NeighborSpace Properties
Baltimore County is made up of many diverse communities, each unique in its character, heritage, people, and amenities. Therefore, NeighborSpace properties vary according to the community's vision and desired use of the property. These properties may be used for passive recreation, community gardens, open green space, or remain natural wooded areas. NeighborSpace works in partnership with community associations, block and garden clubs, or other groups to identify land that can be protected and turned into community assets..
At the community's request, NeighborSpace will seek to acquire land through purchase or donation, either in fee simple or easement in exchange for a commitment by a local group or landowner to manage the parcel as community open space. This method of land preservation has proven to be successful.
NeighborSpace has acquired five properties to date:
Pennsylvania Avenue Pocket Park - East Towson (District 5) This pocket park will be used for community activities and passive recreation. It is located on East Pennsylvania Avenue in East Tow-son and managed by Mount Calvary African Methodist Episcopal Church. This acquisition was made possible in part by a generous grant from Baltimore County's Office of Community Conservation.
Tollgate Wyndham Preserve - Owings Mills (District 4) This property presented a rare opportunity for NeighborSpace to preserve a seven acre site consisting of wooded hillsides, wetlands and forested areas. The preserve will provide educational and passive recreational activities to the surrounding Owning Mills community. The Tollgate Wyndham Preserve, Inc. has assumed the management of the property and will be developing trails through-out the preserve.
Volz Neighborhood Park - White Marsh (District 6) Neighbor-Space's land trust became a viable option for the preservation of approximately 14 acres of forested land near the growth area of White Marsh. The property was donated by the Volz family. Plans are underway for NeighborSpace to transfer ownership of the land to Baltimore County Department Recreation and Parks Department, while retaining an open space conservation easement on the land that will prevent any future development.
Branchwood Preserve - Pikesville (District 2) This one acre lot of land provides a wooded buffer area to surrounding neighbors in an area that is becoming more densely developed. Given to Neighbor-Space by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, this park will be maintained by the Old Court Greenspring Improvement Association.
Hampton Lane Pocket Park - Towson (District 3) Located near Delaney Valley Road, in Towson, this property consists of approximately an acre of natural open space within a residential community and acts as a buffer area from surrounding infill development, commercial uses, and impervious surfaces. NeighborSpace partnered with the Hampton Lane Improvement Association in the purchase and preservation of the property. The association is using the property for passive recreation and is planning to a rain garden that will help filter run-off from nearby impervious surfaces to protect the Chesapeake Bay.