SECTION 1
Scope:
Urban green infrastructure, communal design
Challenge & goal:
Compared with other major cities, Baltimore has a relatively small number of parks and outdoor activity centers. We found an unused plot of land under the main highway in the city that served mainly as a wasteland with no identified purpose. The goal was to create a new functionality for this land and revitalize the area that it surrounds.
Approach:
We focused on creating a space where people of all socio-economic classes within the greater Baltimore area can unite and have shared experiences throughout the common area, connecting as a creative class. By conducting a series of ethnographic research studies, we learned from the local communities of Bolton Hill and Mount Vernon that this land could be best used by intersecting creative communities. Our primary means of creating shared experiences included art, music, a skate park, and engaging community activities.
Solution:
We identified four main values that this new community center could bring to the community:
Placemaking – The park will showcase that the surrounding neighborhoods are attractive, walkable, safe, multi-use, and welcoming. The park will also provide skateboarders with a safe and desirable skate park. By turning a blighted lot into usable well-lit space, we will reduce the volume of hidden areas that invite crime.
Community Building – The park will help break down socio-economic divides among residents using shared positive experiences around art, music, and leisure activities, bringing together individuals from across the city and the greater Baltimore area.
Shared Value Creation – Baltimore residents can get involved in the park curation in several ways, including as contributors to temporary and permanent art exhibits, volunteers, event organizers, or simply participants.
Human Flourishing – At its core, the park will provide an educational and cultural opportunity for diverse ages, traditions, and lifestyles.
Collaborators: Richard Best, Julie Bussion