an active community leader, serving on the boards of SAFE Alternative, Baltimore Clayworks, and NeighborSpace. Elias has a strong background in volunteerism, with over a decade of involvement with Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, as well as contributions to various PTA organizations.

For over 20 years, Michael R. McCann has represented community associations, land conservation groups, individual property owners, and other organizations in land use, zoning, and other development matters. Prior to starting his own firm in December 2008, he was a partner in the regional law firm of Funk & Bolton, P.A. Mr. McCann has extensive experience in presenting cases before administrative agencies and courts throughout the State, including cases involving development plan approvals, variances, special exceptions, zoning reclassifications, conservation easements, and restrictive land covenants. He also has worked closely with members of State, County, and municipal legislatures in drafting legislation and on comprehensive rezoning issues.

He has successfully represented clients in a number of important cases decided by the appellate courts in Maryland, particularly in the area of standing, including Falls Road Community Ass’n v. Oregon Grille, LLC, Long Green Valley Ass’n v. Bellevale Farm, Long Meadow Ass’n v. Druid Ridge Cemetery Co., Hilltop/Maple Avenue Community Ass’n v. Skirven Enterprises, and Caldes v. Elm Street Development.

Thank You, Tollgate Wyndham Volunteers!

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 11:05:00 GMT

We are grateful to the many volunteers who have helped to transform Tollgate Wyndham Preserve over the past several months. Tollgate Wyndham, located in Owings Mills, was overrun with litter and graffiti. Thanks to efforts from dedicated stewardship partners, neighbors, the St. Thomas Church Green Team, Owings Mills High School students and faculty, and Maryvale Preparatory students and faculty, the park is looking great! Plans are already underway to host regular volunteer work days, led by community leaders and the local high school, to keep the park healthy and safe for students and neighbors to enjoy.

Over several work days volunteers cleaned graffiti from trees in the park. They used scrub brushes, a water and castile soap solution, and lots of elbow grease to remove the paint.

Tollgate Wyndham park stewardship partners, dedicated neighbors, the St. Thomas Church Green Team, and Owings Mills High School students and teachers all volunteered to pick up litter and filled over 40 trash bags in clean up events over three months.

Tollgate Wyndham stewardship partner, Dave, monitors the park and makes frequent repairs to the trail and educational kiosk. Local resident and NeighborSpace board treasurer, Lance, is a frequent volunteer and most recently worked to spread new wood chips at the trailhead.

Students and faculty from Maryvale Preparatory School brought over 150 students to volunteer for two service days. It is tradition for students to spend a day with their grade-level class volunteering at local organizations one school day each year. Students cleaned graffiti from trees, picked up litter, and removed invasive multiflora rose plants.

Volz Park: A Healthy Forest Ecosystem

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 10:36:00 GMT

Tucked away in a small corner off of Pulaski Highway, NeighborSpace’s Volz Park is an oasis of biodiversity. The 14 acres are home to mature trees, fields of ferns, stands of spicebush and pepperbush, rushes, cattails, and a variety of spring wildflowers.

At NeighborSpace, we monitor the health of all our parks, considering factors like diversity of flora and fauna and stream health. We look for areas of concern that can be remedied through restoration efforts, such as invasive species pressure and streambank erosion.

Jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum and Sweet pepperbush, Clethra alnifolia

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identifies four components of a healthy forest:

Rich plant and animal life – A diversity of species from all five kingdoms of life, including microorganisms and fungi is a sign of a functioning food web that can cycle water and nutrients. Healthy forests have a variety of trees, as well as understory shrubs and groundcover.
A diversity of habitats – Wildlife have different habitat needs. Some birds prefer the tree canopy and some the understory. Some plants need wet conditions, others dry. A forest with a range of habitats can support a larger range of species.
Trees of different sizes and ages – Presence of trees of different sizes and ages indicates that the succession of the forest is functioning. When older trees die, the midstory and sapling trees can take their place. Old trees decay, providing food for decomposers and returning nutrients to the soil. Even standing dead trees, called snags, provide habitat.
Clean water – A healthy forest has uncontaminated water that can support aquatic species. Grasses and shrubs are present to filter rainwater and stabilize stream banks to prevent erosion.

Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum and spring beauties, Claytonia virginica ; America jumpseed, Persicaria virginiana

Volz Park is a healthy, functioning urban forest ecosystem with a range of species, trees of various ages, and a robust understory and active forest floor. Additionally, the park has a low presence of invasive species and deer browse. Eager to share this space with the wider community, NeighborSpace has recently partnered with the Baltimore Bird Club and the Natural History Society of Maryland’s Herpetology Club to host walks in Volz Park.

Soft rush, Juncus effusus, growing in moist ravine and Fern fiddleheads

A morning bird walk with the Baltimore Bird Club revealed that Volz is home to at least 13 species of migratory and year-round warblers. The Herpetology Club was excited to find many wood frogs and spring peeper froglets (young frogs that have recently transitioned from tadpoles) in the park’s vernal pools and moist trenches. The club is planning another visit this fall and next spring to do another survey of amphibians and reptiles.

Native violet growing on forest floor and Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum

The Face Behind The Space: Arkia Wade

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:42:00 GMT

When Arkia Wade moved to Dundalk 12 years ago, she was eager to become involved in her local community. Arkia was drawn to the people and community spirit of Turner Station, a historically Black community nestled along Bear Creek, where her grandfather, Dr. William C. Wade, was a physician for over 40 years. Turner Station is one of the few remaining intact African American communities established in Baltimore County following the Civil War and during segregation.

Arkia started attending meetings held by the Turner Station Conservation Teams, Inc. (TSCT), a local nonprofit community organization committed to honoring Turner Station’s past and bright future through a holistic approach to community beautification, social support, and housing advocacy, with a strong emphasis on environmental justice. Through her work as a Girl Scout leader and volunteer leader in the Baltimore area, Arkia built relationships with long-time Turner Station community pillars, in particular entrepreneurial women, who shared her love for the neighborhood.

“Even though I didn’t grow up there,” says Arkia, “I wanted to help the community and people.”

Over the years, Arkia became more involved in Turner Station, leading scouts, organizing community events, serving as secretary of the Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group, and more recently, as treasurer for Turner Station Conservation Teams. Her longtime volunteer work with the Girls Scouts often intersects with TSCT’s work and mission, as was the case with the Witness Trees Project, a partnership between the Conversation Teams and The Nature Conservancy.

Arkia says of the Witness Trees Project, “It was important to me that the scouts were involved and out there to learn about the environment firsthand here in their own community.”

NeighborSpace and TSCT have partnered on projects like the installation of Chestnut Street Park and, beginning this past year, on outreach efforts for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funded Community Climate Resilience Project , for which Arkia is a member of the Core Team.

Arkia was part of Chestnut Street Park from its inception, noting “what a joy it has been to see where it started and how the space has come to fruition to where it is now. It is a testament to the success of people coming together on a common goal to see it through.”

She remembers Chestnut in the beginning when it was “a wild jungle” that volunteers worked tirelessly during the pandemic to transform into a beautiful, usable space.

For Arkia, the pinnacle of the planning, sweat, hard work, and early morning work days required to make Chestnut Street Park a reality was the community cookout last September. “It was amazing to see how this small but mighty group got all of that work done to create this space for people to come out, play games, and socialize, young and old. It is now another green space where people can commune.”

As Chestnut Street Park was taking root, another seed was planted in the early days of the pandemic. Witnessing the impact of the pandemic on older residents in Turner Station, Arkia organized a small group of volunteers to support older adults suffering from isolation by making monthly phone calls and eventually providing in-home visits and transportation assistance for medical appointments.

Today, Arkia has turned this volunteer endeavor into a fully operational, grant-funded nonprofit called Neighborhood Companions, Inc. , whose mission is to help older adults live a great life through companionship and transportation services. The organization’s works “to ensure that all older adults can live independently, and feel safe, valued, and loved.”

Arkia serves as the founder and CEO of Neighborhood Companions, a venture she took on full-time about one year ago. Of leaving her 23-year-long career in health care, Arkia says, “It was very scary, but also liberating”. Her resignation coincided with Juneteenth, 2023.

“I’m glad I took the leap of faith to do this work. It is very rewarding. I am very busy, but it is a good kind of busy – writing grants, making it happen, getting this organization off the ground.”

Neighborhood Companions is hosting its first volunteer training class next month. Arkia is grateful for the outpouring of financial, logistical, and volunteer support from neighbors and the wider community, including a recent article from the Maryland Department of Aging, highlighting Neighborhood Companion’s work.

Arkia’s success lies in the fact that she is no stranger to volunteering and public service. In addition to her work with TSCT, leading Girl Scouts, and running a nonprofit, Arkia is also President of the Baltimore County Arts Guild and Assistant Secretary for the East Baltimore City chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated-Psi Phi Omega Chapter. In honor of her extensive community service work, Arkia Wade was named the 2023 Baltimore County Woman of the Year.

For Arkia, it is important to instill a spirit of volunteerism when people are younger. Her advice for others looking to make an impact in their communities is that life is not always about money, noting that “other things outweigh money by a stretch”. She encourages new volunteers and community leaders to start small, to start “bite size” and go from there.

Arkia’s parents, who volunteered individually and as a family, have been her role models. Her mother, in particular, has been her “greatest inspiration.”

Arkia notes that her mother, who passed away four years ago, was “instrumental in creating a village for me. Growing up, I was surrounded by these amazing women who were entrepreneurs. I am doing what I do today because I saw them, the women who came before me, do it and be successful. It made me know that the path is possible.”

Starting Summer in East Towson

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:41:00 GMT

On a sweltering June afternoon, one day after the Summer Solstice, over 20 community members walked along the streets of East Towson. Led by Nancy Goldring, President of the Northeast Towson Improvement Association (NeTIA) and NeighborSpace Board Member, the group toured Baltimore County’s oldest African American community and visited several historic sites.

Tour highlights included the Jacob House log cabin, originally built by a former slave on land in what is now the 400 block of E Pennsylvania Avenue and relocated to its current location for preservation; St. James A.U.M.P. Church, the oldest church of the three Black churches in Towson; and the East Towson Carver Community Center, which used to be Carver Colored High School . Children used to be bussed down to the school all the way from Phoenix because there was no other high school for Black kids. Some women left the neighborhood to attend high school in the city because Baltimore County didn’t allow colored students to graduate from high school and, even if they did, they received an incomplete education and weren’t taught higher math or sciences. Multiple women left and attended Saint Frances Academy instead.

Nancy further elaborated that the entire area around the Carver center once acted as a main street, with schools, churches, barbers, and businesses. Chesapeake Ave was called “the great Black way” by a local journalist because of all the Black families living along the avenue and because the avenue was thriving. On what used to be a ballfield used by Negro leagues to practice and 8 of the original houses, the BGE substation was built in 1965, in between East Pennsylvania Avenue and the former Ma and Pa Railroad. At its height, East Towson was comprised of about 300 families, including the former community of Sandy Bottom. A number of homes on Lennox Ave are still owned by the original families, and there are still 5 or 6 families currently living in East Towson who descend directly from slaves of the Hampton Plantation .

As well as sharing history about the area, Nancy shared with the group history from her own family and her own life. Nancy’s great-great-grandfather James H. Williams founded the Mount Olive Baptist Church, which Nancy and her family still attend, at the corner of York and Bosley. This area was known as the Sandy Bottom community, which has since disappeared. She also shared memories of the annual Juneteenth parades of her youth, sponsored by the Elks Lodge. The parade used to go down Pennsylvania Avenue and everyone who was connected to East Towson in some way would come back and celebrate. This year, NeTIA hosted a small parade with a BBQ at the Carver Center playground after. Once Elks Lodge renovations have been completed, NeTIA plans to bring back Juneteenth parade in full force. Nancy and NeTIA are also leading the effort to construct a trail that will connect the historic sites of East Towson with the Hampton National Historic Site. The Road to Freedom Trail is an opportunity to use history to heal, to do something positive for the community while still acknowledging its origins.

After the walk, the group joined NeighborSpace friends and community members in Adelaide Bentley Park (named after Nancy Goldring’s grandmother, a longtime East Towson resident and community activist) for our Start of Summer Social. Featuring jazz piano, fresh pit beef, and ice cold beverages, NeighborSpace was thrilled to welcome over 40 attendees to relax under the shade of the mature trees in the park, which reduced the temperature about 10 degrees from the street!

NeighborSpace would like to thank everyone who attended the History Walk, which we were fortunate enough to be able to host for free thanks to a Marilyn Hatza Memorial SHINE grant from Maryland Humanities. And we would like to thank everyone who attended our Start of Summer social. With generous donations given by attendees, NeighborSpace was able to meet our annual fundraising goal with a week left in our fiscal year! You are the reason we do this work, and we cannot thank you enough for your support. Happy summer!

Rethinking Language Around Invasive Species

Thu, 30 May 2024 11:34:00 GMT

Invasive species continue to be an ecological concern because of their ability to outcompete native species for resources. At NeighborSpace, we dedicate significant time and resources to managing invasive terrestrial plants as one aspect of supporting biodiversity and healthy ecosystems in our parks.

Within the last decade, scientists, land managers, government agencies, gardeners, horticultural nurseries, and others have rallied around native plants. Organizations offer training programs to help professionals and volunteers learn to identify and remove invasive species. Laws have been passed to regulate the selling and use of invasives. Just this month, Maryland signed The Biodiversity and Agriculture Protection Act (HB979/SB915) which bans the sale of harmful invasive species.

Some involved in the study and management of invasive species have begun to question some of the language used to describe invasives, arguing that much of the rhetoric has roots in political and militaristic language. The term “invasive” is, for example, also used often in the context of war, as in an invasion or occupation at geopolitical borders. Other language used to describe the threat and management of invasive species includes: eradication, enemy, sneaking over borders, crossing borders, hitchhikers, and weed warriors .

Instead of using language associated with the human-made constructs of war, politics, and national boundaries, some have proposed shifting to ecosystem-based language around invasive species.

For example, instead of the common name Asian carp for the fish species, Cyprinus carpio can instead be called invasive carp or broadhead carp. This name change was, in fact, signed into law in Minnesota in 2014. The Minnesota law states that: The commissioner of natural resources shall not propose laws to the legislature that contain the term “Asian carp.” The commissioner shall use the term “invasive carp” or refer to the specific species in any proposed laws, rules, or official documents when referring to carp species that are not naturalized to the waters of this state.

This change is in line with a desire to move away from human-centric, place-based names and towards names that are ecologically descriptive. Celastrus orbiculatus (oriental bittersweet), for example, can be referred to as roundleaf bittersweet, named such because its leaves are rounder than American bittersweet. This renaming has the added advantage of a descriptive component (roundleaf) that can support accurate field identification, especially for commonly confused species.

The entomology community was the first to start this work, in its consideration of the renaming of gypsy moths. Advocates for name changes wanted to move away from names associated with groups of people or nationalities, considering the connotations of pairing the term invasive with words used to identify groups of people. Derogatory terms, such as gypsy or oriental are especially problematic, as are those naming conventions that negatively impact BIPOC and immigrant communities. Gypsy is a racial slur that has been used to refer to the Romani people. The Entomological Society of America (ESA), which controls common names for insects, announced in 2022 that the Lymantria dispar would henceforth have the common name spongy moth. You can read more about the ESA’s efforts here , as well as their working group: the Better Common Names Project .

University of Minnesota Extension has also been a leader in this effort, forming a working group and process for reconsidering common names. This working group addressed the renaming of invasive Asian jumping worms , as well as other jumping worm species. Their efforts focused on renaming conventions that more closely follow the scientific names or descriptive names that align with the species’ physiological characteristics, behavior, or other identifying and distinguishing features. Read more about the University of Minnesota Extension’s Guiding Principles “to inform selecting primary common names for new non-native species”.

Much of this work stemmed from a desire to reduce the harmful impacts of naming conventions that are associated with groups of people, places, and geopolitical boundaries. There are also conversations about trying to move away from overly moralistic language about invasive species, which are often pitted against native species in a good versus evil narrative. Campaigns, news headlines, and volunteer recruitment posters about invasive species management have anthropomorphized living organisms, casting them in a villainous or monster role. Plants, of course, do not have morality; this is a human construct.

Additionally, language around needing to save good native plants from the bad invasive ones can make native plants seem passive, like they need to be rescued and are unable on their own to adapt for survival. Native plants are not passive. They are resilient and are actively trying to survive. Instead of asking how we can save native species, a better question might be how can we support what native species are already doing. How can human management support native species resilience?

Blazing A Trail Along Bear Creek

Thu, 30 May 2024 11:02:00 GMT

If you’ve been following NeighborSpace for a while, you’ll know that the Bear Creek Heritage Trail in Dundalk has been years in the making. We are proud to report that not only have the first two phases of the trail been constructed, research into the area’s history in the War of 1812 has also been completed.

In the spring of 2022, Baltimore County awarded NeighborSpace a generous grant to begin building the Trail. The first two phases were recently completed and visitors can now safely walk from the trailhead at North Point State Battlefield, through the Battlefield, and across North Point Rd to Battle Acre Park.

After visiting Battle Acre Park, which is currently being enhanced by Baltimore County with memorial stones, a flagpole, and other features, trail users can exit the park and take in the mural of the Battle of North Point before following the new trail to where it meets an existing alley. This trail segment has been landscaped with native trees, shrubs, and perennials to provide shade, visual interest, and environmental benefits such as stormwater absorption and wildlife habitat.

NeighborSpace is grateful for the continued support of the Baltimore County Planning Department and the County Council. We are excited to announce that NeighborSpace was recently awarded a $105,000 Baltimore County Community Improvement Grant that will fund the design of Phase 3 of the Bear Creek Heritage Trail. This portion of the trail will connect Phase 2 with Battle Monument School and will run along the head of Bear Creek on a trail easement that NeighborSpace holds on private property. This will be the first segment of the trail that connects visitors with the Bear Creek waterfront and it will provide an exciting opportunity to complement construction of the trail with environmental enhancements to the stream buffer.

A request for design proposals has been issued and is available on the NeighborSpace website . The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 21.

Complementing the design-build efforts, a dedicated team of volunteers has been working behind the scenes for more than two years to interpret the area’s history. In the fall of 2021, NeighborSpace was awarded a $110,000 grant from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program for original research into the role of Bear Creek in the War of 1812 and its society around that time. Under Dr. Glenn Johnston’s leadership, a team of community and professional historians has uncovered a plethora of fascinating stories, some of which we’ve previously shared in a separate newsletter titled The Preceptor. (Digital copies of both editions can be found on the NeighborSpace website .) The team’s work shed light on the physical and societal landscape of Patapsco Neck in the early 1800s and on the stories of several African-American residents as well as a few white women who played remarkable roles in the War. Perhaps most significantly, the team’s research dramatically changes the interpretation of the defense of Baltimore during the War of 1812: it appears that Baltimore’s successful defense between September 11 and September 14, 1814, was determined by the Battle of North Point and US defenses on Hampstead Hill, not Fort McHenry.

These facts and others will be published in a comprehensive report later this year. In the meantime, NeighborSpace is working to highlight some findings on its website.

Undoubtedly the most engaging way to learn about this history is to join Dr. Johnston for a field trip. If you missed the first two bus tours, there is one more opportunity this Saturday ! The tour is free and includes stops at several sites that played an important role in the defense of Baltimore.

Spring Ephemerals in Bloom

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 12:22:00 GMT

Keep an eye out this March and April for spring ephemeral wildflowers beginning to bloom in Maryland forests. As their name suggests, these flowers bloom for only a short period of time each spring, tucking into the narrow window between the winter forest floor thaw and the summer canopy. Once the forest leafs out, the forest floor will be in nearly full shade for the summer months.

These wildflowers, like Virginia bluebells, white trillium, bloodroot, and trout lily, offer a respite from the browns and grays of winter, their color foreshadowing spring’s beauty. Additionally, these blooms are crucial to the health of the forest ecosystem. As pollinating insects emerge from winter dormancy, spring ephemerals are an important nectar source when food is otherwise scarce. These short-lived wildflowers thrive in forests with few invasives and ecosystems with trees at diverse stages of maturity.

Pictured below: Bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis ), photo by Mark Dwyer

Virginia bluebells ( Mertensia virginica ), photo by Sue Dingwell

Trout lily ( Erythronium americanum ), photo by The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education

White trillium ( Trillium grandiflorum ), photo by Richard Crook

The Face Behind The Space: Wiltondale Garden Club

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 12:04:00 GMT

Jessica Mendoza and Chris Raborn met in 2021. The pandemic was at its height when Chris delivered a potted plant from the Wiltondale Garden Club’s plant sale. The two connected on Jessica’s porch.

Now, three years later, Chris and Jessica are leading a partnership between NeighborSpace and the Wiltondale Garden Club to provide ongoing volunteer maintenance and financial support at Adelaide Bentley Park in historic East Towson.

When they met, Chris, a third-generation member of the garden club, had been involved for over 20 years. Jessica had recently become engaged with the East Towson Lynching Memorial Project where she met Nancy Goldring.

Nancy, a current NeighborSpace board member, is a leader in preserving and sharing the history of East Towson, Baltimore County’s oldest African American community. Adelaide Bentley Park was named in honor of Nancy’s grandmother who was known as the unofficial mayor of East Towson. Ms. Bentley dedicated her life to building community and preserving the history of East Towson.

While sharing donuts in Jessica’s backyard, Chris, Jessica, and Nancy uncovered a common interest in Adelaide Bentley Park and the idea of an ongoing partnership was born.

This year the Wiltondale Garden Club has committed to hosting garden work days at the park twice a month. They began in April and will continue hosting work days through November.

At Adelaide Bentley, the garden club is working on planting raised garden beds, removing invasive plants, and doing ongoing maintenance to make the garden inviting to community visitors. Jessica and Chris like that they and other club members can come back to the same space throughout a season to witness changes over time. Members can get to know the garden and the ongoing projects. The hope is that volunteers will get to know the space and feel comfortable visiting independently.

Club members are also interested in learning more about community open spaces and identifying native and non-native invasive plants. Jessica and Chris believe a hands-on approach is the best way to learn.

Chris, who has been Wiltondale Garden Club’s president since 2017, says the partnership with Adelaide Bentley Park is part of the club’s shift in recent years to doing more social and charitable work in the local community.

Since its founding in 1957, the garden club has been a social group with a focus on very local projects. Some founding members are still active in the club today. A 501c(3) organization, the club’s activities are funded by member contributions and two plant sales a year, one in the fall and one in the spring. In addition to their volunteer work at Adelaide Bentley Park, Wiltondale also hosts horticultural therapy events, maintains the planters outside of Towson library, and volunteers regularly at Radebaugh Park. You can read more about the Wiltondale Garden Club’s history and current projects on their website: https://wiltondalegardenclub.com/ .

Celebrate Earth Week with NeighborSpace!

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 08:50:00 GMT

NeighborSpace kicked off Earth Week bright and early last Saturday at Chestnut Park in Turner Station. We joined forces with Turner Station Conservation Teams to give the park a thorough spring cleanup. Volunteers of all ages pulled 6 bags’ worth of non-native invasives and mulched two of the beds. Thank you to our partner Live Green for donating mulch again this year!

Thanks to a Keep Maryland Beautiful grant, the Gwynn Oak Community Association was able to partner with NeighborSpace and Blue Water Baltimore to host an all-day Earth Week event at Carroll Watkins Park. Activities included a tree giveaway, seed bomb tutorial, and a bug blitz.

Master Gardeners were available to provide information about native plants and offer gardening advice. The Natural History Society of Maryland’s Lepidoptera Club shared their knowledge of native butterflies and moths.

For free native perennials and species-specific advice, visitors could stop by the native plant table and talk to Victor Bennett, who owns a native plant nursery and had a variety of perennials and shrubs for sale. For those who wished to express their love of the natural world in a different way, local artist Jani of Jord’s Hoard had a wide range of jewelry and ceramic items for sale.

To close out the day, we planted 200 plugs of native perennials to fill in the beds at the back of the park. Together with the new path, rain garden and swales, which were recently re-installed with United Way grant funding, Carroll Watkins Park is all set for a busy, colorful spring and summer!

NeighborSpace staff and volunteers then celebrated Earth Day on Monday by hosting two stewardship events. For the third consecutive year, a team of Whiting-Turner employees weeded and mulched at Adelaide Bentley Park in Towson. At Tollgate Wyndham Preserve in Owings Mills, the Maryvale Preparatory School freshman class spent the morning removing graffiti and non-native invasives and picking up trash. Both parks are now in great shape!

The Earth Week fun continues! Join us at Ridgely Manor Park in Towson on Friday afternoon to participate in a bio blitz with the goal of finding and identifying as many local plant and animal species as possible. This family-friendly activity is part of the City Nature Challenge , an international (friendly) competition that engages residents of cities such as Baltimore in documenting nature to better understand urban biodiversity.
If you would like to learn more about the historical significance of Baltimore County’s waterways, come to Dundalk on Saturday to listen to historian Dr. Glenn Johnston speak about his research for the Bear Creek Heritage Trail project.
Finally, on Sunday morning, NeighborSpace is partnering with Baltimore Bird Club to host a birding walk at Volz Park in Middle River.

These activities and more can be found on the NeighborSpace event calendar . We hope to see you at an event soon!

Taking a Moment of Mindfulness in Levickas Woods

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 10:23:00 GMT

On the sunny early evening of April 22nd, Earth Day, a group of Dunmore neighbors and NeighborSpace staff took an hour out of their day to spend time in and notice nature. The group took a walk through Levickas Woods and were led by Phillip McKnight, a Certified Mindfulness Teacher with the Center for Nature-Informed Therapy , through various mindfulness exercises, all involving noticing and appreciating all that we were fortunate to have around us. We listened for the burbling stream, the bird calls, any breeze making its way through the treetops. We stopped and viewed the forest from the canopy down, noticing the different layers and textures and colors and growth patterns. We were offered space to individualize the beings around us, to interact with non-human entities from a place of respect and attention, instead of blowing past what we might tend to think of as “the ordinary”. And finally we were invited to take a few moments of seated stillness, focusing on the movement and activity going on all around and outside of us, the forest existing beyond our human priorities and concerns, for itself.

I personally took great benefit from this practice. And from the final thoughts of the group, I was not the only one. There is significant evidence for the benefits of spending time in nature and using mindfulness techniques to focus on the living world outside of our own heads. When asked why the group members chose to attend this mindfulness walk, everyone expressed some form of wanting to slow down, or de-stress, or experience nature in a new way. We can get so wrapped up in the complexities of our lives and schedules that it becomes difficult to really notice anything going on around us. To make time and space to notice the natural world, in all of its minute details and large shifts, is to expand our perspective beyond ourselves and to reorient us to our place within the world we all share. Attention to the natural world then feeds into caring for the natural world, wanting to protect and preserve it. This reciprocity improves the lives and health of the entire natural ecosystem, of which we are a part.

The Center for Nature-Informed Therapy is, according to their website, “a community of mental health professionals including social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, and mindfulness practitioners who have dedicated their professional lives to the advancement of nature informed mental health work”, who envision “a future where a reciprocal relationship with nature will restore the mental health of all people and create deeper connection to self, others and our spirituality.” Thank you to CNIT for partnering with us on this event, and specifically to Phillip McKnight for leading our group. We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future!

Eighty Student Volunteers Clean Up Tollgate Wyndham Preserve

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:18:00 GMT

We are grateful to Maryvale Preparatory’s Class of 2025 juniors and their teachers for helping make Tollgate Wyndham Preserve safer and healthier. Eighty Maryvale students and faculty joined NeighborSpace the morning of March 22nd for their class service day. This is a tradition where each grade level plans a full day of service together. Following their stewardship work at Tollgate Wyndham in the morning, the students then volunteered in the afternoon making blankets at a local church.

The junior class enthusiastically joined NeighborSpace volunteers Barbara, Carolyn, Lance, and Marsha to support the park by cleaning up trash, removing invasive plants, and removing graffiti from trees.

Thanks to a recent and very effective clean-up effort by Tollgate area neighbors, the preserve only had a little bit of trash to start with. Even so, students ventured up through the streambed and into the pond to remove paper and food container litter.

Another group worked on removing invasive plants, mainly multiflora rose, filling twelve trash bags full. Removing these invasive species supports native plant growth by decreasing competition for resources like space, nutrients, and light.

Tollgate Wyndham has recently experienced vandalism, including graffiti on trees. In addition to making the park look bad and feel unsafe for the community, paint from the graffiti hurts trees. Like human skin, trees also have pores, called lenticels, that absorb water and nutrients and are responsible for O ₂ and CO ₂ gas exchange. Paint can clog these pores. Chemicals from the paint can also be absorbed through the lenticels and can damage the tree.

After asking local foresters and urban ecology practitioners for advice on best practices for graffiti removal on trees, we settled on using castile soap, water, scour pads, and grout brushes to remove the spray paint effectively without applying additionally harmful chemicals. The Maryvale group cleaned graffiti from eight trees and made significant progress on several others. If you are interested in learning more about this process, join us on Saturday, April 13th, 10 AM – 12 PM, for graffiti removal and a stream clean-up at Tollgate Wyndham Preserve.

Herpetology Club Partners with NeighborSpace to Survey Habitat

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:10:00 GMT

Because NeighborSpace’s conservation goals address both social and environmental needs, each of our sites provides a space for humans to connect with each other and with nature while also providing habitat for local wildlife. Some of our sites, however, are especially valuable because they provide habitat to sensitive species and are important for local water quality.

Per the US Department of Agriculture , a riparian forest buffer is “an area adjacent to a stream, lake, or wetland that contains a combination of trees, shrubs, and/or other perennial plants and is managed differently from the surrounding landscape, primarily to provide conservation benefits”. Such buffers can help meet a number of natural resource, economic, and social objectives, including: filtering nutrients and sediment from stormwater runoff; providing shade, shelter and food for aquatic organisms; providing wildlife habitat and corridors for terrestrial organisms; protecting downstream communities from flood damage; and creating recreational spaces. Several NeighborSpace sites serve as riparian forest buffers, but three of them are traversed both by a stream and heavily used walking paths: Levickas Woods in Catonsville, Tollgate Wyndham Preserve in Owings Mills, and Volz Neighborhood Park in Middle River.

These three sites are the focus of a new project that NeighborSpace is hoping to roll out within the next year. The goal of the project is twofold: (1) perform targeted restoration and measurably improve the riparian habitat; and (2) build community capacity to sustainably monitor and steward the sites in the future. This will be accomplished through a mix of educational activities, citizen science, professional invasive removal, volunteer stream clean-ups and the planting of native trees, shrubs and perennials.

In order to ensure that restoration efforts are effectively addressing local habitat needs and to raise awareness of the importance of keeping NeighborSpace sites clean and healthy, we first need to know who calls these spaces home. Amphibians, in particular, are good indicators of significant environmental changes. Since amphibians breathe at least partly through their skin, their bodies are much more sensitive to environmental factors such as pollution and habitat destruction than those of other classes of animals. They also need water to reproduce. Amphibian populations are severely declining worldwide , for a number of reasons, and so there is an urgent need to protect and restore what habitat we can. A critical habitat component for several native amphibian species is the presence of temporary ponds in the spring, on which they rely for the reproduction and development of their young. Such “ vernal pools ” are typically small, ephemeral water bodies that have no permanent inlet or outlet: they fill each spring with rain and snow melt, then dry up for a period of time during the summer. Interestingly, the PA Natural Heritage Program cites that 85% of vernal pool amphibians return each year to breed in the pond where they were born, emphasizing the importance of preserving these sites. Vernal pools can be found at each of the three NeighborSpace parks listed above as well as at several others.

NeighborSpace is excited to partner with the Herpetology Club at the Natural History Society of Maryland to begin surveying its sites. Herpetology Club members and NeighborSpace staff have already visited Sawmill Preserve and Tollgate Wyndham Preserve, and visits to Volz Neighborhood Park and our Norman Creek site in Essex are scheduled for the next few weeks. These first visits are focused on finding and identifying as many species as possible; more detailed population surveys will be performed in the future. Despite the early March cold, the Club found snails and snail eggs, red-backed salamanders and eggs, and a male wood frog thawing out from his winter dormancy. Wood frogs are extremely cold-resistant and can tolerate up to 65% of their body water freezing! They are also reliant on vernal pools for reproduction.

Aside from the project sketched above, the work of collecting and tracking data on animal and plant species present at NeighborSpace sites is an important strategy in achieving the organization’s vision for a network of highly effective sites and volunteers. As highlighted in NeighborSpace’s 5-year Strategic Plan , we are focused on performing effective restoration and developing a sustainable stewardship model. While NeighborSpace’s custom GIS tool and anecdotal evidence show that its sites are addressing local environmental and social needs, regular collection of data on a consistent set of metrics will allow us to better measure their impact and adjust stewardship efforts accordingly.

NeighborSpace is grateful to the Herpetology Club members for sharing their expertise and time with us. We hope to open up a surveying session to the public in the future. In the meantime, check out the Natural History Society of Maryland ’s many offerings and NeighborSpace’s busy spring calendar .

Relationships in Nature

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 11:52:00 GMT

Relationships in nature, like those in the human world, come in many forms. While some animals do mate for life and express affection, this is rare. Often, mating rituals and partnerships come down to survival and long-term gene pool diversification. In honor of February and Valentine’s Day, let’s explore amorous relationships in the wild, focusing on a few local animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi.

My Other Half

The Diplozoon paradoxum is a parasitic flatworm that lives in the gills of fish like minnows and carps, sucking their blood for nourishment. An adult D. paradoxum is actually two individuals permanently fused together. The fusion of the two parasitic flatworms into one occurs as part of the mating process. In fact the D. paradoxum is incapable of producing eggs unless joined together with its mate, the two bodies forming an H-shape that resembles a butterfly. This union also increases the flatworm’s lifespan. Without a fused mate, they are unlikely to survive the winter, but joined together, the diplozoon paradoxum can live up to three years.

Monogamy, Or Else

The term “love birds” has its origins in the observed behaviors of birds, who by-and-large, show public affection for their mates and frequently mate with a single individual for life. Ninety-five percent of bird species are considered monogamous, although researchers have shown that, even within a monogamous relationship, many birds have multiple partners. Take the superb fairy wren. This species mates for life, however, researchers Michael Double and Andrew Cockburn used GPS tracking and DNA analysis to show how female superb fairy wrens leave the marital nest in the pre-dawn hours to mate with other males. Their round-trip affairs take a mere fifteen minutes.

Perhaps the answer to infidelity lies with the black vultures. Male and female individuals mate for life, sharing an elaborate mid-air mating dance and family nest. Partners take turns incubating eggs in 24-hour shifts. But, when the male lovebird strays from the nest, watch out! If caught, the whole flock will turn against him, forcing the male black vulture back to the family nest to resume parental duties.

I Really Lichen You

It can look kind of like moss or a plant or even like a powder or bird droppings. Lichen, in fact, is none of these. Lichen is a collection of multiple fungi, algae, and cyanobacteria living in mutualistic relationship like a mini-ecosystem. The fungi provide structure, water, and minerals and the algae provide the energy, through photosynthesis. Together, these organisms are more than simply the sum of their parts, with an enhanced ability to survive in conditions beyond the reach of the individuals alone. There is an incredible diversity of lichens; they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, each with its own complex 3D structure. In total, lichens cover about seven percent of Earth’s surface. Additionally, lichens can offer valuable data about climate change and environmental conditions. They are extremely sensitive to air pollution and changing temperatures, and as such, can offer a glimpse into early trends in changing ecosystems.

BBC Earth (Ed.). (n.d.). Seven Animals Who Mate for Life . BBC Earth. https://www.bbcearth.com/news/seven-animals-who-mate-for-life

Double, M., & Cockburn, A. (2000). Pre-Dawn Infidelity: Females Control Extra-Pair Mating in Superb Fairy-Wrens. Proceedings: Biological Sciences , 267 (1442), 465–470. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1571429

Mullin, S., & Dewey, T. (n.d.). Diplozoon Paradoxum . Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Diplozoon_paradoxum/

National Geographic. (2018, January 25). What’s in a lichen? how scientists got it wrong for 150 years | Short film showcase . YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkw_VF5zDT0

Young, L. J., & Groskin, L. (2019, January 25). For the love of lichen . Science Friday. https://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/for-the-love-of-lichen/

MyCoast Maryland

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 11:33:00 GMT

A new tracking app allows Maryland residents to upload photos of flooding. MyCoast Maryland was recently launched by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources with the purpose of capturing real-time data of flooding events across the state.

According to the DNR, the MyCoast app gained 400 new users during last month’s storm on January 9th which coincided with high tide.

Residents can upload photos of flooding and water marks or debris lines following a storm, including details about the location, date, and time. This data will help government agencies, public works, and urban planners better understand the impacts of flooding to inform long-term mitigation plans.

The data collected will be used in conjunction with reports to 311 and 911. All Maryland residents can participate. To upload photos of a rain event or tidal flooding, go to mycoast.org/md and create a new account. The program is also available through the MyCoast mobile app. Once a photo is uploaded, the program will retrieve background information about weather and tidal conditions linked to the photo time and location.

MyCoast Maryland . MyCoast. (2023). https://mycoast.org/md Vogel, K. (2024, January 26).

MyCoast data shows impact of January flooding . Natural Resources News. https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2024/01/26/mycoast-data-shows-impact-of-january-flooding/

A Partnership to Enhance “The Lot”

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 11:26:00 GMT

NeighborSpace has been partnering with the Graystone Community Association since 2009 when the Association reached out with the request to preserve a quarter-acre vacant lot as community open space. Since then, “the lot” – as it is affectionately called by neighbors – has hosted countless community meetings, movie nights, volleyball and badminton games, crochet circles, flea markets, and more. As Association Board member and NeighborSpace stewardship partner Kerri Lastner shared at a NeighborSpace house party last year, especially during the 2020 COVID pandemic the lot was “a lifesaver, allowing the community to safely come together”.

Graystone Community Open Space is a simple space: a steep slope with a handicap ramp leads to a level, rectangular lawn. It is anchored by a community sign, several large black walnut trees and a fence. Standing at the top of the lot affords a lovely view of Woodlawn and lower-lying neighborhoods.

Now the Graystone community is ready to enhance the lot with features that will make it an environmentally and socially more appealing space. Since there is some uncertainty as to the interest and capacity of the community to maintain landscaping, the Community Association suggested drawing up a “master plan” that can be installed piece by piece. NeighborSpace wholeheartedly supports this approach, as we have learned that maintenance can be a challenge. Installing successive smaller gardens will allow us to provide the education, training, and funding needed to establish plantings while simultaneously growing a team of committed neighborhood volunteers.

As luck would have it, Landscape Architect Kelly Fleming was looking for a project for her undergraduate “Community Design Studio” class at University of Maryland. We are thrilled to share that Ms. Fleming’s class has embraced this project and we look forward to seeing the students’ visions for the park!

Ms. Fleming’s class is following a process very similar to how NeighborSpace works “behind the scenes” when restoring a property. Ms. Fleming met with Graystone and NeighborSpace leadership to nail down the goal, process, and timeline for designing the space. The entire class then visited Woodlawn for a site visit and tour of the area. Mrs. Lastner highlighted the merits of the Open Space and how the community likes to use it, and then took the group on an impromptu guided tour of the neighborhood, Woodlawn Village, and Gwynn Oak Park to provide historical context.

Engaging Community: NeighborSpace’s Strategic Conservation Planning Retreat

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 11:12:00 GMT

On a chilly Saturday in late January, NeighborSpace staff, Board, and stewardship partners gathered in Dundalk for a facilitated retreat to start the process of developing our strategic conservation plan. The purpose of a strategic conservation plan is to guide our conservation priorities for the next 5-10 years. Outlining priorities and criteria helps to avoid missed opportunities on the one hand and to avoid acquiring properties that don’t fit our mission on the other hand.

The group met at The Forge, Dundalk Renaissance ‘s beautiful development center, and Executive Director Phyllis Joris walked everyone through NeighborSpace’s mission and history and all 21 current sites. Each stewardship partner in attendance stood and spoke about their site, both its benefits and challenges. The group also discussed the benefit of open space to communities in general, brainstorming why this area of focus is important on a larger scale.

After lunch, facilitator Paulo Gregory led the group through a few exercises to recognize the group dynamics and recombine them. Paulo walked the smaller reformed groups through the Cohado Emergent Development Model in order to, in his words, “provide a framework for understanding collaborative organizing to engage the community to achieve collective goals.” Paulo then led a game of Cohado, similar in gameplay mechanics to dominos, where the goal is to work cooperatively to close loops and utilize all resources without waste, instead of playing competitively and allowing branches to sprawl. Attendees were surprised at how different this gameplay felt to typical tabletop games. Folks were engaging actively with each other, showing their hands openly, and working together to problem-solve and to look ahead to make not only the current move beneficial to the group, but the next few moves as well.

With the groups warmed up and working together, Paulo led a discussion about organizational focus areas and priorities and then each group worked to brainstorm both the most critical needs of the organization and some strategies to meet those needs. One of the most significant priorities and key takeaways from the entire day was the resounding importance of and need for community. A place to come together as a community is one of the most foundational things people seek in neighborhood open space, yet it is also cultivating and engaging community members that helps neighborhood open spaces thrive. They, and we, depend on each other.

Thank you to all of the stewardship partners who participated for enlightening and informing us. Thank you also to Paulo and Jenny of Cohado for providing an uplifting experience, and Dundalk Renaissance for use of their excellent space. What’s next? From here, NeighborSpace will take some time to digest and will work over the next few months on formulating the full strategic conservation plan. Once it is complete, we will announce it on our website and social media. Stay tuned!

Community Climate Resilience in Turner Station Project Update

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 09:46:00 GMT

Outreach efforts are in full swing for the Community Climate Resilience in Turner Station project . This study is funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and is a partnership between the Baltimore County government, Turner Station Conservation Teams, NeighborSpace, The Nature Conservancy, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition.

Since late November, NeighborSpace has been working with Turner Station Conservation Teams and local community leaders to collect survey responses about flooding in the neighborhood. Survey results will be shared with the community, Baltimore County, and a County consultant who will design a plan for targeted, fundable flood mitigation, including green and gray infrastructure improvements.

Community outreach efforts so far have included tabling at St. Matthew UMC food pantry and the Fleming Center, door-to-door canvassing, and displaying project information at the library and Sollers Point Multipurpose Center. The community response has been positive; Turner Station residents are eager to share stories about previous floods, areas of highest concern, and how flooding impacts daily activities, transportation, health and wellbeing, and cost of living.

Turner Station, like many communities in the region, experienced significant rainfall and tidal flooding the night of January 9, 2024. Neighbors documented the flooding, sharing photos and video with NeighborSpace and local news (link to Channel 11 coverage ). This kind of documentation is key to understanding flooding in Turner Station and other coastal communities. To learn about community-sourced data collection on flooding and storms, check out the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Project, MyCoast .

On February 26th, the Turner Station Conservation Teams and NeighborSpace will host a Community Kick-off meeting to share project efforts with residents. Representatives from Baltimore County will discuss potential next steps following the information gathering portion of the project. Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about future projections of sea level rise. NeighborSpace will guide residents through completing the survey and document anecdotal information shared about flooding impacts on individuals and the community.

Following the kick-off meeting, we will continue collecting survey responses while also pivoting to serving as a liaison between the County consultant and Turner Station residents as the study progresses into recommendations for flood mitigation strategies and infrastructure improvements.

Additionally, NeighborSpace will take the lead on compiling a Resource Toolkit for residents. Included in the toolkit will be contact information for reporting flooding emergencies, as well as local and regional resources on home insurance and flooding mitigation strategies for residents.

Towson Students Present Cherry Heights Neighborhood History

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 14:49:00 GMT

On January 11th, Towson University Associate Professor Dr. Sya Buryn Kedzior and students Ja’lyn Hicks and Collin Bates presented their team’s findings on the history of the Cherry Heights neighborhood in Overlea. NeighborSpace has a small park there named Cherry Heights Woodland Garden after the former African-American community of Cherry Heights whose boundary runs diagonally through the property. According to the report, the community plan was drawn up in 1909, “developed and marketed as the first community for African American homeowners in Baltimore County.”

Included in the report itself are sections outlining the early development of and pushback against the neighborhood; a history of the practices of urban planning and redlining in the greater Baltimore metropolitan area; descriptions of the various methods of segregation used by county officials and unsupportive residents to slow the growth of the Cherry Heights neighborhood and others like it; a survey of census data on the neighborhood’s demographics; and a discussion of the neighborhood’s most important landmarks and prominent residents.

The Towson University team presented their findings to an engaged and enthusiastic crowd, including neighbors, local residents, District 6 County Councilman Mike Ertel, and NeighborSpace Board and staff members. As part of the presentation, the team shared some additional context and information. For one thing, there was a shift in how the community lots were marketed and used over time. They were originally marketed to affluent African-Americans as bucolic plots “in the country” to later build a home on for retirement, which can be seen in the restrictions on building materials that could be used and the fact that many people bought lots but didn’t build until much later (or not at all). Over 20 years or so, the neighborhood shifted to an area where people lived year-round. Density also changed: plots were originally marketed for single-family homes but census records show that many residences were duplexes and apartments. Throughout this shift, the importance of the streetcar cannot be overstated. While Black residents lived in Cherry Heights, they still worked, worshipped and were forced to go to school in the City. This transportation was crucial to the vitality of Cherry Heights.

There is still much to be uncovered about the neighborhood. The researchers had to rely predominantly on written records and resources, but more could be learned from first-hand accounts by older residents or from primary sources still existing within the community. At the presentation, a few attendees who still live in the area spoke of historical documents that had been passed down to them – one mentioned having the original deed to their home which included racially restrictive covenants (a common practice at the time}, and another found documents going back to W. Ashbie Hawkins (mentioned first on pg. 9 of the report). Another difficulty to historical research is that, as Dr. Kedzior put it, “often what is normalized isn’t documented.” While it is well-documented that the community association was active in hosting events and advocating for schools, there is less information about the activities of the local churches, even though they were just as pivotal to the community culture. What was their attendance like? What activities did they host? What was their involvement in the community politics? As such information would have been common knowledge locally at the time, there is not a clear record, and therefore room for further discoveries about the neighborhood.

We would like to thank Dr. Kedzior, Ja’lyn Hicks, Collin Bates, Shepsura Page, and Tyler Roberts for all of their hard work on this research and presentation. Though we unfortunately do not have a recording of the presentation, if you would like to read the report for yourself, the final draft and appendices are linked on our website here .

Introducing Amanda Glassco, Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator!

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:14:00 GMT

Hello Friends of NeighborSpace of Baltimore County,

I am excited to join the NeighborSpace team as the Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator. I am passionate about NeighborSpace’s mission to conserve and improve land and to increase community access to green spaces.

My previous experience includes teaching middle and high school environmental science and working for a community-based youth mentoring program. Additionally, I have volunteered with environmental nonprofits in the Chicago area where I did restoration work and volunteered as a naturalist.

Originally from the Midwest, I earned a BA in Sociology from the College of St. Scholastica and a Masters in Education from the University of Chicago. My family and I moved to Baltimore City in 2021 and enjoy tending to our tiny urban forest and garden, reading, playing board games, and exploring nearby parks together.

I hope to meet you in person sometime soon! In the meantime, please feel free to email me at amanda@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org .

Giving Tuesday 2023: A Strategic Conservation Plan for NeighborSpace

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 10:26:00 GMT

With Thanksgiving and the end of the year coming up, I am taking a moment to step back and appreciate the work that we do here at NeighborSpace. I am grateful for the natural beauty of Baltimore County and the land that NeighborSpace has conserved so far. I feel deep appreciation for our stewardship partners and donors who so generously share their resources with NeighborSpace and its communities, and I am thankful every day for the dedication, knowledge, and time of the NeighborSpace Board members. Perhaps most of all, I am grateful for Nature’s resiliency and its ability to thrive even in the smallest urban pockets, and for the County residents who steward it and bring new opportunities for protection to our attention.

Looking ahead, with our 20th anniversary coming up, NeighborSpace is taking stock of where we are as an organization and how we want to carry this work forward. Thanks to the support of our donors and partners, NeighborSpace has so far conserved 21 sites around the county, each with their own character and history. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that there is much more work to be done. NeighborSpace is the only land trust working across urban Baltimore County and the need and the desire for community open space is only growing. In fact, there are so many exciting properties and projects to consider that NeighborSpace needs to be intentional about saying ‘yes’ and needs to define priorities for what we actively pursue.

NeighborSpace is approaching the Strategic Conservation Planning process with the community-centered focus that it applies to all aspects of our work. We are looking to you, our partners and donors, to lay the groundwork for NeighborSpace’s work for the coming decade or more. There are many questions to consider and individuals will likely have very different answers, depending on their background and priorities. It is important that a wide variety of stakeholders engage in an equitable and focused conversation.

There are two ways that you can support NeighborSpace in this critical process:

Please donate to our Giving Tuesday campaign so that NeighborSpace can hire an external facilitator to guide our Strategic Conservation Planning process. Donations can be made online here or by check to NeighborSpace of Baltimore County, P.O. Box 6715, Towson, MD 21285.
Please participate in the Strategic Conservation Planning process. Contact me at phyllis@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org or 443-850-2756 to be included in the conversation.

As always, I am grateful for your support. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.

Live Music at Carroll Watkins Park

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 10:25:00 GMT

The NeighborSpace event season ended gently on a moonlit evening in late October, with live music at Carroll Watkins Park in Gwynn Oak. Park supporters and neighbors joined us for wine, snacks, and the musical talent of jazz pianist Aaron Statham, amidst all of the park artwork by neighboring artists David Friedheim and Trisha Kyner.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Carroll Watkins Park and at all of our events this year. We loved being able to join you in enjoying our community green spaces, and we hope to host more events and see you back outside next year!

Maryland Conservationists Gather for 3rd Annual Conference

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 12:48:00 GMT

Forever Maryland is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advancing land conservation statewide through education, advocacy, and outreach. The organization underwent several transitions over the past year, but that did not keep it from hosting an invigorating Maryland Land Conservation Conference in Annapolis earlier this month. This year’s edition was centered around the theme “Changing the Future, Now!”

Working at an environmental organization can feel daunting at times, especially when dire headlines about the effects of climate change, suburban sprawl, and species loss dominate headlines on a daily basis. This year’s conference focused on breaking down these overwhelming challenges into actions and opportunities where land preservation can play a key role. Talks and panels discussed ways that landowners, community leaders, governments, and others can utilize land conservation to help transform communities for the better.

Given that NeighborSpace’s mission is to enhance the livability of urban communities, and considering the small scale on which we work, this theme resonated with me. Conference impressions always take some time to percolate, but here are a few key takeaways that I plan to incorporate into NeighborSpace’s work:

The keynote speech was delivered by Elise Joshi, Executive Director of Gen-Z for Change . Her passion and energy alone are an inspiration, but Ms. Joshi also had some practical tips on how to diversify the land conservation movement, which is overwhelmingly White and – judging by the conference audience – over 40. (This is based on the 2022 Land Trust Salaries and Benefits Survey: Summary Report, Land Trust Alliance: Table 17: 95% of land trust Executive Directors identify as White.) Messaging is important! Since today’s young people are already very much aware of the threat of climate change, Ms. Joshi advises that land trusts focus on actionable items rather than spreading more “doom and gloom”, and that we demonstrate how land conservation can help address other issues such as housing, clean energy, the effects of climate change, etc. Ms. Joshi also reminded the audience that if we wish to engage more younger folks, we need to be flexible when we schedule meeting and event times and in the communication channels we use. Stay tuned for NeighborSpace’s first TikTok video…
In a fast-paced but visually rich presentation, four Maryland land trusts shared how they are going beyond “just” conservation to address local environmental challenges. Gunpowder Valley Conservancy spoke about its Clear Creeks project, which it started 10 years ago with the goal of improving water quality in the Gunpowder watershed. More than 7,000 volunteers have since contributed to the initiative through educational workshops, stream clean-ups, tree plantings, and the installation of rain gardens and rain barrels. Eastern Shore Land Conservancy shared how it actively stewards its land to bring back wildlife habitat and how fire is an essential part of that strategy. Our city neighbor Baltimore Green Space gave a detailed overview of its forest stewardship program and shared statistics on the benefits of active stewardship and the resulting healthy forests. Finally, Howard County Conservancy shared details on how it conserved its first easement on a “working” church’s property. Each of these four topics is something that I hope to incorporate in NeighborSpace’s work in the future and I will be looking to my colleagues to learn from their pilot projects. NeighborSpace’s 5-year Strategic Plan includes developing a more robust (forest) stewardship model and a set of metrics to consistently collect data on site performance. We already incorporate stormwater management BMPs and wildlife habitat into park designs, but it is my hope that we are able to build capacity in the next few years so that we can cast a wider net and roll out such efforts on a residential or neighborhood level.

I chose to attend the breakout session “Healing Communities through Greenspace”, which featured presentations by Arica Gonzales and Nature Sacred .
Nature Sacred is a non-profit organization that creates green space in urban environments with a focus on the “healing power of contemplative, nearby nature”. The organization’s processes and goals mirror those of NeighborSpace and it has installed close to 30 spaces in the Baltimore area so far. Arica Gonzales is the Executive Director of The Urban Oasis , an organization started in 2015 by residents of Baltimore’s Panway community in an effort to address issues of blight, drug dealing, and dumping that had affected both the physical environment as well as the social and emotional culture of the neighborhood. The community has successfully transformed a neglected alley into a welcoming garden and gathering space, complete with decorative gates and fairy lights, and cleaned up a vacant lot to become a neat green space with a seating area and a podium large enough to host the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra ! An enthusiastic team of neighborhood teens picks up trash, mows lawns, plants gardens, and has built benches and planters. Ms. Gonzalez’ story is a beautiful reminder of the power of community.

For me, the value of NeighborSpace’s work and of attending gatherings such as this conference was summed up well by a comment that Andrew Bowman, President and CEO of the Land Trust Alliance , made during the keynote panel. I’ll paraphrase it loosely here:

“The strength of the land conservation community lies in its diversity of missions, in all the different reasons why we conserve. Lead with what you are passionate about, with what your community needs. In the end, it’s all about the people.”

NeighborSpace Looks Ahead to Phase 3 of the Bear Creek Heritage Trail

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 12:19:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is honored to have been awarded a $275,880 grant from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Recreational Trails program. This grant will fund construction of the next phase of the Bear Creek Heritage Trail, which runs along the Bear Creek waterfront on an easement that NeighborSpace obtained in 2016.

The Bear Creek Heritage Trail is a multi-year project to build a long-missing connection between the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, North Point State Battlefield, Battle Acre Park, and the Bear Creek waterfront in Dundalk. It will allow Baltimore County residents and visitors to engage with the surrounding landscape and its history through a walking trail, water access locations for education and recreation, and interpretive signage commemorating the Battle of North Point. Its location near the Bear Creek shoreline will support the stewardship and protection of local wetlands. More background information on the project can be found on the project page and in past newsletter articles .

Thanks to a $250,000 grant received from Baltimore County in the spring of 2022, design of Phases 1 and 2 has been completed and construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of November 2023. These first two phases will take trail users from North Point State Battlefield along Battle Acre Park to the alley that runs in between the townhomes on Wallford Drive and Battle Acre Park.

In addition, in September 2021 NeighborSpace received a $110,454 Battlefield Protection Grant from the National Park Service to fund historical research that will be used to interpret the trail and provide guidance for its design. The research team has collected a wealth of data on the Dundalk society in the early 1800s (see The Preceptor Issue 1 and Issue 2 ) and is currently working on its final report and an exhibition, to be completed by December 2023.

The 3rd phase of the Bear Creek Heritage Trail will connect Battle Acre Park to the Bear Creek waterfront. Trail users will continue along the alley to Wallford Drive. On the other side of Wallford Drive, the trail will follow an easement that NeighborSpace procured in 2016, in between Charlesmont Apartments and a small tributary of Bear Creek. Planned improvements along the segment of the trail in the alley include trail markers, landscaping, and potentially a new sidewalk. Along the easement, an 8ft wide and 650ft long trail will be installed. There is an opportunity for streambank restoration and invasive plant removal here, to minimize erosion and pollution and enhance the aesthetics of the tributary, which NeighborSpace plans to take advantage of in a later phase.

Powhatan Fall Fest

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 12:08:00 GMT

…Or should we say Fish Fry? When the fried fish food truck canceled last-minute for Powhatan’s Fall Fest on September 30th, NeighborSpace Board member and Powhatan Farms President Aaron Barnett stepped up and fried pound after pound of fish, to everyone’s delight.

It was a sunny fall afternoon, and Powhatan Farms turned out for an afternoon of fellowship at the Park. Children played games, adults chatted, and everyone enjoyed the open community green space together.

There was even a birthday, and a cake to celebrate!

Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy the beautiful day with us!

NeighborSpace’s First Annual Volunteer and Donor Appreciation Event

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:53:00 GMT

On Friday, October 20th, NeighborSpace staff and Board gathered with a group of intrepid volunteers and donors at the Carver Community Center in Towson. Though originally scheduled to be held at Ridgely Manor Park, we had to bow out and implement plan B once the forecast showed rainy, blustery conditions. Fortunately, we had a champion in Board member Nancy Goldring, who greatly assisted us in acquiring event space on short notice and was willing to share the history of the area with attendees. We were able to set up in the lovely large space just down the hall from a cabinet full of photos, awards, and mementos of Nancy’s grandmother, Adelaide Bentley, an East Towson community leader and namesake for NeighborSpace’s own Adelaide Bentley Park.

We could not have been more grateful for the group of volunteers and donors who braved the rain and last-minute location change to join us in celebration. These are folks who are absolutely vital to any success we here at NeighborSpace have, and who are our first supporters when we face difficulties. Though not everyone could join us for this particular evening, we want each and every donor and volunteer who has worked with us to know that you are appreciated and that we could not do the work we do without you.

Thank you to our stewardship partners, to our volunteers, to our donors, and to our supporters across Baltimore County. Thank you for caring about open green space in our communities, and for working with us to bring these spaces to communities across the county, reaching every county district. This is the first of what we hope will be a yearly celebration of your hard work and dedication. We hope to see you at next year’s appreciation event!

Adelaide Bentley Park Makeover!

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 09:05:00 GMT

NeighborSpace and Northeast Towson Improvement Association are excited to share that Adelaide Bentley Park has received a makeover! Thanks to the expertise and manpower of GWWOrks volunteers and the generous financial support of the Wiltondale Garden Club , Adelaide Bentley Park once again provides a place of respite in Historic East Towson.

GWWOrks is a monthly volunteer effort, run by architect Dave Ritter, that encourages staff of GWWO Architects to contribute their skills and manpower to enhancing local communities. For Adelaide Bentley Park, the GWWOrks team sketched a multi-phase improvement plan that would establish a “sense of place” and allow neighbors and visitors to more easily use the park to gather, entertain, garden, and enjoy the natural surroundings.

If you’ve been following NeighborSpace for a while, you will know that we struggle with a formidable invasive seed bank at Adelaide Bentley Park. The landscaping that was installed in 2017 is still present and the native plantings have continued to grow, but so have the invasive vines, and come summer the trail through the park can be difficult to navigate. GWWO’s proposal focused on establishing a sense of arrival and providing a gathering space.

On Thursday September 14th, roughly 40 GWWO volunteers donated a full day of their time to weed, mulch, and build. The result is a much more enjoyable park, complete with an arbor, 6 benches, and a platform for speaking, singing, or performing. Both entrances invite visitors to stroll down the widened and newly mulched paths. Not far from the East Pennsylvania entrance you will come across two large raised beds, which the Historic East Towson community plans to use in the spring to grow vegetables and flowers.

While GWWO provided the design and labor, the community needed to provide the materials. Thanks to a $2,800 donation from the Wiltondale Garden Club, NeighborSpace was able to purchase the lumber and other supplies needed for the benches, arbor, and platform, as well as two large raised beds. The Garden Club has already proved to be a wonderful partner in maintaining the Park, and its members are looking forward to now also sharing their expertise in raised bed gardening. If you’d like to learn how to grow your own food or to support Adelaide Bentley Park, stay tuned for sessions this spring!

Chestnut Park’s Community Cookout

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 08:09:00 GMT

On sunny Saturday, September 16th, we joined our stewardship partners at Chestnut Park in Turner Station to host a Community Cookout. Hitting the weather sweet spot of sun, breeze, low humidity, and mid-seventies temperatures, it was an excellent day to spend time with neighbors in local open green space. We and our stewardship partners were delighted with the turnout as community members of all ages joined in the festivities!

After a few words from our stewardship partner Edie Brooks and Executive Director Phyllis Joris, and a prayer led by Reverend Don Jones, attendees spread throughout the park. Community members served up fresh hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, and cole slaw. Kids played giant jenga and painted animal masks and pumpkins, while the adults played cornhole and checkers and chatted with their neighbors. Three attendees even got lucky and won a raffle prize of golden mums. Laughter and music filled the air, and a community came together to enjoy the outdoors and each other. It was a beautiful day and reminded us here at NeighborSpace why we do what we do.

Thank you to our stewardship partners, to all of the community members who helped make this cookout happen, and to all of the folks who took time out to join us at Chestnut Park. And thank you to our supporters here at NeighborSpace. We hope to be able to host more events like this in the future and we cannot do it without you.

If you could not make it to Chestnut Park earlier in September, we have another event coming up this Saturday, September 30th – Fall Fest at Powhatan Park in Woodlawn. We hope to see you there!

Autumn Park Events Coming Your Way!

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 07:55:00 GMT

As autumn approaches and the temperature cools, NeighborSpace is gearing up for event season. Coming your way in September are two park events: a community cookout at Chestnut Park in Turner Station, and Fall Fest at Powhatan Park in Woodlawn. Both events will include music, games, food, and a chance to gather and celebrate with friends and neighbors. We hope you will join us for some outdoor weekend fun!

That’s not all! Check back in our September newsletter (or on our events page ) for details on two more events happening in October. We will be hosting acoustic music in Ridgely Manor Park in Towson and a live music night at Carroll Watkins Park in Gwynn Oak. We hope you will join us as we celebrate our community spaces in the waning daylight before winter. Have a lovely start to autumn and to the school year, and we will see you out in the park!

Historical Research on Life Along Bear Creek Continues

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 08:24:00 GMT

NeighborSpace continues to study the history of Bear Creek and Patapsco Neck from 1650 to today, with the goal of interpreting the future Bear Creek Heritage Trail in Dundalk. This research is funded by a Battlefield Protection grant from the National Park Service, awarded to NeighborSpace in September 2021, and is led by Stevenson University professor Glenn Johnston. Together with his students and a team of historical consultants and community historians, Professor Johnston has uncovered a wealth of information on life in the Bear Creek area around 1800.

We are excited to share the second edition of The Preceptor, the newsletter covering this historical research project, which has the stated goal to “inform and educate the current residents of Patapsco Neck and the old “Lower Patapsco Hundred” about their history”. This edition features articles on the Houck family, the history of Swan Harbour, and a variety of other interesting stories, and can be found here: https://mailchi.mp/22441222759d/the-preceptor-bear-creek-summer-edition?e=68e0e6fd28

The first edition of The Preceptor can be found here: https://mailchi.mp/167be46dfa24/bear-creek-historical-research-newsletter-winter-9293928

Volunteer Spotlight: Wally Lippincott

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 08:14:00 GMT

Meet NeighborSpace volunteer Wally Lippincott! Thanks to Wally, each and every one of the NeighborSpace sites will soon be marked with our signature blue sign. Wally also planted hundreds of plugs at Carroll Watkins Park last year, has removed non-native invasives at Adelaide Bentley Park, and on the side he provides helpful insight into planning and conservation in Baltimore County.

Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I grew up in Baltimore and spent my childhood playing in Stoney Run and Lake Roland. After high school I left Baltimore to study natural resources at University of Florida, Gainesville. I worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service before going on to Graduate School at University of California, Berkeley. Then I worked for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service before returning to Maryland to begin a career at Baltimore County in Planning and Environmental Protection.

Are there any projects that you worked on that you are particularly proud of?

I am proud of successfully working with property owners to preserve 50,000 acres during my tenure as Administrator of the County’s Land Preservation Program and proud of my efforts to support and foster farming in the County. I also served as the lead planner in the production of the Hereford Community Plan. I’m proud of my contributions to the creation of Cromwell Valley Park, adding acreage to Oregon Ridge Park, and the purchase and development of the County’s Farm Park in Hunt Valley.

Why do you volunteer with NeighborSpace?

I was a planner at the time NeighborSpace was created. I live in a neighborhood that has a small amount of HOA associated with it and have seen first hand the value of such a space for building community pride and as a place for children to play. And, of course it reminds me of my experiences as a child playing in Stoney Run.

What goal would you like to see NeighborSpace achieve?

That NeighborSpace assists neighborhoods in acquiring green spaces to create “pocket parks” for whatever use helps build community in that neighborhood.

Thank you, Wally!

Movie Night at Graystone Community Open Space

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:44:00 GMT

In early July, NeighborSpace partnered with the Graystone Community Association to host a movie night at Graystone Community Open Space. Working with Kerri Lastner, Graystone Community Association member and longtime NeighborSpace stewardship partner, NeighborSpace was able to assist in getting the word out and helping provide all the popcorn and snacks you could want on a warm summer evening!

Amidst a week of stormy weather, Graystone hit the sweet spot – the skies cooperated, remaining clear for the showing. And as dusk rolled in, the neighborhood turned out! We had a great turnout of community association members and neighborhood families, ready to enjoy the outdoor movie night. We received some great feedback from this event, and plan to host more movie nights at NeighborSpace sites in the future.

Meet Your Natives: Rudbeckias

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:43:00 GMT

The Rudbeckias are looking especially showy this year! They are in full bloom and spreading well in NeighborSpace parks, residential gardens, and along roadways across Baltimore County. Rudbeckia flowers feature a prominent, raised brown or black disc in their center, giving rise to their common names of Coneflowers or Black-Eyed Susans. The Black-Eyed Susan has been the Maryland state flower since 1918.

Latin name: Rudbeckia hirta, Rudbeckia fulgida

Common name: Both species are often referred to as Black-Eyed Susans.

Description: Easy to grow and tolerant of a variety of soils. Prefers full to part sun. Short-lived perennial but self-sows freely.

Wildlife benefit: Excellent pollinator plant, attracting a diversity of insects including flies, beetles, moths, small butterflies, bees, and wasps. Host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly. Leave the seed heads in the fall and enjoy watching American Goldfinches fly back and forth in their distinct “rollercoaster” pattern.

Volunteer Spotlight & Upcoming Events

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:53:00 GMT

The Gwynn Oak Bug Blitz with Blue Water Baltimore

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:51:00 GMT

On a sunny morning in early June, NeighborSpace partnered with Blue Water Baltimore to host the Gwynn Oak Bug Blitz! Attendees, ranging from local neighborhood families to a fisherman all the way from Carroll County, joined Blue Water Baltimore’s John Marra to explore Gwynns Falls, searching for benthic macroinvertebrate species (also known as water bugs) and learning about the types of pollution that affect local waterways.

What were the findings? According to John, “Since we were only looking for benthic macroinvertebrate species in the Gwynns Falls and not taking samples, we can’t give you an exact and scientific measure of the water’s health from the June 3rd event. However, we did see a black-crowned night heron when we arrived at the site, as well as a few schools of small fish later on. Along with the number of insect species we found, this indicates that the water where we held our event is viable enough to support a healthy food web.”

Want to learn more about the health of Baltimore’s waterways, including Gwynns Falls? Blue Water Baltimore monitors and measures a number of health indicators at sites all throughout Baltimore, and posts them at the Baltimore Water Watch site at https://baltimorewaterwatch.org/.

Meet Your Natives: Butterfly Weed

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:50:00 GMT

The drought has not deterred Butterfly Weed from showing off its bright orange blooms this month! If you want to see it in our sites, check it out at the entrance of Adelaide Bentley Park in Towson or edging the rain garden at Carroll Watkins Park in Gwynn Oak.

Common name: Butterfly weed

Latin name: Asclepias tuberosa

Wildlife benefit: Larval host plant for monarch, gray hairstreak, queen and milkweed tussock moth caterpillars. Nectar source for many butterflies and insect pollinators.

Description: This smaller member of the milkweed family can take a little while to become established and bloom in full force, but it is easy to grow and its flowers are eye-catching. Butterfly Weed prefers well-drained soil and full sun, though it does well in poor soil. It will grow to about 2 feet high and become thicker each year. It does not transplant or divide well due to its long taproot.

Volunteer Re-Cap & Upcoming Events!

Tue, 30 May 2023 09:58:00 GMT

Introducing Two New Board Members!

Tue, 30 May 2023 09:53:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is excited to welcome two new Board members!

Nancy Goldring and Lance Dennis are both valued community partners who bring a wealth of experience to the team. Please read on for a brief introduction, and we invite you to join us at a future event to meet Nancy and Lance in person!

I am a seventh generation Towsonite. We bought our home about 15 years ago at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue, the very street on which I was raised. A representative from St. Ambrose walked us around the property and told us the green thatch of land next door belonged to Neighbor Care which we thought must have been a nursing home nearby. A few years passed and we started asking around about how to reach the owner of the property, and our journey with NeighborSpace began. After many years as a stewardship partner, participating on the NeighborSpace Board is a wonderful opportunity to grow in my understanding of the impact of greenspace, especially on marginalized communities. I am hopeful that my work as an advocate for the preservation of greenspace in the Historic East Towson community will assist in forwarding the NeighborSpace mission. Thank you to the Board of NeighborSpace for the invitation to partner in this great work.

Hello, my name is Lance Dennis. I currently work as a procurement and sales manager in Millersville, MD for a company that manufactures security systems specializing in nuclear power plants. My partner Steven and I have 3 dogs: Ryker, Channah, and Corduroy. I love the outdoors, camping, hiking, amusement parks, fixing things in the garage, and enjoying our cabin in West Virginia. I have experience in business, real-estate, and serve as the President of Potomac Island Ridge Association, and as the Treasurer of Tollgate Action Group (TAG). Recently Phyllis gave a presentation at our TAG meeting about NeighborSpace. Then on Earth Day, I participated in a trash pickup at Tollgate-Wyndham where I learned more about the mission of NeighborSpace. I am excited to join the Board and work on bringing new ideas to expand the footprint.

I feel protecting the environment and greenspace is very important. Preserving areas that people can go to enjoy nature and its beauty, that is what community is all about. We need to start by keeping them free of trash, harmful chemicals, and over development. These are the things we have control over to improve our communities. I believe if you want to keep them beautiful, you must get involved and be active. I appreciate the opportunity to join the NeighborSpace mission and to work with this great organization!

A House Party in May

Tue, 30 May 2023 09:53:00 GMT

On a beautiful Tuesday evening in May, NeighborSpace hosted our first house party since before the start of the pandemic. Over 40 attendees gathered in the backyard of Betsy & Carlton Sexton, longtime friends of NeighborSpace, who graciously offered their home and food for the event. It was gratifying to see a wide variety of NeighborSpace supporters, from a state delegate and county councilmen to park stewards and neighborhood members, gathering together to discuss the importance and effects of open green space in our local communities.

NeighborSpace Board member Kathy Martin set the tone with a short overview of NeighborSpace’s work and vision. Following a few words from Klaus Philipsen, Board President, and Phyllis Joris, Executive Director, we were fortunate to be able to hear from several of NeighborSpace’s Stewardship Partners. Aaron Barnett, NeighborSpace Board member and President of Powhatan Farms Improvement Association, shared how an “eyesore” in his community has been transformed into a place for neighbors to walk, play, and gather. Nancy Goldring, new NeighborSpace Board member and President of Northeast Towson Improvement Association, told the story of how she became involved with NeighborSpace after purchasing the home right next door to the green space that is now named after her grandmother: Adelaide Bentley Park. Rosa Griffin, President of Gwynn Oak Community Association, shared how severe seasonal allergies as a child made her weary of the outdoors but that she now volunteers with NeighborSpace to steward Carroll Watkins Park, even planting and weeding at times! Last but not least, Kerri Lastner of Graystone Community Association told the powerful story of how Graystone Community Open Space, which neighbors refer to as “the lot” or “the neighborhood’s living room”, was vital in bringing neighbors together during the pandemic and how it continues to build community.

Trees, Trash, and Treasures: April NeighborSpace Events

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 10:32:00 GMT

Now that the sun is steadily holding sway (if not necessarily steadying the temperature), NeighborSpace staff and volunteers have been out in our parks cleaning, weeding, planting, and enjoying. On April 17th, a class from Meadowood Education Center in Woodlawn joined us at Powhatan Park . NeighborSpace shared information about the importance of trees in the (urban) landscape and demonstrated proper tree planting technique, then the Meadowood students and staff got to work. In the span of a morning, they weeded one bioretention pond, pulled invasives from the wildflower meadow, and planted four new native trees: 1 Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), 1 Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus), 1 Red Maple (Acer rubrum), and 1 White Oak (Quercus alba)!

Later in the month, NeighborSpace staff and board members spent Earth Day morning working with neighbors and friends to clean up litter in Tollgate-Wyndham Preserve in Owings Mills. Managing to narrowly dodge some heavy April showers, over 15 volunteers spread throughout the preserve, removing trash and debris. Among the garbage removed were tires, springs from a mattress, two bikes, a pillow, two different types of folding chair, a rubber baseball base, dozens of plastic bottles, and hundreds of shards from broken glass bottles.

However, even among all of the trash, treasures could still be found. NeighborSpace Board member Marsha McLaughlin found a dollar, “missing a corner,” she said, “but still good!” On one of the trees near the stream, volunteers found a spectacular collection of fungus (any mycologists want to weigh in on the species?). And throughout the morning, children could be heard exclaiming about finding animal bones. They are not pictured because we are fairly certain said children took the bones home. Souvenirs!

Want to stay informed of upcoming events? Follow our Events page: https://www.neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org/events/

New Maryland Conservation Legislation

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 10:31:00 GMT

This legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed three bills that NeighborSpace helped advocate for. While each Act has its own focus, together this new legislation will greatly advance land conservation in Maryland.

HB 503 (SB 923) establishes the Greenspace Equity Program in the Department of Natural Resources, with the goal of enhancing the health and livability of overburdened or underserved communities. The program will provide grant funding to implement projects that preserve, create, and enhance community greenspace. Eligible applicants include land trusts, community organizations, and local governments, and “community greenspace” includes gardens, gathering open spaces, woodlands, parks, green networks, trails, and even urban farms. The purpose of this act aligns closely with NeighborSpace’s mission and we are excited for the opportunities it will provide to protect and restore more land in Baltimore County communities.

The Maryland the Beautiful Act ( SB 470 , HB 631) establishes a state goal to conserve 30% of Maryland’s lands by 2030 and 40% by 2040. To help implement these goals, the bill sets up a Revolving Loan Fund for land trusts as well as the 40×40 Land Conservation Implementation Grant Program. Both the Loan Fund and the Grant Program, which provides funding for capacity-building, stewardship and community engagement, will allow land trusts across the state to grow and conserve an increasing number of acres.

Last but not least, the Forest Preservation and Retention Act ( HB 723 , SB 526) made important changes to already existing forest conservation law. This bill improves a 30-year-old act by updating the statewide goal to achieving a net gain of forest land and tree canopy (rather than maintaining no net loss). By strengthening mitigation requirements, the act better protects priority and contiguous blocks of forest and ensures that more trees are replanted when forests do come down. More importantly, it provides effective tools to keep more trees in the ground in the first place.

NeighborSpace thanks the legislators who sponsored these bills and those of you who took the time to provide oral or written testimony. Onward and upward toward a greener Maryland!

Join Us for Spring Events!

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 11:59:00 GMT

Starting with Earth Day 2023 – Please Join Us!

NeighborSpace is hosting a Stream Clean-Up at Tollgate-Wyndham on Saturday, April 22nd, from 10am – 12pm.

Address: 10824 Reisterstown Rd, Owings Mills, MD 21117

Parking at Owings Mills Elementary School

Spring Park Events are Blooming at NeighborSpace!

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 11:58:00 GMT

We here at NeighborSpace have been hard at work bringing the spring spirit to our parks! March is the beginning of event season, dodging rain and getting outside to prepare our parks for plant growth primetime. On March 4th, over 20 friends and neighbors joined us at Levickas Woods in Catonsville for a forest walk with DNR Forester Francis Smith. After learning about the keystone tree species and health of the forest, NeighborSpace’s Phyllis Joris gave an ivy removal demonstration. Volunteers scattered and removed choking ivy from over 30 trees!

March volunteering is a risky business! On March 11th, a few intrepid volunteers braved wintry cold and wind to remove invasives in overgrown Adelaide Bentley Park in Towson. With such an early start, plus several more events planned for this year’s growing season, we are hopeful that 2023 will be the year we get the invasives under control and make Adelaide Bentley Park the beautiful park for rest, play, and enjoyment we always knew it could be!

Though rain washed out our final two events of March, a clean-up event in Ridgely Manor Park and a scavenger hunt at Levickas Woods, we plan to reschedule them – and we have plenty more to come! There will be stewardship, educational or social events weekly throughout the next few months, as we emerge from winter’s darkness and into the light and warmth of spring!

Want to stay informed of upcoming events? Follow our Events page: https://www.neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org/events/

Seeing the Forest for the Trees

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 11:58:00 GMT

All NeighborSpace sites have trees. We keep an eye on them and plant additional trees whenever possible. But some of our sites are truly wooded. Urban forests are often threatened by deer browsing, invasive species, and effects of climate change, such as fungal diseases, and NeighborSpace forests are no exception. Assessing the health of these forests, as well as making recommendations to steward them sustainably, requires an expert eye.

DNR Forester Rob Prenger was so kind as to visit and assess three of our larger wooded sites with us: Tollgate Wyndham Preserve (Owings Mills), Levickas Woods (Catonsville), and Volz Neighborhood Park (Middle River). We are pleased to report that each of these forests is healthy: an understory is present underneath a mix of mature canopy trees and invasive species are not overwhelming. NeighborSpace wants to keep it this way and improve upon what is already there by managing the invasive species and planting additional trees and shrubs where suitable.

The next step is to work with Rob to draw up a Forest Stewardship Plan for each of the three sites, which will allow for a more targeted approach when implementing projects. In the meantime, NeighborSpace staff will continue to monitor our sites and organize volunteer events to help with stewardship.

What can you do?

Join us at a stewardship event to remove invasives or plant trees: https://www.neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org/events/
Participate in one of our new educational events to learn more about forests or invasive management.
Learn to identify and remove invasive species in your own backyard. A good place to start is the University of Maryland Extension website: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/removing-invasive-plants-and-planting-natives-maryland

The Face Behind the Space: Dave Fuller

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 11:54:00 GMT

In the second installment of our Face Behind the Space series , we would like to introduce a longtime stewardship partner of NeighborSpace of Baltimore County: Dave Fuller, a pillar of the Tollgate-Wyndham community for the past 60 years and a current member of the Tollgate-Wyndham Forest Preserve Board. Dave started working in the community when he was a teenager as an advocate for speed bumps and safety within the Tollgate-Wyndham Community, before being invited to join a community board. Dave and three previous board members started the Tollgate-Wyndham Forest Preserve with a $25,000 donation from Emmer Construction Company.

Dave’s dedication and commitment to the Tollgate-Wyndham Forest Preserve has spanned decades. Since 2008, Dave, with a collection of family, friends, neighbors, and locals, has completed 30 projects in the Tollgate-Wyndham Forest Preserve. Throughout the years, Dave has implemented an animal print footpath, a dedication garden, and signage for the different paths throughout the woods, as well as building benches and seating and a bulletin board that provides information on native plant species. Dave has worked with multiple organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, to build a bridge that crosses over a small stream and provides public access from one side of the forest to the other. He also donated to those Boy Scouts, which helped the group travel to Hawaii.

Through mulching, trash removal, and maintenance projects, Dave has maintained this beautiful, wooded conservation site. He would like to see the community become involved in trash removal, redoing old signage, and utilizing the 3-4 acres of untouched forest for community projects. NeighborSpace would like to recognize and thank him for his outstanding effort, dedication, and hard work.

Historical Research Reveals Data on Life Along Bear Creek Around 1800

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 11:21:00 GMT

As shared in September 2021, NeighborSpace was awarded a Battlefield Protection grant from the National Park Service. This grant funds research into the military and societal history of Bear Creek in Dundalk, with the goal of interpreting the 1.25-mile Bear Creek Heritage Trail that is being designed and constructed by NeighborSpace in partnership with the community.

Historical research into this site has been led by Stevenson University professor Glenn Johnston. Together with his students and a team of historical consultants and community historians, Professor Johnston has uncovered a wealth of statistics on life in the Bear Creek area around 1800. We are excited to share the first edition of the Preceptor, the newsletter covering this historical research project, which has the stated goal to “inform and educate the current residents of Patapsco Neck and the old “Lower Patapsco Hundred” about their history”. To gain insight into some of this history, please read the first edition of The Preceptor here: https://mailchi.mp/167be46dfa24/bear-creek-historical-research-newsletter-winter-9293928

Further research will focus on uncovering the untold stories of the people of color in the vicinity of Bear Creek during the War of 1812 and the details of the Battle of North Point, among other topics.

If you are interested in learning more, we invite you to attend Professor Johnston’s presentation at the Dundalk Historical Society on Saturday, March 18 at 2pm. Details will be forthcoming.

NeighborSpace Hosts First Annual Stewardship Luncheon

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 11:18:00 GMT

On January 29th, NeighborSpace hosted our first annual Stewardship Luncheon at Bluestone Restaurant in Timonium. Initially conceived as a way to thank our stewardship partners for all of their hard work, the luncheon also fostered communication and cooperation between various park stewards. As Rosa, our stewardship partner at Carroll Watkins park, said, “We had a great time at the stewardship luncheon. We were amazed by how much we had in common with the other neighborhoods in Baltimore County…The camaraderie was outstanding.”

Stewardship partners are vital to the work that NeighborSpace does. They are neighborhood leaders who donate endless hours of their time and energy to acquire, design, construct, and – most importantly – maintain their neighborhood sites. For this event, we were fortunate enough to have representatives from eight NeighborSpace parks in attendance: Bear Creek Heritage Trail, Cherry Heights Woodland Garden, Chestnut Park, Carroll Watkins Park, Graystone Community Open Space, Powhatan Park, Ridgely Manor Park, and Tollgate Wyndham Preserve.

Throughout the luncheon, amidst the food and festive atmosphere, stewardship partners were up and mingling, getting to work discussing ideas and difficulties with their respective parks. Stories of success were shared and common challenges discussed, as well as ideas for programming. NeighborSpace plans to co-host several fun, social, and educational events with stewardship partners at different parks this year. Stay tuned!

Bolstered by the joyful cooperation witnessed at this event, NeighborSpace plans to continue to help facilitate this cross-county exchange in an annual series of stewardship partner appreciation and communication events. Hopefully, with shared knowledge and support, park stewardship challenges can be overcome and the care for Baltimore County’s green spaces can be strengthened. Thank you to everyone who came out, and to all of our stewardship partners!

Help Us “Green” the County Budget!

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 14:18:00 GMT

If you value local open space and support NeighborSpace’s work, please consider joining NeighborSpace staff and Board members at the Baltimore County budget town halls. Please let Phyllis know if you are able to attend ( Phyllis@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org ) and if you have any questions.

There are a few different ways you can help us advocate for more open space and/or more funding for NeighborSpace.

Speak at your District town hall. The dates, times and locations are listed below, as well as a sample script. After the County Executive’s budget presentation, residents who have signed up are given 90 seconds to speak or ask a question on their budget idea or priority. Please register beforehand by emailing townhall@baltimorecountymd.gov with the following information:

Your district and the area where you live (Example: District 2, Owings Mills). If you don’t know your District, you can find it here .
Name
Phone number
Email address
Budget priority you will be speaking on (open space)

Attend the Community Cabinet Open House which will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of each town hall meeting. This is new this year and offers residents an opportunity to engage directly with key Baltimore County Department leaders to learn about available resources and to ask individual questions.
Send an email. If you are not able to speak, you can advocate to prioritize open space and/or NeighborSpace in the FY24 budget by sending an email to townhall@baltimorecountymd.gov.

Town hall schedule

District 1: Wednesday March 8, 6:30-8pm, CCBC Catonsville Center for the Arts building
District 2: Wednesday February 1, 6:30-8pm, Gordon Center
District 3: Wednesday March 15, 6:30-8pm, Fasig-Tipton building at the Maryland State Fairgrounds
District 4: Wednesday March 22, 6:30-8pm, Randallstown Community Center
District 5: Thursday Feb 16, 6:30-8pm, Vincent Farm ES
District 6: Wednesday March 1, 6:30-8pm, Towson HS
District 7: Wednesday February 8, 6:30-8pm, Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center

Sample text

My name is _______ and I live in ______________ in the ____ Councilmanic District. The pandemic showed us that trails, parks and green spaces are in high demand for walking, biking, hiking and enjoyment of nature. Unfortunately, they are in short supply near my house. (If true, add: There is not a park or trail within walking distance and/or there are few safe places to walk). This deficit has negative impacts on my health, the value of my home, and on water and air quality near where I live. From what I can see in the County’s current capital budget*, there is little money for the acquisition and improvement of new land for pocket parks and trails in communities inside the URDL like mine. This means that communities like mine that need open space continue to go without it. For these reasons, please allocate more funds for the acquisition and improvement of new land for pocket parks, trails and natural areas in Baltimore County.

*The FY23 capital budget for Baltimore County is here: https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/budfin/budget/

Community Climate Resilience in Turner Station

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 13:38:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is excited to be part of a new project in Dundalk, led by Baltimore County government and in partnership with several other environmental nonprofits. The project’s goal is to improve the Turner Station community’s resilience to the effects of climate change, and will be funded by a $500,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Flooding associated with climate change, both from increasing sea levels and greater precipitation, is impacting communities across Baltimore County, Maryland. On the banks of Bear Creek, a highly polluted tributary in the Baltimore Harbor watershed, the low-lying Turner Station community is particularly vulnerable to climate change and the waterway contamination from this area’s industrial legacy. Initial modeling by the Army Corps of Engineers conducted for Baltimore County indicates increased future flooding under moderate climate scenarios within this community that already lacks trees, green spaces, and fishable or swimmable waterways. Turner Station and its adjacent waterways could benefit from a comprehensive community-centered approach to planning for green and gray stormwater solutions to both improve aquatic habitat and community resilience to a projected warmer, wetter future.

Baltimore County and partners, including NeighborSpace, Turner Station Conservation Teams, The Nature Conservancy, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition, propose a robust community-centered approach to building a Climate Resilience Roadmap with the Turner Station community. The roadmap, developed through a consultant-facilitated process, will help residents understand projected future climate impacts and articulate their needs and resilience priorities.

NFWF Coastal Resilience funding will support consultants to design and lead an interactive and iterative process through which residents and partners will discuss climate change and its impacts on Turner Station, Bear Creek, and Baltimore County. From this shared baseline, stakeholders will build a thoughtful and comprehensive plan that establishes a vision for what a resilient Turner Station could look like. This Resilience Roadmap will provide a guide for green and gray community resilience projects and help partners prioritize funding needs for implementation. The proposed process will prioritize engagement among residents, churches, community groups, and other stakeholders and support residents engaging their neighbors to ensure broad participation through small groups, surveys, and other activities. In addition to gaining input and resident buy-in, we will help build necessary community-based capacity and leadership to guide the plan’s long-term implementation.

NeighborSpace has been involved in Turner Station since 2019, when it purchased a 0.58-acre site at the request of the Turner Station Conservation Teams. That site is now Chestnut Park, pictured below, which was festively opened in October . Given its experience integrating green infrastructure into small sites through a community-driven design process, NeighborSpace is well-suited to help draw up the Resilience Roadmap. We are excited to continue working with the Turner Station community.

Welcome to Danielle Staggers, Program Manager!

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 13:18:00 GMT

Hello NeighborSpace community members and affiliates!

I am pleased to be the new Program Manager. Thank you to all of the wonderful
staff and volunteers that have already welcomed me with open arms!

I have always had a passion for the outdoors and enjoying all of the wonderful
natural spaces in Maryland. I have previous experience as a Naturalist and
working in various parks, with an extensive background in biological and
environmental sciences. My interest in NeighborSpace of Baltimore County
developed through the ambitious conservation efforts of natural spaces and
community engagement.

I enjoy many hobbies in my free time including hiking, swimming, and traveling. I
am learning more about self-care and my goal for this year is to actively visit
natural spaces for moments of peace and tranquility. I also have a love for
animals, with 3 sweet cats (Jay, Kai, & Tiny) and a big lovable dog named Frankie.

I am ready for this new adventure and all of the awesome opportunities. Please
feel free to reach out to me at danielle@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org.

An Autumn Evening Park Opening: Introducing Chestnut Park

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 10:46:00 GMT

In 2019, NeighborSpace acquired a half-acre parcel of land in the historic Dundalk neighborhood of Turner Station.

This parcel became the subject of the NeighborSpace 2020 Giving Tuesday campaign . Throughout that campaign, former NeighborSpace Executive Director Barbara Hopkins detailed in three articles ( article #1 , article #2 , and article #3 ) the complex history of Turner Station and the importance of addressing neighborhood challenges and investing in neighborhood revitalization. The NeighborSpace Board and community responded and the campaign was a success, raising over $4,000 for the park design and initial plantings!

In 2021, with the help of community partners from the fantastic Turner Station Conservation Teams , NeighborSpace hired Morgan Landscape Architecture student Kimberly Young, who worked with the Turner Station community on the park design (shown above). With this design in hand, NeighborSpace applied for and won a $34,070 grant from Chesapeake Bay Trust to build the park in early 2022. Over the summer, construction began, and on the lovely autumnal evening of October 14th, Turner Station Conservation Teams and NeighborSpace hosted the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening celebration of Chestnut Park.

NeighborSpace was delighted by the level of community interest and engagement with the Chestnut Park opening. The event was enjoyed by local government members, Turner Station Conservation Teams members, and NeighborSpace Board and staff, but most of all by community members. Neighbors from the surrounding neighborhood, including several of the houses bordering the park, stopped by. Several were even on their way to other destinations, but still took a moment to explore their new neighborhood gathering space before heading along.

During the ceremony, three Green Jackets were awarded – to President of Turner Station Conservation Teams, Gloria Nelson, and to community members and leaders, Edie Brooks and Davied Alexander – for their dedication and efforts in Chestnut Park and in the Turner Station community. With the aid of a young Girl Scout volunteer, the ribbon was cut, the ceremony was completed, and Chestnut Park was officially opened and welcomed into its community. As the light diminished and sunset approached, community members and attendees could still be found walking the park, milling about the snack table, and conversing with one another late into the evening.

Community leader Edie Brooks, in her speech celebrating the partnerships and hard work that brought Chestnut Park into being, said it best: “We dedicate Chestnut Park to those who came before us. That old sycamore tree still stands tall as a witness to our forebears’ gatherings and celebrations, their work and play, the joy, peace and love, that happened here. This ribbon-cutting marks a new beginning for current and future residents and visitors to Turner Station – right here on the gateway of our community.”

NeighborSpace would like to thank everyone who had a part in the creation of this park. We would like to thank the members of the Maryland State government; the Baltimore County government, including County Executive John Olszewski and his team; and the Baltimore County Council. We would like to thank our partners and funders at Chesapeake Bay Trust, BGE, and Johns Hopkins Bayview. We would like to thank our community partners Turner Station Conservation Teams and Edie Brooks for their generous donations of time, effort, and funds. We would like to thank Kimberly Young, Jack Leonard, Live Green Landscape Associates , and all of the contractors and volunteers who worked to transform this patch of field into a beautiful community gathering space. And we would like to thank you, members and donors of NeighborSpace, for supporting us every step of the way. Thank you!

Powhatan Park Is Officially Open!

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 12:12:00 GMT

All the way back in 2007, the Powhatan Farms Improvement Association (PFIA) reached out to NeighborSpace about a 1.6 acre parcel of land to transform into a park. Funds were acquired, designs were created, and in the autumn of 2017, construction was finally completed on Powhatan Park.

Within a year, however, the rains of summer 2018 would prove that the work was not yet over. After flood waters destroyed parts of the trail and plantings, an investigation into the park’s drainage infrastructure was undertaken, and, in June 2020, a missing drainage pipe was installed within the park .

After acquiring funding to repair the trails and entrance to the park , construction began again in 2022. Trails were repaired, new plants were planted, and the park was cleaned up for its new debut. Finally, after years of trials, tribulations, and hard work, PFIA and NeighborSpace hosted a re-opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 8, 2022 to introduce the new and improved Powhatan Park to its community.

Attended by members of local government, NeighborSpace, PFIA, and the Powhatan Farms community, the ceremony celebrated the resilience, hard work, patience, and teamwork that brought this long-sought goal to fruition. Arthur Hyde, a Powhatan Farms community member, was awarded the Green Jacket award for his diligent efforts to improve Powhatan Park. George Goodhues, General Manager for Natural Concerns Landscape Contractors , took attendees on a tour of the repairs and upgrades to the park, including its stormwater management features. Finally, after all was said and done, community members and attendees grabbed a snack and enjoyed a sunny autumn afternoon in their new park.

NeighborSpace would like to thank everyone who had a part in this journey. We would like to thank the members of the Baltimore County government, including County Executive John Olszewski and the Baltimore County Council, who aided us with funding and pushing through the obstacles we met along the way. We would like to thank our community partners at PFIA and our grant funders and donors at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources – Chesapeake and Coastal Service, Baltimore County, BGE, and Chesapeake Bay Trust. We would like to thank Natural Concerns Landscape Contractors , Daft McCune Walker , and all of the contractors and volunteers who worked to transform a vacant lot into a beautiful community park. And we would like to thank you, members and donors of NeighborSpace, for supporting us along the way.

Welcome to Powhatan Park!

NeighborSpace of Baltimore County Welcomes New Executive Director

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:36:00 GMT

Established in 2002, NeighborSpace is a non-profit land trust that works with a variety of partners to enhance the livability of communities inside Baltimore County’s Urban Rural Demarcation Line (URDL). Using state-of-the-art GIS technology and direct input from residents, NeighborSpace has since conserved 21 sites across the County, totaling 100 acres. Working directly with local communities, 7 of these sites have been improved with stormwater management BMPs, trails, meadows, and gardens. Another 3 restoration projects are in various stages of implementation.

NeighborSpace is excited to announce Phyllis Joris as its new Executive Director. Phyllis started as Program Manager this year and has since shown to be a quick learner and a competent and motivated implementer of Neighborspace’s vision of building better neighborhoods through partnerships with communities. She successfully coordinated the planting, opening, and initial maintenance of 3 new parks and established maintenance and capacity building workshops on several sites. During the recent transition period, Phyllis quickly expanded her commitment to expertly fill the large void that Barbara Hopkins’ departure, after 13 years at NeighborSpace, left behind. Phyllis steered staff and Board into a teamwork approach during what could have been a turbulent time. Her spirit and dedication shine through in her excellent social skills and confident but friendly demeanor. As Aaron Barnett, President of the Powhatan Farms Improvement Association and NeighborSpace Board member states, “NeighborSpace has gained a valuable asset with the hiring of Ms. Phyllis Joris. Her commitment and work ethic demonstrates the kind of individual that Baltimore County needs and will truly benefit from.” The Board is confident that Phyllis will build and maintain the many partnerships needed for NeighborSpace to succeed.

“I am honored to step into the role of Executive Director of the NeighborSpace team. I have found my work with NeighborSpace to be varied and rewarding, and it has been a joy to get to know many of the wonderful people and communities of Baltimore County. I am proud of what NeighborSpace stands for, what it has accomplished in the past 20 years and in the last six months, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to livability in the URDL.” – Phyllis Joris, NS Executive Director

NeighborSpace is hiring a new Program Manager. Please share the job description with your networks.

Success! Bill that Would Threaten Bay Critical Areas Withdrawn

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 10:28:00 GMT

In early August, Councilwoman Cathy Bevins introduced Bill No. 57-22, “for the purpose of exempting certain facilities and restaurants from certain water buffer regulations”, which would exempt waterfront businesses from Critical Area Protection Law requirements. Local environmental organizations sounded the alarm and NeighborSpace signed onto an opposition letter drafted by the Maryland League of Conservation Voters . As stated in the opposition letter, “Bill No. 57-22 puts developers’ interests over environmental protection, removes critical oversight mechanisms”, and would almost certainly violate State law.

On August 30th, after receiving constituent feedback and the opposition letter signed by 25 local environmental organizations, Councilwoman Bevins withdrew Bill No. 57-22. For now, the Critical Area Protection Law prevails!

New Resource! Candidate Position Paper on Open Space in Baltimore County

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 10:28:00 GMT

NeighborSpace recently uploaded a new resource from the Advocacy and Policy Committee, a position paper for 2022 candidates about the state of open space in Baltimore County.

Found under the Open Space Legislation, Laws, Policies & Related Materials section of the NeighborSpace website, this position paper outlines the livability challenges that Baltimore County residents face, and offers some policy solutions to counteract the open space deficit.

Work Continues on Powhatan Resilience Project

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:50:00 GMT

Throughout August, work will be continuing on the Powhatan Resilience Project, with the construction of new storm-safe rain gardens and trails. Over the next few weeks, concrete and pathways will be installed, as will swales and drainage ponds.

Work is already being undertaken by Natural Concerns Landscape Contractors , and NeighborSpace is looking forward to the transformation!

Project Kick-Off for Bear Creek Heritage Trail

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:28:00 GMT

On Wednesday, August 17, 2022, NeighborSpace kicked off the Bear Creek Heritage Trail project with a walkthrough of the site, attended by members of the NeighborSpace Stewardship Committee; members of P.E.L.A. Design, the landscape architect firm chosen to spearhead the design; and county and community leaders.

NeighborSpace is looking forward to starting construction on this site as soon as possible. Want to stay in the know? Keep up with new developments on the project site !

The Face Behind the Space: Nancy Goldring

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 14:19:00 GMT

Meet NeighborSpace’s Stewardship Partner at Adelaide Bentley Park

Tell us a little about yourself: where you grew up, what your background is, what other groups and projects you are currently involved with.

I’m a seventh generation Towsonite. My ancestry here dates back to 1791 and slavery at Hampton Plantation. I attended Baltimore County schools – Towson Elementary, Dumbarton Junior High, Towson High – and graduated from Morgan State University with a BA in Philosophy and attended Howard University’s School of Divinity. Give or take about a decade or so, I’ve lived in Towson all my life and now serve as a Board member of the Historical Society of Baltimore County, a delegate of the Towson Communities Alliance, a member of Indivisible Towson and, most recently, director of the Carver Playground Summer Camp. Like my grandmother before me, I now serve as president of the Northeast Towson Improvement Association, Inc. (NETIA, Inc.). I call it the organizational voice of Historic East Towson, Baltimore County’s oldest African American community.

The park is named for your grandmother. Could you tell us about her, and her love of nature and for the community?

My grandmother was Adelaide Bentley. She was the president of NETIA for nearly 30 years and participated in a number of church, social, and civic organizations. Grandma was never the wall flower. She was always engaged, and always held an office. A master delegator and well organized, Adelaide knew who to call to get things done. She was born and raised in Towson and never lived anywhere else. The second youngest girl of nine children and a preacher’s kid, she was also the granddaughter of Reverend James H. Williams, who founded Mount Olive Baptist Church 134 years ago. The church still sits at the corner of York Road and Bosley Ave today in an area once known as Sandy Bottom. My grandmother loved Towson, she loved life, and she loved people.

My grandmother had a relationship with nature. She knew some of its idiosyncrasies and respected its gravity and power as the Voice of God. She loved flowers. House plants were all over her home and for many years there were rose bushes in the front yard. Grandma believed in getting outside into the fresh air and told stories about how she and her friends would sit outside in the grass for hours into the night in spring and summer. She could smell rain in the air and knew from the turn of the leaves on a tree when a storm was coming. She and my grandfather kept a lovely front porch and manicured lawn. The front porch was almost as important in our family as the kitchen. There was a huge tree that grew in the front yard providing a wonderful shade covering on sunny days and privacy at night. Weather permitting, we were always on the porch or in the backyard. Trees, hedges, small vegetable gardens; nature was a constant for Grandma.

You have been a wonderful champion and steward of Adelaide Bentley Park. Why is this park important to you? Why do you believe it is an important asset to the community? What are some goals or dreams that you have for the park?

I love nature and the outdoors. I grew up in a culture where kids played outside with each other. Our devices were trees and bushes in a game of tag, hide and go seek, and walks in the woods. I can’t imagine life without a backyard or a park nearby. Even in New York, I managed to live a half a block from Central Park.

Since Adelaide Bentley park has come along, nature has become a great teacher and task master. I’m constantly learning new things about the way the plants and trees interact, communicate, and thrive. I appreciate the gifts of each season. My awareness of nature’s value beyond its aesthetic and its beauty has grown exponentially. What’s most fascinating is learning how nature is used to further marginalized communities. We took so much of the natural environment in East Towson for granted until what few trees we have left were threatened.

Adelaide Bentley Park has become inspiration for the Road to Freedom Trail .

Nature is helping us to tell our community’s story of being settled in 1853 by men, women, and children formerly enslaved at Hampton Plantation. The Road to Freedom is a cycling and pedestrian trail that will connect some 13 sites of historical significance from Hampton National Historic Site to East Towson and reveal the mystery of a history hidden in plain sight and of people in place long before the American Civil War. We were here before Towson was the county seat. We have always been good neighbors and even in times of crisis, we respect the people and the processes we challenge, the ones that persist in whittling away our boundaries and encroaching upon our way of life, a life fashioned out of the various social and political pressures that some feel should have reduced us to little more than a historical marker by now. We are down to six small blocks and Sandy Bottom (now the York Road business corridor) has been erased. Thanks to NeighborSpace and Adelaide Bentley Park, nature has proven to be an advocate and friend to East Towson, a friend in need and a friend indeed.

Thank you, Nancy!

A Transition in Leadership at NeighborSpace

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 12:31:00 GMT

Dear Friend: After nearly 13 years at the helm of NeighborSpace, our Executive Director, Barbara Hopkins, is leaving to lead a national organization effective August 16, 2022. We want to thank Barbara for her many years of devoted service far beyond anything that the organization could have expected and wish her the best of luck in her […]

A New Beginning for Carroll Watkins Park

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 14:18:00 GMT

June was a monumental month for NeighborSpace’s newly dedicated Carroll Watkins Park, formerly known as Flannery Lane Park.

Starting June 2nd, NeighborSpace worked with Mentoring Mentors and the Piedmont Learning Center to begin the mulching process in preparation for all of the planting to come. The mentees from the Center, who are middle and high school students from charter schools across Baltimore City, and their mentors were a huge help in hauling and spreading mulch throughout the property. With the guidance of Jessica, a Baltimore TreeKeeper , the middle and high school volunteers also assisted in planting trees at the site, including an Eastern Redbud they named “Ryan”. Hopefully they’ll come back and visit him!

The following weekend, on Saturday, June 4th, NeighborSpace and the Gwynn Oak Community Association held a planting event for the surrounding community. There were plenty of native herbaceous perennials and shrubs that were ready to elevate the community’s outdoor space, and the volunteers who came out did not disappoint. Many neighbors showed up to get their hands dirty and support the project, as well as staff members from Blue Water Baltimore . Nearly a thousand perennial plugs and quarts were planted, as well as a few dozen shrubs. It was an amazing turnout!

The event was also graced by family members of Carroll Watkins, community leader and past president of the Gwynn Oak Community Association, who sadly passed away in 2020. His passion for and devotion to his community led to the park being dedicated in his name, as Carroll Watkins Park. In her remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication, Ms. Rosa Griffin, President of the Gwynn Oak Community Association, emphasized how this park will help to preserve his legacy. Mr. Watkins was very involved in the neighborhood, removing abandoned cars from a nearby street and even reducing crime. He hosted annual flea markets for the community and movie nights for the children. He was not only past President of the Gwynn Oak Community Association, he was also a member of the Cherry Hill Optimist Club, where he inspired youth to be the best they could. The club hosted boil roasts and National Night Out, an event everyone, especially the children, looked forward to. He was always finding ways to help others, and, to this day, people still come to his daughter, Tracie Randall, with tears expressing how much they miss him.

The generous support of the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the United Way of Central Maryland, Victor Stanley, Inc., and many private donors paved the way for the official opening of Carroll Watkins Park on Saturday, June 18th. The opening was attended by many members of the community, who displayed joy and excitement at the park’s completion. Councilman Julian Jones offered remarks, giving a special citation to the family of Carroll Watkins in his honor. NeighborSpace honored those who had made special contributions to the park’s completion with green jackets. They included Ms. Rosa Griffin, President of the Gwynn Oak Community Association, our stewardship partner for the site; Mr. Tony Baysmore, a former member of the County Executive’s staff, who was instrumental in securing the site; Mr. Ray Heil, park landscape architect; and neighbors Trisha Kyner and David Friedheim, who donated the sculpture now on loan at the park.

Without the help of all of the community members and volunteers who supported this project, this park would still be a dusty half-paved lot. Thank you to every single person who dedicated time and energy to transforming this park into a community hub for years to come!

Welcome Shepsura Page, Seasonal Intern

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 14:16:00 GMT

Hello friends of NeighborSpace of Baltimore County,

As a recent graduate of Towson University, I’m eager to continue my journey as NeighborSpace’s Seasonal Intern. At Towson, I majored in Environmental Science and Studies and minored in Geography. I was also a research assistant for NeighborSpace where I investigated historical data about the Cherry Heights Woodland Gardens site. This has given me a glimpse into how green spaces can incorporate aspects of our society.

I grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where my mother insisted on taking me and my sister out to trails, gardens, and parks. She’s definitely a top influencer for me to pursue a career in environmental preservation.

During my downtime, I enjoy playing guitar, looking at sneakers online, and talking about life with my friends.

I’m thrilled to start working with NeighborSpace’s sites in Baltimore County and maybe I’ll see you at one of our events. If you ever need to reach me, my email is shepsura@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org.

A Significant Saturday for Ridgely Manor

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 14:15:00 GMT

On Saturday, June 4th, NeighborSpace hosted a planting event at Ridgely Manor Park in Towson. Native species were selected to fill in barren spaces in the meadows. Thanks to the knowledge and help of Victor Bennett of Edible Earth Design , the park now has a new variety of native plants. Native plants are especially important as they are well acclimated to the landscape and they help in attracting pollinators, like bees and butterflies, to the site.

For this event, NeighborSpace was fortunate enough to have a group of eager high school students as volunteers. They were ready and willing to make their mark; under Victor’s guidance, they worked hard to plant diverse native species in Ridgely Manor Park. With over 100 acres of land across 21 sites, volunteers are at the core of how NeighborSpace is able to create and maintain parks and green spaces, and this pivotal planting could not have been possible without them!

Another key success factor is funding to support projects like this one. NeighborSpace is grateful to the Forever Maryland Foundation for the grant funds it awarded the Ridgely Manor Community Association, which enabled the purchase of plants for this park.

Introducing Carol Partonen, Office Administrator

Mon, 23 May 2022 10:21:00 GMT

Hello Friends of NeighborSpace of Baltimore County,

I am excited to join the NeighborSpace team as the new Office Administrator!

As a nature lover, raised in the woods of southern Maryland, I understand how vital green space is to everyday well-being and am proud to join NeighborSpace’s mission of ensuring access for all.

I started my career working in the administration office at my college, St. John’s College of Annapolis, where I earned a bachelor’s in liberal arts and also met my wife. After spending a few years working for a law firm in Seattle, I returned home to Maryland, where I got a job working with a small Baltimore nonprofit.

My wife and I have settled down in a quiet corner of Parkville, where we have a wealth of wildlife to watch and a view of Cromwell Valley. We spend most of our free time enjoying simple pleasures like walking the local nature trails or, when the weather is bad, drinking tea and cuddling with our cat, Cardamom.

I’m looking forward to working with and for you all! If you need to reach me, my email is carol@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org.

Baltimore County Funds Grayscape at Powhatan

Mon, 23 May 2022 10:20:00 GMT

We are excited to announce that Baltimore County has awarded NeighborSpace a grant to repair the “gray” design elements of Powhatan Park. If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know that NeighborSpace is currently working on reconstructing this park in Lochearn after the original construction was washed out in 2018. The culprit of […]

Portals for our Partners: Northeast Towson Improvement Association Gets Brand New Website

Mon, 23 May 2022 10:07:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is excited to announce the newest development in the Portals for our Partners (POP) project: the brand new website for the Northeast Towson Improvement Association!

Portals for our Partners began two years ago, in May 2020 , as a way to foster community engagement and cohesion around NeighborSpace park sites. In October 2021 , with grant funding from the Quality of Life Giving Circle, a website was developed for the Powhatan Farms Improvement Association (PFIA), the NeighborSpace stewardship partner at Powhatan Park in Lochearn.

Now, with funding from the United Way of Central Maryland, NeighborSpace has been able to assist the Northeast Towson Improvement Association (NeTIA), the stewardship partner for Adelaide Bentley Park in historic East Towson, with developing their own community portal! As Nancy Goldring, the President of NeTIA, states, “This website has streamlined communications with residents and given friends of the community a visually engaging place to go for information and updates on what’s happening in Historic East Towson. It took a while to get here, but it was well worth the wait, the learning curve and the effort! Thank you, NeighborSpace!”

On this site, beautifully designed by Gregory (aka Omari) Butler of DIPS Technology , you can find information on the history of the area, volunteer opportunities, and links for community events. With less than a month until Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, make sure to visit the site and get your tickets for The Road to Freedom , the largest Juneteenth celebration in the region!

$250,000 County Grant Will Fund Initial Design & Construction of the Bear Creek Heritage Trail in Dundalk

Fri, 20 May 2022 11:35:00 GMT

In early September 1814, a sizeable British fleet entered the mouth of the Patapsco River with Baltimore as its target. That fleet carried a small army intent upon punishing Baltimore for its participation in the War of 1812. After debarking at North Point, that army advanced up the Patapsco Neck peninsula en route to its […]

Getting Into the Swing of Spring

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 13:53:00 GMT

Spring has arrived in Baltimore County, and the NeighborSpace sites are coming back to life. I love seeing neighbors playing on the playground, walking the dog or just quietly taking in the sun when I visit one of our parks. Trees are budding, and grasses and wildflowers are quickly growing taller. That also means it’s […]

Ahead of NeighborSpace’s 20th Anniversary, Keep Maryland Beautiful Awards a Janice Hollmann Grant for Seasonal Paid Intern

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 20:02:00 GMT

April 22, 2022 – We are happy to announce that Keep Maryland Beautiful awarded NeighborSpace a Janice Hollmann grant for the hiring of a seasonal paid intern.

This temporary intern will be working in the execution of plans related to NeighborSpace of Baltimore County’s 20th anniversary. Working with our Executive Director, the intern will assist in the many overarching goals established for our 20th anniversary campaign as well as help establish and articulate a vision for the next 20 years.

Janice Hollmann Grants of up to $10,000 are awarded to Maryland land trusts to increase capacity, support community programing and innovation and foster stronger, better connected land trusts. All grants require a 100% match from the land trust of in-kind services and privately raised funds. The grant is given in memory of Janice Hollmann, who exemplified citizen leadership of local land trusts in Maryland.

The search for our intern is underway and we hope to have this position filled within the next couple of weeks.

We would like to thank Keep Maryland Beautiful for this award and for all their support for local land trusts and our efforts in keeping Maryland beautiful and green.

Welcome to Phyllis Joris, Program Manager

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 20:26:00 GMT

NeighborSpace of Baltimore County is very happy to announce the hiring of our new Program Manager, Phyllis Joris. Below, please find a note from Phyllis and know how excited we are to welcome her to our team. Phyllis is taking this position that was previously filled by Patrick Filbert.

Hello Friends of NeighborSpace of Baltimore County,
I am honored to join the NeighborSpace team as the Program Manager. The NeighborSpace mission speaks to several of my passions – community, the outdoors, equity – and I’m excited to dedicate my time and energy to making it a reality.

Originally from Belgium, I graduated from college with a master’s degree in mathematics. My husband and I now live in Cockeysville with our five children: four boys and a girl between the ages of 6 and 12.

Over the years, I have volunteered with a few different local non-profits, and I am currently the PTA President at my children’s elementary school. These engagements have allowed me to build up experience recruiting and managing volunteers, and planning and running events, which I hope to put to good use as Program Manager.

My favorite place to unwind is my garden. Whether I’m removing invasives, planting natives, or simply weeding, I find it a great way to recharge. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves on the NeighborSpace sites as well.
I hope to meet you in person sometime soon but in the meantime, please feel free to email me at phyllis@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org .

CBT Awards $74,195 to Pilot “Habitat Baltimore County (HABACO) Preserve” in Randallstown

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 12:11:00 GMT

In his 2020 book, Nature’s Best Hope, ecologist Doug Tallamy argues that habitat has become so fragmented that a healthy ecosystem, one that can sustain the living systems on which all life depends, is no longer possible through conservation alone, a hard truth for a land trust like NeighborSpace. In Tallamy’s view, there simply isn’t […]

United Way Awards $9,260 for Benches as Construction Begins at Flannery Lane Park

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 12:07:00 GMT

With the help of construction partner, Blue Water Baltimore, and the oversight of landscape architect, Ray Heil, our Flannery Lane site has been “depaved” and construction has begun. The gravel base of one of two rain gardens is shown in the image at right. This small 0.13-acre site in Gwynn Oak exists in an area […]

Respected Think Tank Urges Reform of County Open Space Laws

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 10:02:00 GMT

Collaborating effectively is a key success factor for land trusts and conservancies aiming to achieve ambitious goals …. In Baltimore, the diverse regional partnerships that NeighborSpace forged with Morgan State University, local landscaping businesses, and local nonprofits through the Baltimore County Green Alliance served to mobilize volunteers, generate funding through open space fees, and build […]

Turning the Tide in Turner Station: $34,000 Awarded for Park

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 09:59:00 GMT

Last year, we wrote a series of articles telling the history of the Turner Station community in Dundalk. We had recently acquired a half-acre site there and were raising money to pay a Morgan Landscape Architecture student to develop a design for a park. The articles described a place “born in an out-of-the-way spot, before […]

Support the Environmental Human Rights Amendment

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 11:49:00 GMT

Current and former leaders from our State are drawing attention to a bill before the General Assembly this session to create a State constitutional amendment to protect the right to a healthful environment in Maryland. Delegate Wanika Fisher, a sponsor of a bill, notes that: “There is a difference between regulations, which address a particular issue, and a right, which is all encompassing.” According to Fisher, an environmental human rights amendment would “create a structure in which people’s environmental rights need to be taken into consideration.”

Former Congressman Wayne Gilchrist recently submitted an op-ed to the Bay Journal . Gilchrist says “we must live according to nature’s principles, creating a regenerative world that affords each generation no less than what prior generations enjoyed. And, hopefully more. We can do this by recommitting ourselves to live within Earth’s planetary boundaries, ensuring that everyone – in this and future generations- has a right to a healthy environment. And we can do that by placing the Environmental Human Rights Amendment in Maryland’s constitution.”

NeighborSpace is among the nonprofits that has signed on as a supporter of the bill, a stance the organization has taken in each of the last three years that the bill has been introduced. To learn more and to sign a petition urging passage, please visit The Action Network page.

Getting Our Open Space House in Order in Baltimore County

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 07:41:00 GMT

A. THE CHALLENGES You know the challenges: Most of us lack access to adequate open space. 65 percent of residences inside the URDL lack access to adequate open space within a five-minute walk. The open space that does exist is inequitably distributed. The Maryland Park Equity Mapper shows many areas of inequity, especially on the […]

How Cars & Greed Turned the Suburbs Gray & What Can be Done to Green Them Again

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 12:42:00 GMT

This video stems from a talk prepared for the Leagues of Women Voters in Baltimore County and City in September, 2021. It shows how the demise of streetcars and the rise of the automobile hastened the development of the inner suburbs across the country, making them increasingly unlivable. The history of Baltimore County’s inner suburbs […]

Young Photographer Shoots NeighborSpace Sites

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 08:38:00 GMT

Payton Schreiber-Pan is more than just a senior at Dulaney High School in Timonium, he’s a young man with a talent. Payton is a successful photographer who came recommended by our fellow Baltimore County Green Alliance (BCGA) member Irvine Nature Center. In his previous work, Payton collaborated with Irvine where some of his photography is […]

Portals for our Partners: Powhatan Farms Improvement Association Gets Brand New Website

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 08:35:00 GMT

Last May NeighborSpace announced that it had plans underway for a new program, “The POP Project” or “Portals for Our Partners,” a way to foster engagement and cohesion in the communities where there are NeighborSpace sites.

Owing to the generosity of the Quality of Life Giving Circle, NeighborSpace received a grant to fund the development of a website template and to use it to develop a website for a community partner. That partner is the Powhatan Farms Improvement Association (PFIA), the NeighborSpace stewardship partner at Powhatan Park in Lochearn.

Over the last year, NeighborSpace partnered with PFIA, meeting regularly (virtually, of course, during these strange times) to set the plan in motion and level the tech-playing field.

During these meetings, many discussions took place with respect to best practices for pages of content, a color scheme, and use of other integrative tools that will streamline many existing PFIA processes. In addition to the new website, PFIA gained access to the full range of Google Workspace tools, including Google Meet for virtual meetings, along with training on how to use the various software packages.

In August 2021, after all of the hours of discussion, research and data gathering and entry, the new PFIA website went live.

Now, moving forward, the Powhatan Farms community has a central online location to look for resources specific to their neighborhood, a calendar of events, blog posts, history of the community, a page specific to Powhatan Park, and even a place to pay their dues.

PFIA President, Aaron Barnett says “Thanks to the valiant efforts of Ms. Tanya Neal and Barbara Hopkins of NeighborSpace of Baltimore County , we would like to proudly announce that the Powhatan Farms Improvement Association website is up and running so please feel free to drop by and join our warm hospitable community at www.powhatanfarms.org .”

Website Master, Tonya Neal, noted that PFIA received their first email list sign-up through the form on the site. “This is GREAT because we’ve been trying for years to get the community to provide us with their email addresses so that we can communicate with them electronically. Well, it looks like we might just be able to accomplish this goal via the website.”

$110,000 Grant Will Fund Historical Research Guide Design of Dundalk Trail

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 18:07:00 GMT

We are extremely excited to announce that NeighborSpace has received a $110,454 Battlefield Protection Grant from the National Park Service (NPS) to benefit a trail project in Dundalk, MD. The original research funded by the grant will be used to interpret the 1.25-mile Bear Creek Heritage Trail, shown above, providing guidance for the trail’s design.

The proposed trail marks the historic site where Maryland militia took a defensive position during the War of 1812 to prevent the British from advancing along the “Patapsco Neck” to Baltimore. It seeks to connect those traveling up Bear Creek by water to two War of 1812 sites, Battle Acre and the North Point State Battlefield, and to a much larger trail project supported by the National Park Service, the Star-spangled Banner National Historic Trail. It will also provide educational and interpretive opportunities related to the War of 1812 and foster improved opportunities for land- and water-based recreation and heritage tourism.

Until now, little has been researched or published regarding the prominent role Bear Creek played within the defense of Baltimore in September 1814. The grant award will change that. The American Battlefield Protection Grant program funds research, documentation, and interpretive planning at battlefields and sites of armed conflict. The belief is that preserving these areas encourages Americans to explore the bonds of our shared history while creating space for reconciliation and healing in the future.

Leading the research effort is Glenn T. Johnston, a professor at Stevenson University. Dr. Johnston noted that “What’s most exciting about this grant is that it is specifically designed to involve the community in the study and development of its own history.” Professor Johnston, who also intends to involve his students in the work, paints a picture of this grant that goes well beyond the potential for a future trail. Dr. Johnston believes that “this grant paves the way for the Dundalk community to be in touch with it’s own local history in a way it never has before. We are incredibly enthusiastic about what this original research might reveal and what doors it will open.”

The grant award follows on the heels of us acquiring an easement on the only piece of private land needed to complete the trail in 2016 and work done by the Neighborhood Design Center in 2019 to develop a Concept Plan for the site. That and subsequent work has been overseen by a Steering Committee consisting of local residents, NeighborSpace board members and staff, and representatives from the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, which has been providing technical assistance to the project for several years. Baltimore County Government and the Baltimore County Public Schools are the major landowners and have been supportive of the project.

Steering Committee Chair and local resident, Rob Zacherl, noted that “exploring the history of Bear Creek’s role in both the Battle of North Point, as well as everything before and after the battle, is critical to doing this project right.” Patricia Paul, also a resident of Dundalk, a member of the Steering Committee, and one of the visionaries behind the project, said that she believes “that revealing the deeper heritage of the Bear Creek area will be crucial to moving the project forward.

Our proposal, “Illuminating Bear Creek’s Role in the Defense of Baltimore” is one of 11 funded by the National Park Service and receiving a share of the $1.19 million in total funds awarded. NeighborSpace joins an impressive list of awardees , including the University of Florida, Clemson University, and Vanderbilt University.

The project is expected to be completed over two years’ time and will include quarterly digital history updates, a final comprehensive report, a tri-fold brochure, a transportable, ten-panel exhibit designed to tell the history of Bear Creek in 1814, and an ArcGIS story map highlighting findings. Other key activities include two BCPS teacher workshops, a community lecture and tour, and meetings with heritage areas and County and State tourism officials on using the project’s findings to promote tourism.

We hope you will join us at one of our many events in interpreting the Bear Creek Heritage Trail. The first one is this Saturday, September 25th, 9 AM – 2 PM. Join NeighborSpace, Clean Bread and Cheese Creek & Maryland Waterways Foundation in beautifying the Charlesmont area of Bear Creek. We will be removing trash and debris from the water as well as removing problematic invasive species, and replacing them with natives. This will be an effort to beautify and restore the site, connect with the community and build a foundation for further successes in the area.

It’s a Party in Woodlawn for National Night Out

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 14:27:00 GMT

National Night Out brought major excitement to Graystone Community Open Space and was followed shortly thereafter by an effort to commemorate the somber anniversary of 9.11. Over the past few years, NeighborSpace has made major efforts to make the park more useable, including building a ramp and leveling the ground. In recent months, the Graystone […]

We the People: An Equitable Growth Strategy for Curbing Bad Development & Creating Livable Communities

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 13:01:00 GMT

Baltimore County is currently soliciting public input on the development of its 2030 Master Plan. To those of us reeling from recent ad hoc zoning decisions, putting parochial interests and the desires of developers ahead of the common good, that is a hopeful sign. A good master plan should guide development and lessen such shenanigans. […]

The Problem with Non-Native Plants and Why You Should Care

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 14:29:00 GMT

Over the past 300 years, American settlers have introduced an abundance of non-native plants which have disturbed ecosystems that have taken millions of years to develop. Once loose in our North American ecosystems many of the more aggressive non-native plants have become invasive. As invasives, these plants have overridden the previously established populations of many […]

Major Grant Award Sets Up for Environmental Justice in Woodlawn

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 08:31:00 GMT

By Patrick Filbert and Barbara Hopkins A Major Victory NeighborSpace is incredibly excited to announce that it has been awarded $61,353 in grant funding to improve Powhatan Park in Lochearn. Because maintaining and improving this park has been such an ongoing concern, this award is a major shot in the arm. Stormwater Management Concerns For […]

More, Really Bad Public Policy

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 07:58:00 GMT

There are 2 bills that will come before the County Council at the Monday, August 2 voting session that negatively impact both open space and the rights of individual citizens to participate in their own government. They should not be allowed to pass and we need your help to ensure that they don’t. First, I’ll briefly […]

Knowledge is Power When it Comes to Saving Forests

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 13:45:00 GMT

Do you like the woods? If you are reading this, the chances are high that you do. What you probably don’t know is that many of our forests in-and-around URDL are dying. It is our job to stop that from happening. To explain this reality, I will use the backdrop of Greengate Easements by Quarry […]

Why Saving Insects Should Matter to You

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 09:14:00 GMT

It’s no secret that nature can liven up suburban areas, bring in people and build a community. For years, people have been planting flowers, trees, bushes, etc. Although any plantings can have benefits, have we been smart with what we are planting? That question can be very confusing to someone who isn’t familiar with native and […]

What an Internship at NeighborSpace Feels Like

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 09:12:00 GMT

This year between May 10th and June 10th, NeighborSpace was joined by two interns from Friends School for their Senior Work Project. These young men were Harry Deller (left) and Ned Forbush (right) and their internships focused on (a) well-built communities (b) the importance of community open space and (c) the importance of native plants. […]

Why Even a Consensus Plan Shouldn’t Circumvent the Law

Sun, 23 May 2021 05:18:00 GMT

By Klaus Philipsen, FAIA, Board President and Barbara L. Hopkins, Esq., ASLA, Executive Director It is a good thing when community members, a developer and a councilman come together to find consensus on development, especially when the agreement includes hard-core, anti-development neighbors. It is also good to replace additional strip commercial development with much needed […]

A Fitting Time for Reflecting on Our Fate as First Suburbs

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 09:09:00 GMT

One fifth of America. That’s the population of the 29 metro regions around the country with “first” or “inner” suburbs, a category that includes what I have dubbed “suburdlia,” the area that lies between the Urban Rural Demarcation Line (URDL) and the City line, where 90 percent of County residents live. The first suburbs are […]

Watershed Moment for a Woodland Garden

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 17:11:00 GMT

New Grants Will Strengthen Partners, Build Fundraising Capacity

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 15:01:00 GMT

There can be no doubt that perpetuity is a long time. That’s why NeighborSpace has to make building the capacity of its stewardship partners, who help the organization care for over 100 acres across 20 different sites, a high priority. Last year, NeighborSpace received a grant from the Quality of Life Giving Circle to develop […]

Dunmore Community Turns Out Big

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 20:16:00 GMT

On Saturday, March 13th, NeighborSpace started off its Spring clean-up season with a bang. Levickas Woods at Dunmore, played host to what was by far the organization’s largest volunteering turnout, boasting fifty people individuals of all ages. This habitat restoration effort was the first event hosted at the 7.2-acre park in Catonsville, and, thanks to […]

Local Nonprofits Join the Cause in The Open Space Guidebook Spring 2021 Edition

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 06:52:00 GMT

Your guide to managing open space inside Baltimore County’s Urban-Rural Demarcation Line just got even better. Introducing The Open Space Guidebook Spring 2021 Edition. Our tool, originally released for the Fall of 2020 to help residents and organizations improve land in their communities, has now been through its first semi-annual touchup. Along with the small […]

So, You Want to Volunteer?

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 06:51:00 GMT

If you want to volunteer, please check out our Volunteer Page. When it comes to our volunteering program, we are looking take things to the next level with a dedicated, county-wide conservation corps that will learn the nuanced work of maintaining and restoring the ecosystems at our parks. Ideally these individuals would be retired from […]

WHY YOU NEED A CAR TO TAKE A WALK (& a plea for your help)

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 15:00:00 GMT

Recent surveys, including one by NeighborSpace last fall, have put safe places to walk at the top of the list of recreational amenities important to County residents. This is not surprising, given the pervasively low walk scores that exist in the County. And the pandemic has done nothing but exacerbate this demand: 650,000 people used […]

Chesapeake Bay Trust Awards $35,000 for Construction of Flannery Lane Park

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:15:00 GMT

NeighborSpace has received a grant of $35,000 from the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Outreach and Restoration Grant Program to begin construction of Flannery Lane Park in Gwynn Oak. The grant follows a community charrette and subsequent survey of surrounding residents, who expressed almost unanimous support for a park that was both beautiful and functional in terms […]

Survey Results Signal New Programming, Retiree Conservation Corps

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:13:00 GMT

By Patrick Filbert, Program Manager The Green Neighborhood Challenge represented a conscious, concerted effort to DO MORE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENING. Efforts like this are key to moving forward as a joint, environmentally conscious community. NeighborSpace called and you answered with 164 responses to our Green Neighborhood Challenge Survey. The survey was aimed at collecting more […]

New Board & Staff Members Join the Ranks

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:10:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is pleased to announce the addition of four new board members. They include: Aaron J. Barnett, a longshoreman and the current Vice President of the local International Longshoremans Association. He is also President of the Powhatan Farms Improvement Association, which serves as the NeighborSpace stewardship partner at Powhatan Park. Aaron lives in Lochearn. Larry […]

$1500 #GivingTuesday Goal More Than TRIPLED With YOUR Help!

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:09:00 GMT

Together with the Turner Station Conservation Teams, Inc., NeighborSpace presented a case for support of a new half-acre park in the Dundalk neighborhood of Turner Station as part of a #GivingTuesday Campaign. You more than stepped up, donating over $4,500 for the cause – THANK YOU SO MUCH! The project is important because of: (1) […]

#GivingTuesday2020.TurnerStation: Design with Dredge is the Cutting Edge

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 14:50:00 GMT

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* (This is the third in a series of articles about a partnership between NeighborSpace and the Turner Station Conservation Teams to create a new park in Turner Station next year. The first may be found here and the second here). In previous articles about our reasons for investing in Turner Station, we’ve discussed the […]

#GivingTuesday2020.TurnerStation: In a “Perfect Storm” of Pollution Sources

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 20:44:00 GMT

(This is the second in a series of articles about a partnership between NeighborSpace and the Turner Station Conservation Teams to create a new park in Turner Station next year. The first may be found here). In the course of public deliberations over the development of a liquefied natural gas import facility and gas […]

#GivngTuesday2020.TurnerStation: Born in an Out-of-the-way Spot as a Consequence of Prejudice

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 20:11:00 GMT

“The place was born in an out-of-the-way spot, before racial integration and as a direct consequence of racial prejudice.” So wrote Sun Reporter, Jonathan Pitts, in an article about the Dundalk neighborhood of Turner Station in 2019. NeighborSpace is drawing attention to it, once again, because of land the organization has acquired in a section […]

What’s Behind the Inequitable Distribution of Open Space in the County and What Can Be Done About It?

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 09:29:00 GMT

This week, while going through my blog feeds, I came across something that gave me pause. It was a post by the Project for Public Spaces (PPS) on the topic of “equitable development.” The upshot of the piece was this: “While ending police violence may be one of the most urgent needs, systemic racism infects […]

Adelaide’s Legacy: How Perseverance is Paying Off in East Towson

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 09:21:00 GMT

Shout Out to Our Partners in County Government: THANK YOU!

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 09:19:00 GMT

We want to take this opportunity to offer our sincere thanks to Council Chair Cathy Bevins and to Assistant County Attorney Amy Grossi for their help in securing a right of entry to the parcel labeled “5” in the map below, which is part of Cherry Heights Woodland Garden in Overlea. This is turning into […]

Where We Really Want to Live: A Place Where We Feel Like We Belong

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 09:15:00 GMT

I was thinking the other day about how much I love the neighborhood where I live. When my family and I moved to Baltimore, we chose a neighborhood based on the cost of housing, proximity to work, walkability, quality of schools, and the availability of public utilities. This seems like an exhaustive list, but one […]

Internship with NeighborSpace

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 12:24:00 GMT

Greetings! My name is Amanda Kaspar. I just began my sophomore year at Friends School of Baltimore. Earlier this year, I asked my biology teacher, Mrs. Katherine Jenkins, if she could suggest a place for an internship based on my interests. Considering I am part of The Green Club she directs, she suggested I reach […]

Local Talent Behind Fresh New NeighborSpace Apparel

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 12:06:00 GMT

In recent posts, you may have noticed that we’ve come out with a new logo t-shirt. The artist behind the new shirts is Damani Rawlins, an old friend of mine from my time at Friends School in Baltimore City. Damani (shown right wearing a shirt of his own design), with the help NeighborSpace staff, recently […]

“You’re Killing Me – A Redux”

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 11:40:00 GMT

Last week I relayed this story from my childhood: I think I was 9 or 10. The exact age really doesn’t matter. The important thing is this: what came out of my mouth in the presence of my father one morning while waiting for the bus is not something I could have come up with […]

Historic Community Remains Strong in the Modern Era

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 09:20:00 GMT

We knew that Turner Station had a long and storied history; this was one of the main attractions to taking on a site in the community. We knew this was a community with a lot of pride, a lot of heart and strong leadership. What we were unsure of was how to incorporate NeighborSpace and […]

PCs for the People: A Resource You Should Bookmark

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 08:56:00 GMT

After speaking with Kelly Hodge-Williams a few weeks ago, I’ve felt compelled to get the word out about her organization. Kelly is the Director of Development for a group that is relatively new to Baltimore and also seeking to gain a foothold in Baltimore County: PCs for the People. I found Kelly as a result […]

Woodland Garden Brings Peace in a Pandemic

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 08:39:00 GMT

The Coronavirus Pandemic has been a shocking awakening for many of us in all aspects of our lives. One of the ways it has affected us, is that it has made us more aware of our neighborhoods. When it has come time for a much-needed walk, many have us have either been very grateful for […]

NeighborSpace Seeks Input on Proposed Design for Park Planned for Gwynndale Ave and Flannery Lane

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 14:10:00 GMT

NeighborSpace of Baltimore County, Inc., a nonprofit land trust, purchased the 0.13-acre parcel of land on the northeast corner of Flannery Lane and Gwynndale Ave. in 2014 in the interest of creating a small pocket park. (Read more about NeighborSpace and the Flannery Lane Site here: https://www.neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org/projects/flannery-lane/). Since then, neighbors and local artists, Trisha […]

Need Help Managing Your Open Space? We Have the Answer.

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 18:34:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is proud to announce the completion of The Open Space Guidebook. The guidebook will act as a tool providing the best practices and resources for open space management. The hope is that this guidebook will help everyone from our stewardship partners looking for resources to community members wondering how to improve community land. The […]

County Installs Pipe, Restores Hope at Powhatan Park

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 12:53:00 GMT

The request was simple enough when the Powhatan Farms Improvement Association reached out to NeighborSpace in 2007. They wanted NeighborSpace to subdivide and purchase a 1.6-acre parcel of land for “a park with … flowers, and an area that would allow our community to have cookouts and possibly hold our monthly community meetings during the […]

Teaching Us What “Home” Is and Why We Should Care: A Tribute to Adelaide Bentley

Mon, 18 May 2020 08:19:00 GMT

In their book, The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods, authors, John McKnight and Peter Block, note that healthy or “competent” communities have three characteristics: First, they focus on the gifts of their members, their unique skills and abilities; Second, they foster and value cooperation; and Third, they offer hospitality and nurture. […]

Coming Together for Our Neighbors in a Time of Crisis: Thank You to All Who Supported “Let’s ADAPT”

Mon, 18 May 2020 08:14:00 GMT

I want to ask you to imagine that you are asleep in bed on a warm, spring night with a gentle breeze blowing through your bedroom window. Your peaceful slumber is interrupted, however, when the air becomes heavy with smoke. Once you come to your senses, you launch out of bed to look outside, where […]

Active Parks, Healthy Suburbs: Why are Some Parks Used More Than Others?

Mon, 18 May 2020 08:10:00 GMT

[Editor’s Note: This is the first in what we hope will be a regular series of articles featuring research that is driving how we improve and manage the 100+ acres under our care.] Last year, a report came out providing concrete numbers for how to increase park usage. The report detailed the National Study of […]

Gardens, People and a Waterfront Gem

Mon, 18 May 2020 08:10:00 GMT

Turner Station is a hidden gem of Baltimore County with a history of pride and residents quick to promote its strengths. On March 9th, NeighborSpace acquired a 0.58-acre piece of triangular land on the northern border of the neighborhood. Having had the pleasure of speaking with two longtime residents and activists in the community, I […]

Fostering Community Engagement & Cohesion: The “Portals for Our Partners (POP)” Project

Mon, 18 May 2020 08:10:00 GMT

Have you engaged in online forums, read news articles, or gotten a blast on social media letting you know how Covid-19 will affect you? Likely you’ve been on a computer in the past two months and have gone to specific websites to find out what you need to know in order to operate your *normal* […]

Why We’re Putting Food Before Our Mission on May 5

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 21:05:00 GMT

In a civilized society, people shouldn’t have to steal or grovel in order to have enough to eat. The social compact between the governed and their government should take care of that. But when that compact is strained … others must step up. In the 1930’s, a rather unusual court case came to pass in […]

Do without Doing: Thoughts on Tools and Tactics for Navigating Trying Times

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 10:00:00 GMT

I’ve done many things in my life, but none have made me feel more a part of a community than my work with NeighborSpace. By that, I mean, that getting to know and work side-by-side on common goals with so many of you – our supporters and partners in government, community associations, and other nonprofits […]

Moving Beyond the Crossroads: A Blueprint

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 08:05:00 GMT

A failure to plan is a plan to fail. ~ Winston Churchill A year ago, I wrote an article in this publication recounting the findings of the 2019 Spending Affordability Report authored by a committee of the same name and chaired by first-district councilman, Tom Quirk. The report detailed a history in our County of […]

Fungi, Future Harvest & The Future of NeighborSpace

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 08:00:00 GMT

I had no clue what I would find at the 2020 Future Harvest Conference. Barbara felt my attendance would be valuable and we’ve been talking about the issue of Urban Farming for some time. I went to the conference with an open mind considering this to be a very broad, open-ended subject. Urban Farming can […]

Giving Tuesday, Giving Thanks for Quality of Life in Cherry Heights

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 20:49:00 GMT

With your help, every cherry in our Cherry Heights orchard ripened on #GivingTuesday. And this means we can start creating a park on Beech Avenue in Overlea next spring. THANK YOU! This park is important for the Cherry Heights neighborhood because of what it will do for quality of life, or “livability,” there. The graphic […]

Excitement from Dundalk as Trail Project Moves Forward with a New Name

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 09:45:00 GMT

For over a year now NeighborSpace has been part of a committee working on a major collaborative project in Dundalk. The project, previously known as the “Maryland Line Trail”, has been given a new name to reflect the exciting steps being taken to bring this community development to fruition. The trail, an offshoot of the […]

How Can Your Voice Improve Access to Amenities for Age Friendly Baltimore County

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 09:45:00 GMT

When my spouse and I moved to the Baltimore Area in 2009 and were looking to purchase a house, our priorities were one we could afford in a good school system that had access to our jobs and to other lifestyle amenities. High taxes and the rankings of most public schools ruled out Baltimore City […]

New Life for a Woodlawn Park

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 08:15:00 GMT

Exciting news from Woodlawn as the NeighborSpace property at 1905 Gwynn Oak Avenue is getting a makeover. This may seem like run-of-the-mill news to many of you. NeighborSpace fixing up another property? Is that not what they do? But dig a little deeper and you will realize it is not that simple. As many of […]

Where’d You Go Bentley: A Request

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 08:15:00 GMT

I’d like to say that my love of nature implies that I “…will find beauty everywhere,” as inspired by Laura Ingles Wilder; however, in today’s climate, as a witness to mass declines in trees, bees and birds, I’m wondering where the beauty may lie. In September of 2018, NeighborSpace held a fall celebration at Adelaide […]

History Drives Design of Cherry Heights Woodland Garden

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 08:15:00 GMT

We mentioned in a July issue of News and Views that work had begun on transforming our Beech Avenue site in Overlea into a community park. Work has progressed since that time, with the most recent community meeting yielding a design concept. To fully understand it requires that we provide some historical background. In July, […]

The Uncommon Power of “the Commons” to Create Community

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 18:26:00 GMT

My neighborhood has a “commons.” So does yours. The commons comprises those explicitly or, in some cases, implicitly shared resources in which the community as a whole has an interest. At a minimum, these include the community’s streets, sidewalks, and public facilities and I would add, among other things, important scenic vistas, architectural character, and […]

Second Community Workshop Refines Features and Next Steps for Bear Creek Trail Project

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 18:20:00 GMT

The 2nd design workshop, held on October 9 at the Battle Monument School in Dundalk, aimed to refine and give form to the concepts discussed in the initial workshop, which was held in July and discussed in this article. It took the trail features we highlighted in workshop #1 and brought us to the questions […]

Passion and Partnerships Turn a Donated Farm into a Transformative Treasure

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 18:20:00 GMT

One of the best things about going to the annual Land Trust Alliance conference, known as “Rally,” is the opportunity to take a field trip to see projects that other land trusts are doing around the country. This year, Rally was in Raleigh, NC, and among our land trust hosts was the Triangle Land Conservancy […]

Passage of Bill 37-19: What the Bill Does and Doesn’t Do

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 08:00:00 GMT

Bill 37-19 eliminated one long-standing loophole, which has been in our law since at least 2010, that allowed parking islands, otherwise known as “zoning amenity open space” to reduce the amount of public open space that developers of major subdivisions are required to provide.

Making Baltimore County an Age-Friendly Community: Much Work to Do

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 08:00:00 GMT

The fact that Baltimore County’s population has been steadily increasing for years is not breaking news. The fact that the County’s senior population has been increasing at a much quicker pace might be. Baltimore County already ranks first in the percentage of seniors in its population among Maryland’s ten largest counties and estimates are that […]

Tribute to a Friend in Conservation: Charlie Conklin

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 08:00:00 GMT

With his warm smile, a twinkle in his eye and his enthusiasm for life, he has a genius for creating instant friendships.

3 Reasons Why We Think Bill 37-19 Should Pass without Amendments

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 00:16:00 GMT

A. Executive Summary We respectfully ask the Council to Pass Bill 37-19 without amendments for 3 reasons: 1. Our Unique History of Development Set the Stage for an Enormous Open Space Deficit Beginning with the Great Depression and the severe housing shortage that ensued, history and policy created our inner suburbs with […]

Why Our History Requires Restrictions on What Counts as Open Space: A Podcast

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 01:37:00 GMT

Our County has a unique land-use history, shaped by federal zoning law and housing policy, the Great Depression, World War II, the GI Bill, the 1st Eisenhower Beltway, the Plan for the Valleys, and the Urban Rural Demarcation Line. The upshot of this is that we are NOT like Harford County, Carroll County, Howard County […]

What Tuesday’s Hearing Revealed about the “Gutting” of County Open Space Requirements

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 17:38:00 GMT

“I am deeply saddened by the actions of lower level [County] staffers who cooperated with and illegally endorsed the developer’s efforts to totally gut the County’s open space requirements.” (Attorney Robert Smith, testifying in favor of Bill 37-19 on Tuesday, August 27, 2019) At the end of 49 minutes of testimony on Bill 37-19 on […]

Removing loopholes in open space law

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 07:04:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 7, 2019 Contact: Barbara Hopkins 443-377-3760 barbara@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org Baltimore County Council Bill 37-19 Would Remove Loopholes in Adequate Public Facilities Law Governing Open Space NeighborSpace estimates well over $1 million “left on the table” since July 2016 Towson, MD – Today, NeighborSpace of Baltimore County applauded Councilmen Tom Quirk and […]

Health and Wealth not just for New Years cheers

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 08:30:00 GMT

When 6.75 wooded acres was purchased in 1967, the idea was simple: protect greenspace from yet another townhouse development. In the years since, Dunmore Land Holdings, Inc. (DLH) has ensured to meet the goal; but with nominal dues and fewer buy-in from new home purchases this old growth forest needs a bit of a revamp. […]

Site of Proposed Pocket Park Calls Forth Overlea’s Rich History

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 08:20:00 GMT

One-fifth of America lives in “first-tier” or “inner suburbs” like those inside the URDL in Baltimore County, home to roughly 90 percent of the County’s population. More often than not, you find NeigborSpace railing against their challenges – a pressing lack of open space, uncontrolled stormwater runoff, low walkability, etc. Fortunately, there is always “a […]

Trail Design Work (Finally) Begins in Dundalk!

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 08:20:00 GMT

On July 13th, NeighborSpace, in cooperation with leaders from Dundalk and staff from the Neighborhood Design Center (NDC), hosted a design workshop on a proposed trail along Bear Creek, which has been variously called the “Bear Creek Trail” and the “Md. Line Trail.” (Coming up with a proper name is something that will be tackled […]

Tin Can Farming, Urban Farming of the Future?

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 22:01:00 GMT

Baltimore County is a quagmire of communities. The reason the URDL exists was due to a concerted movement to protect the rural areas north of the Beltway, which concentrated development and infrastructure investment south of the line. In doing so, we have also created areas where there is no nutritionally adequate and safe foods available […]

Let’s Work Together

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 22:01:00 GMT

What motivates each of us is different, it is very clear to see what drives the titans of the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, Tiiu Mayer and Charlie Conklin who were elbow deep in the removal of invasive and suffocating vines at NeighborSpace property “Norman Creek” early morning this past April. These two worked side by side […]

Getting Some Green for the Green Pattern Book

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 01:09:00 GMT

Suburbs, like cities, need many more neighborhoods where residents can meet daily needs on foot; streets that give priority to walkers, cyclists, and light rail and buses over cars; and high-quality public spaces. Retrofitting suburbia, to quote Ellen Dunham-Jones and June Williamson, who wrote a book with that title, is “the big project for this […]

NeighborSpace Welcomes New Board Members

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 23:44:00 GMT

At its May meeting, NeighborSpace welcomed three new board members: Carolyn Cecil, a licensed clinical social worker who is active in various conservation projects in and around Idlewylde, where she lives. Carolyn has already volunteered on several spring projects, including efforts to clean up the NeighborSpace Beech Avenue site in Overlea in preparation for […]

Dodging Raindrops to Envision a New Trail along Bear Creek

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 13:59:00 GMT

In spite of a prediction of thundershowers, a dozen people showed up at the Battle Monument School in Dundalk on May 29 to take a tour of the proposed “Maryland Line Trail” with historian Robert Reyes. Robert has been spearheading the creation of the trail along Bear Creek since at least 2010. The reason: the […]

Opportunity: A Function of What You DO & Who You TELL

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 15:47:00 GMT

Tim Chen, the cofounder of the personal finance website, “NerdWallet,” once said that “opportunity is a graph. On one axis, it’s what you do, and on the other axis who you tell.” The point is that if, as you are doing more, you are able to tell more people about it, your prospects will improve. […]

Forces for Good: A Reckoning

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 14:28:00 GMT

Among the many heartening recommendations contained in County Executive Olszewski’s Transition Report were two having to do with “increasing engagement with nonprofits …” and “establishing a Grants Coordinator in the Executive’s Office to seek resources in coordination with County departments and nonprofit partners ….” They are a recognition that the state of nonprofit activity in […]

What Do Cinco de Mayo, Bocce Ball & NeighborSpace Have in Common?

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 13:08:00 GMT

You have to ask given our plans to launch a Bocce Ball League on Cinco de Mayo at a NeighborSpace site – DATE & TIME: Sunday May 5, 5 to 8 PM LOCATION: 138 Newburg Ave., Catonsville, MD 21228 FARE: Tacos from Catonsville’s El Patron, Mexican beer, wine & other beverages COST: No charge, but […]

Baltimore County: At a Crossroads … AGAIN!

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 22:22:00 GMT

I started out writing this article from the perspective of wanting to share with you a summary of items from the recently-released Baltimore County Government Transition Report (2019) that impact the NeighborSpace mission of improving livability in the inner suburbs. Maybe I would have stuck to that more limited scope had another document, the Report […]

Nuts for Natives

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 09:20:00 GMT

In January, I was elated to receive an email from Shari Wilson, a former Secretary of the Maryland Dept. of the Environment and a former President of the NeighborSpace Board. The email announced the creation of a new website, Nuts for Natives, providing tools to help people buy, plant, and nurture native plants to make […]

Making a Healthy Environment a Constitutional Right in Maryland

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 23:13:00 GMT

“Environmentalist and philanthropist Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin has teamed up with state legislators, interfaith leaders and environmental advocates to spearhead an effort to change Maryland’s constitution.” So reads a January 25, 2019 article in the Baltimore Jewish Times. Rabbi Cardin, who has been a real friend to me and to NeighborSpace, put me on notice […]

Brightside Rd. Acquisition Brings Property County to 20

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 22:45:00 GMT

In December, NeighborSpace and the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) acquired an easement on 6.67 acres of the English property off of Brightside Road and adjacent to Lake Roland. This acquisition brings our property count to 20, including 10 properties owned in fee and 10 easements, and total acres protected to just over 97. The acquisition […]

BCGA Forms to Propose Policy Priorities

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 22:25:00 GMT

NeighborSpace is honored to be a member of the Steering Committee for a new coalition of groups working on environmental issues in the county known as the Baltimore County Green Alliance (BCGA). The BCGA formed in response to the promise of the new administration for change, especially its interest in receiving policy ideas from those […]

NeighborSpace Issues Annual Report

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 09:29:00 GMT

Annual Report Provides Highlights of Activities for FY 2018 We are pleased to share our Annual Report highlighting activities that so many of you supported in FY 2018, including outreach efforts related to food insecurity and opportunity youth, shown in the graphic below.

NeighborSpace Gets High Marks for New GIS Mapping Tool

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 18:25:00 GMT

A final step in rolling out our new mapping tool was to have the model validated by independent experts. With $4,000 in funding from Keep Maryland Beautiful and the Maryland Environmental Trust, we asked the Chesapeake Conservancy, local GIS experts, to evaluate the model. In their September 2018 report to us, they concluded that “[t]he insights […]

Hastings-Kiessling Garden Opens, Marks & Newill Recognized

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 08:34:00 GMT

On September 30, over 60 people were on hand at Adelaide Bentley Park in Towson to witness the opening of the Joanna Hastings-Kiessling Memorial Garden. Joanna’s family and friends donated plant material and made monetary donations toward the garden’s creation last spring. NeighborSpace volunteers harvested the plant material over the spring and summer and transplanted […]

Welcome Patrick Filbert, Our New Program Manager

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 09:27:00 GMT

Through the generosity of our supporters, Patrick Filbert has joined the staff as Program Manager. Patrick is a Baltimore native and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from the University of Delaware. After graduation, Patrick moved to Oregon, where he volunteered with 1,000 Friends of Oregon and organized events with neighborhood associations to promote […]

A “How to” Guide on Using Green Infrastructure to Tackle Today’s Health Challenges

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 09:23:00 GMT

In the 19th century, we piped clean water into people’s homes and began treating wastewater. Communicable diseases were wiped out and life expectancy skyrocketed. In the 20th century, we lowered infectious disease rates with regular vaccinations. A new guide caught our eye recently, which suggests that smart investments in green infrastructure in the 21st century can have […]

New Garden to be Dedicated and Supporters Recognized on Sept. 30

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 08:50:00 GMT

We can’t thank the family of Joanna Hastings-Kiessling and her friends enough for their generous donation of plants to a new woodland garden at Adelaide Bentley Park in Towson. Below, are some of the ferns that were donated and planted by volunteers from Blue Water Baltimore. We’ve written of Joanna’s fabulous legacy previously and we […]

Bet You Didn’t Know This (x 2)

Mon, 07 May 2018 18:16:00 GMT

Poverty is Your Neighbor Twenty-three (23) percent of the county’s population lives at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. We’ve said that many times before; not new news. (And to reiterate what this really means, 100% of the poverty line is around $20,000. The United Way says a family of 3 needs an […]

Prelude to a Park Opening: Your Checklist

Mon, 07 May 2018 18:08:00 GMT

Checking form boxes isn’t sexy. But every nonprofit that wants to succeed needs to show its supporters that its projects are advancing its mission. Ours is all about improving livability, which is thought to have 3 underlying goals that are sometimes described as pillars: social, environmental and economic. As we plan to officially open Powhatan […]

Joanna Hastings-Kiessling: A Legacy of Sharing & Caring for the Land

Mon, 07 May 2018 09:07:00 GMT

In late January, we received a call from Wendy Jacobs, a co-founder of the Green Towson Alliance and a great friend and supporter of NeighborSpace, asking whether we might be interested in a donation of a large collection of native plants. The plants, it turns out, had been planted and nurtured by Joanna Hastings-Kiessling, a local […]

Landscape Transformation

Tue, 21 Nov 2017 18:46:00 GMT

9 years $120,000 in county open space waiver fees. $150,000 in State bond funds. $15,000 in private grants and donations. Countless staff, board and volunteer hours. These numbers are impressive, but they don’t really tell the story of Powhatan Park. The story lies in the actions of people. People who live in the Powhatan Farms […]

Construction Begins at Powhatan Park

Sat, 05 Aug 2017 18:54:00 GMT

At long last, construction is underway at Powhatan Park in the Powhatan Farms Community in Lochearn. This 1.5 acre property will feature a lawn area for active recreation, a play/gathering area, a native wildflower meadow, a native flowering tree grove and a native perennial meadow designed to attract pollinators. The park will also have a stone dust […]

Help improve the canopy’s quality in your neck of the woods

Sun, 02 Jul 2017 18:25:00 GMT

June 21 marked the inauguration of the Donald C. Outen Urban Tree Society, an effort by NeighborSpace to further a county goal for maintaining 40% forest cover in communities inside the URDL. Looking just at existing numbers, it looks like the goal has largely been achieved: Census Designated Place CDP Acres Tree Canopy Acres Percent […]

On Our Do-List for July 10: Begin Construction of Powhatan Park in Lochearn

Sun, 02 Jul 2017 09:25:00 GMT

The “back porch” of the community. That’s how a group of landscape architecture students referred to our Robin Hill Rd. site, now known as Powhatan Park, in 2010. Just hours before the “snowmageddon” of that year, a group of students from Morgan made its first visit to this 1.5 acre site in Lochearn and, working […]

Adelaide Bentley, Morgan LA Program, Don Outen and Stanley Black & Decker are recognized at June 21 Ribbon-Cutting in Towson

Sun, 02 Jul 2017 09:09:00 GMT

The mood was light at Adelaide Bentley Park in Towson on the evening of June 21, in spite of a brief downpour. Over 70 people were on hand to recognize and honor those who contributed to the park’s development. Owing to the generosity of the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks having supplied a […]

Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees…Or Does It?

Sun, 04 Jun 2017 08:38:00 GMT

The Rationale for Creating the Donald C. Outen Urban Tree Society When New York’s Parks Department assessed the value of the City’s urban tree canopy, the benefits totaled $120 million annually, 5.5 times the department’s annual budget. The breakdown included energy savings of $28 million, air quality improvements of $5 million, and storm water mitigation of $36 […]

Local Open Space Waiver Fees Central to Park Slated to Break Ground

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 09:06:00 GMT

This is what Bentley Park, a half-acre site in Historic East Towson looked like when NeighborSpace originally purchased the property for $80,000, using local open space waiver fees, several years ago: What looks “lush” and “green” is anything but. Like much of the vacant land inside the URDL, the property was so full of invasives […]

Conservation Mapping Process Finally Yields Tool for Prioritization of Land Conservation Opportunities

Sun, 12 Mar 2017 18:32:00 GMT

What do you do when you have a big problem to solve and limited resources at your disposal to do so? You need a plan and a really good one, especially if the money you’re spending is coming from the hard work of local taxpayers and the generosity of local donors. We have a big […]

Ramping Things Up on Gwynn Oak Avenue

Sun, 12 Mar 2017 05:24:00 GMT

A quarter acre and two apple trees. It’s a blank slate for the Graystone Community Association, which represents neighborhoods on either side of its borders, including Broadacres and Carlynn Heights. NeighborSpace purchased the land in 2009 and the Graystone Community Association formed to unite the above-named neighborhoods through activities on the site. The group has […]

Bentley Park – Transformed!

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 08:57:00 GMT

What a story we have had to tell with this parcel. Purchased in 2007, it was a thicket. Some neighbors liked it that way. As a land trust committed to expanding the amount of open space in Towson, far and away one of the most densely populated areas in our County, however, we would not […]

Bountiful Harvests in the Heart of Newark, New Jersey…

Sat, 04 Mar 2017 07:16:00 GMT

… Are you sure you took the right exit off the Parkway? We’re sure. And, in addition to bees, there were chickens, loose and running all over the place at 9 AM in the morning. We actually took Amtrak and the longest 1.5 mile cab ride in the history of time. But board member Marsha […]

Open Space Bill Proposes Sweeping Changes to Current Law

Sun, 16 Oct 2016 19:15:00 GMT

Councilmembers Almond and Marks have introduced legislation that is unprecedented in terms of the extent to which it will bring sweeping change to the requirements that developers must meet in providing open space in the county if enacted. Bill 73-16, entitled, “An Act concerning Open Space,” would repeal the entirety of Section 32-6-108 of the […]

Local Architects Donate Land & Host Fundraiser for Its Ongoing Stewardship

Sun, 16 Oct 2016 05:45:00 GMT

Local architects Jane Willeboordse and Eric Lund bought their Catonsville home on Newburg Avenue, including a vacant 0.4 acre buildable lot, in 1995. As is true in so many neighborhoods inside the URDL, public open space that is within a short walking distance from home is in short supply. It is not surprising, then, that […]

NeighborSpace Elects Michael Weber to Board Membership

Sat, 08 Oct 2016 19:11:00 GMT

Certified public accountant and investment manager with a strong track record of volunteerism in support of public parks – these are among the strengths that Mike Weber brings to NeighborSpace as a newly elected member of the board. Mike has been with the White Marsh-based firm that bears his name, WeberMessick, for over 30 years. […]

A “Play” on Words Honoring Many Contributions to a “Work” in Progress

Wed, 25 May 2016 19:48:00 GMT

We often talk about “Retrofitting SubURDLia.” It’s a play on the title of a book called Retroffiting Suburbia, written by 2 architects in 2009, who noticed, as we have, that the suburbs are, by and large, less than livable places for people. (Their ideas must have resonated with someone because there is now an updated […]

Filtering Out the Fool’s Gold

Wed, 25 May 2016 18:28:00 GMT

That’s often what you get when you find what you think is a nice piece of vacant land inside the URDL using GIS – someone’s side yard (i.e., a parcel not suitable for subdivision), a panhandle with few redeeming qualities other than being vacant, a landlocked parcel, or a parcel that has a lot of […]

What if green space was just as close to home as fried chicken, beer and cigarettes?

Wed, 25 May 2016 08:53:00 GMT

The Corner Store. We all have a mental image of one. If you’ve ever lived near one, you went there because you had a need that demanded quick and convenient fulfillment – cigarettes (God forbid), a six-pack (ditto), bread, milk, coffee, an ATM or just some of that world famous Royal Farms Chicken and Western […]

Trail Will Celebrate Dundalk’s Historical Ties to the Battle of North Point

Sun, 24 Apr 2016 19:39:00 GMT

It is no secret that our metropolitan region saw significant military action during the War of 1812. The Chesapeake Campaign involved the British invasion of Maryland, the Battle of Bladensburg, the burning of the White House and the Capitol, and, in the summer of 1814, the Battle for Baltimore. What may be less known are […]

Increasing Relevance – What Community Conservation Means for NeighborSpace

Sun, 26 Apr 2015 18:43:00 GMT

$54,000,000. That’s the price tag for solving the problem of food insecurity experienced by 105,000 county residents, about 13% of Baltimore County’s population. According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, food insecurity occurs when there is a limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable […]