Thank you NCCC*Americorps!

Over the past 8 weeks, Recreation and Parks has been fortunate in co-hosting a fabulous team from NCCC*Americorps. They worked all throughout the city on park improvement projects, at the Carrie Murray Nature Center, the Washington Monument and more! They also were co-hosted by the Parks & People Foundation, the Herring Run Watershed Association, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy.

Thanks to the team members of Badger 4 - Jenn, Wesley, Zachary, Jordan, Kolb, Shelly, Tony, Shawn, Tonya and Travis - Baltimore is a bit more green. We wish them well as they head to Biloxi, MS for their next tour. Come back and visit!

Check out some pictures of the team transforming the Warwick Ave. Tot Lot:

BLOOM! Urban Forest Project Closing Exhibit

Herring Run Watershed Association - Native Berry Festival!

When? Saturday, June 21st, 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.Rain date, Sunday, June 22, 12:00-4:00

Where? Herring Run Park at Belair Rd. (by the movie shed).
Cost? Free admission! Brewers Art beer, Andy Nelsons BBQ, berries, native trees/shrubs, and crafts will be on sale.
Bring? A dessert to enter into the contest! Native berries include cherry, blackberry, blueberry, elderberry, mulberry, strawberry, serviceberry, and raspberry

Join us for a merry berry day in the park! Eat finger-lickin BBQ, enjoy live bluegrass/folk music and cheer on competitors in a native berry dessert contest at the Native Berry Festival. Celebrity judges: Rob Kasper, the Baltimore Sun; Ann Kostlow, Sofia's Crepes; and Jeff Smith, Chameleon Cafe, will decide winners of the dessert contest.

• Plenty of games and crafts for the kids


• Local vendors selling their wears


• Urban Forest Project exhibit: Spawning in Herring Run


• Brewer's Art beer


• Andy Nelson's BBQ


• Native berries and plants for sale

Come socialize with fellow residents from our watershed's 50 neighborhoods.
The event is free and open to the public. Proceeds from BBQ, beer, and dessert sales will go towards the Herring Run Watershed Center. Bring your appetite!

Thames St. Park - Jazz in the Park!

An Evening of Jazz at Thames Street Park

Thursday, June 19, 20086pm - 9pm

Presented by:

• Greenspace Action Partnership


• John Steven, LTD.

Music By The Gary Thomas Trio

Bikers beat the heat during Tour Dem Parks!

Over 500 individuals participated in the 8th Annual Tour Dem parks this past Sunday, June 8. Despite the soaring temperatures, brave bikers chose routes that toured them through Baltimore's beautiful parks.

Check out the Baltimore Sun's coverage and photos from Abby Cocke!

The Urban Forest Project and Fastspot added to the festivities at Carroll Park, bringing in Chipotle, Charm City Craft Mafia and other vendors and an area to create community leaves!

Keep an eye on the Tour Dem Park's website for more information for next year's ride.

Parks & People Grants!

Funding available!

Community Grants Application Training Workshops

These workshops will provide up-to-date information on Parks & People grant programs. Find out what we do and do not fund and get information, resources and suggestions. Staff contacts will be assigned at this time and will help you with your project ideas. Please bring your calendar with you to schedule a site visit with your staff contact.

Refreshments will be provided.

Dates and locations: Tuesday, June 10th, 6:00-8:00p.m. Location: HEBCAC headquarters, 901 N. Milton St.Baltimore, MD 21205 (use the entrance at Milton and Eager)

Thursday, June 12th, 6:00-8:00p.m. Location: Bon Secours Community Support Center, 26 N. Fulton Ave. Baltimore, MD 21223

We ask that all applicants send a representative to one workshop. Returning applicants are encouraged to send a representative who has not attended in the past. Space is limited!

RSVP by June 6th, 2008. Phone: 410-448-5663 ext. 111 Email: grants@parksandpeople.org

Baltimore's Sustainability's Commission wants to hear from you!

Do you care about…clean air and water? bringing new jobs to the city? our children’s future?

Now is the time to make your voice heard!

Baltimore City’s Sustainability Commission, chaired by BCF Director of Community Investment Cheryl Casciani, invites you to participate in a series of community conversations to discuss specific ideas in the following areas:
· Energy & Air
· Water
· Waste
· Green Infrastructure
· Built Environment
· Transportation
For meeting dates and times, or for more information on the Commission, go here.
Join the movement for a cleaner, greener, safer, healthier Baltimore and help develop the city’s Sustainability Plan! Tell all your friends and neighbors!

Baltimore City’s Sustainability Commission, chaired by BCF Director of Community Investment Cheryl Casciani, recently held its first public meeting. The Sun published an opinion piece by Kevin Zeese and Linda Schade on June 2nd about the meeting, which drew a standing-room-only crowd. You can read it here.

Summer Weed Camp in Herring Run Park!

Looking for a fun activity and to earn community service hours this summer? Then join the Herring Run Watershed Association for Summer Weed Camp! Help remove invasive species and help improve the ecology of the Herring Run.

· Great for ages 13+
· Get involved in the community
· Earn community service hours
· Volunteer 20 hours and become a certified Weed Warrior

Dates:
Wednesday, 6/11, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Saturday, 6/14 , 9:00am-1:00pm
Tuesday, 6/17, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Sunday, 6/29, 9:00am-1:00pm
Wednesday, 7/2 , 5:30pm-8:00pm
Tuesday, 7/8, 5:30pm-8:oopm
Saturday, 7/12, 9:00am-1:00pm
Wednesday, 7/16, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Tuesday, 7/22, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Saturday, 7/26, 9:00am-1:00pm
Thursday, 7/31, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Tuesday, 8/5, 5:30pm- 8:00pm
Saturday, 8/9, 9:00am-1:00pm
Thursday, 8/14, 5:300pm-8:00pm

Notes:
· Times and dates are subject to change
· Please RSVP no later than two days prior to desired event
· E-mail Mscherr@umd.edu or call Ashley Traut at 410-254-1577 with your name, number of volunteers, e-mail address and phone number

Call for submissions - Art on the Gwynns Falls Trail!

The organizers of the 7th Art on the Gwynns Falls Trail and the 2nd annual Media Sprout Festival invite artists, teachers, and performers from all backgrounds to submit proposals for sculptural, performative, and multimedia artworks.

For more information and application guidelines regarding the two events please see the documents attached to this email.

Timeline: Art on the Trail applications due 7/11, Media Sprout application due 8/1, Exhibit Opening & Media Sprout Festival 9/6.

Contact Ryan Patterson at the Parks & People Foundation at 410-448-5663 ext. 120 for more information.

7th Annual Baltimore City Golf Tournament - Success!

Over 120 golfers show their support for greenerbaltimore
Friday, May 30, 2008 provided beautiful weather for the golf teams and area businesses who came out in a wonderful show of support for Baltimore City parks and the greenerbaltimore program.

The gorgeous weather surely helped along the teams who competed for top placements, longest drives, shots closest to the pin and hole-in-ones!

This tournament helped to raise funds that will be used over the next year in projects to help improve our park system.

Thank you to all who played and donated - we truly value your support.

Pictures!

Find Your Leaf! This Weekend in Carroll Park!

Sunday, June 8, 12-4pm right after Tour Dem Parks

Food from Chipotle and a special arts and crafts sale featuring the Charm City Craft Mafia.
Participate and draw on one of the 8 commmunity leaves that will be up for auction.
154’ of leafs on the hillside to walk through. First chance to purchase a signature bag. First come, first serve

Fastspot presents, Find your leaf:

The local Baltimore interactive agency, Fastspot created an intuitive and interactive tool for drawing a leaf as their submission for Baltimore: The Urban Forest Project. The program enabled the ability to reach out and receive designs from all over the city and be able to experience Baltimore through the eyes of the community. Walk through our banner installation, put your mark on one of our leaves, or journey throughout the park to explore the rest of the designs. Enjoy the designs that the community created in Carroll Park!

» View Fastspot’s Drawing Tool

Like leaves, we are all unique and individual as people. What are your values and personality like? Are you family oriented? Perhaps you are eco-friendly? Find the leaf that best represents you and make your mark on it!

Join us in our venture to design one of 8 community leafs. Come to Carroll Park on June 8th and find that leaf that best suits your personality traits. Put your mark on it and meet someone new in the community who is similar to you!

Live Music by KB Drive
Scott Wilburn – Vocals
Sean Wilburn – Bass
Mike Trail – Guitar
Pete Ilenda – Guitar
Brent Wiedal – Drums

Tour Dem Parks, Hon!

We are proud to announce that Tour dem Parks, Hon! was recognized by One Less Car at the 11th Annual Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Symposium. The yearly bike ride won an award for being one of Baltimore City's most innovative projects which supports bike awareness and the city's adoption of the Bicycle Master Plan. Anne Draddy, from Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, graciously accepted the award on behalf of an enthusiastic volunteer committee.

About TDP, Hon

Tour dem Parks, Hon! is an annual bike ride held on the second Sunday of June. The ride serves to acquaint both locals and visitors with Baltimore's many lovely green spaces and neighborhoods. Riders get an up-close view of large parks like Carroll, Clifton, Druid Hill, and Patterson as well as some quietly tucked away gems.

Participants can choose from 14 miles (a family ride on the Gwynn's Falls Trail), 20 miles, 40 miles, or a metric century (62.5 miles). The Tour is followed by a laid-back barbecue featuring live music.

Proceeds from the ride are donated to "friends of parks" groups and non-profit organizations affiliated with parks, greening, and bicycling. The 2007 ride netted $10,000, which was distributed among half a dozen organizations. Funds were used to paint the Jones Falls Trail mural, print literature for the Gwynn's Falls Trail, and more.

Comments from the 2007 ride

"…our first time on this ride and almost didn't to it because of the threat of rain but decided to forge ahead and wow! We will always do this ride. We had no idea the city had so many wonderful parks and neighborhoods. Can't wait till next year!"

"This was my fourth Tour. Rest and support stops are great. I will be back next year."

"Perfect family ride. My 6-year old and I did it on a tandem and loved it."

"Great ride. Excellent! Whoever mapped out the course did an excellent job."

Kick-off Meeting for Baltimore's Sustainability Plan!

Another cool Urban Forest Project Event!

You can volunteer for this event! Click here for more information!

Baltimore Green Map!

Baltimore Green Map is now online! Help to build this online mapping tool for connecting with nature, culture and sustainable living resources in the Baltimore region. Learn more about Baltimore's participation in the international Green Map System. Visit www.baltogreenmap.org

Saturday, May 3 from 2 - 4 p.m.
Green Map Exhibit and Mapmaking Workshop
See maps from 5 continents. Create and collaborate.
The Cork Gallery
4 North (Buzzer #9)
302 E. Federal St
Baltimore, MD 21202
RSVP to info@greenmap.org with "workshop" in subject line

This program is part of the Baltimore Festival of Maps, a citywide celebration of all-things mapping from March 15 through June 8.

Hazardous Household Waste Day!

Don't dump out your hazardous household waste and potentially harm the waterways that run through Baltimore's parks - instead, let Baltimore City's Department of Public Works properly dispose of them for you!

Where? Patterson High School, 100 S. Kane St.
When? Saturday, April 26, 9am to 3pm and Sunday, April 27, 11am to 4pm

Where? Polytechnic Institute, Cold Spring Lane and Falls Road
When? Sunday, May 4, 9am to 3pm

Download a flyer here.

May GROWshop - Baltimore's Historic Parks!

Join Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and the Parks & People Foundation on Monday, May 5, 2008 for an inside look at Baltimore’s historic parks. Judith R. Smith, Friends of Maryland’s Olmsted Parks and Landscapes and Myra Brosius, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks will look at the Olmsted legacy and his influence on our park system today.

Location: Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory, 3100 Swan Dr. in Druid Hill Park Baltimore, MD 21217 (in Druid Hill Park)

FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED: HIS LEGEND AND HIS LEGACY
Although Central Park is the first and most famous of Frederick Law Olmsted’s works, it is by no means his defining achievement. The work of Olmsted and his sons, John Charles and Frederick Law Jr., spans nearly one hundred years, with projects ranging from urban parks to town planning to ecological protection of streams. In an illustrated lecture, Judith Smith surveys Olmsted’s influence on the history of landscape design, reviews Olmsted’s extraordinary life, and considers the design principles he used to translate his philosophy to built form.

You can download a flyer for this event.

RSVP to green@baltimorecity.gov!

Baltimore Green Week and Ecofest!

Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and Baltimore Green Week are teaming up again for the fifth annual Baltimore Green Week and EcoFestival!

Baltimore Green Week kicks off on Saturday, April 26 from 11am-5pm with the Ecofestival. Ecofestival is a fun event for families and residents of Baltimore and will include over 100 vendors and exhibitors, an EcoArt gallery, a rain barrel workshop, guided nature walks, toxic tours, music, healthy food for sale, and more! Rain date: April 27.

The fun doesn't stop there. During the week of April 28th, join local leaders, nonprofits and eco-friendly companies in a series of day and evening events that promote a sustainable way of living. Click here for more information and a schedule of events.

Want to get involved? We still need volunteers for Ecofestival! Email green@baltimorecity.gov to find out how you can help.

2008 Arbor Day Free Tree Giveaway!

FREE Tree Giveaway in Historic Druid Hill Park
Saturday, April 26, 2008

Mansion House Drive: 9 - 11 a.m.
Ecofest: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Drop by the Mansion House in the morning or the TreeBaltimore Display at EcoFest and pick up a FREE tree to plant in your front or backyard for Baltimore City residents only.
This event is FREE and open to the public.

FREE Trees are first-come, first-served; while supplies last.
Enter the park at Swann Drive to Mansion House Drive for morning tree pickup.

For more information, check out the flyer, or call (410) 396-7900 or visit www.baltimorecity.gov/recnparks.

May 3 - Volunteer with greener Baltimore and Volunteer Central!

Friends of Baltimore Parks Day - Celebrate National Volunteer Week and Earth Day! Roll up your sleeves and join over 300 volunteers as we work to beautify and enhance three Baltimore City parks. Activities will include: gardening, watering, and general clean up. Learn about the environment and best practices for "green" living and support the "friends" groups that are responsible for the preservation of Baltimore's parks.

When:
Saturday, May 3rd
8:00 – 8:45 a.m. Registration and kick-off
9:00 – 12 noon, Volunteer work
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Lunch and green-at-home educational program

Where:
Kick-off location is Middle Branch Park. Volunteers will also work at Carroll and Latrobe Parks. All three parks are located in South and Southwest Baltimore. Directions will be provided upon registration.

Click here for directions and here for a flyer!

Business and other groups are welcome! Bring your co-workers and friends together for a great day of giving back.

Families are welcome! Children should be 5 years and older and accompanied by an adult. This event counts towards students’ community service hours for school.

Click Here to Register!

Reusable tote bags for every participant!