What if green space was just as close to home as fried chicken, beer and cigarettes?
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 Fries.
What about the corner "green?" Chances are that you are among the 70% of residents living inside the URDL that lack sufficient access to open space within a quarter mile (about a 5-minute) walk from your home. Suffice to say, you can probably walk to fried chicken, beer and cigarettes inside the URDL faster than you can walk to anything that's truly green.
But think about how nice it would be to have a park within a short walk, especially one on a corner that was on a route to other things. Would this inspire more walking? (And, conversely, less fried chicken, beer and cigarettes?) A corner green can supply us with access to open space, trees and respite, things we all need in our daily lives, and I'm pleased tell you we are considering the acquisition of such a place in Catonsville on Newburg Ave. in the neighborhood that lies south of Atwaters on Frederick Road. The owners of the parcel, whose home lies adjacent to it, do not want to see it developed. Rather, they are seeking to making a donation of it to NeighborSpace for the benefit of the surrounding community - to be used as passive open space , a community garden, and/or a place for community gatherings. If we are able to complete the transaction, the property will be protected as public open space forever.
NeighborSpace and the current owners are seeking the support of the surrounding community to make the project a reality. In particular, we are asking that residents of the neighborhood consider joining NeighborSpace as annual members, as our cost of taking on the property is about $1,300 per year, owing to various requirements related to insurance and planning for the property's protection in perpetuity. As our acreage has more than doubled in the last four years, we find ourselves needing to be better at asking the public for support before we take on projects so that we are able to fulfill our obligations to all of the communities where we currently protect land for public open space inside Baltimore County's URDL. Memberships for seniors and individuals start at $18 and $24 respectively and you can join easily online. If you'd like more information about the project or about membership in Neighborspace, please contact Barbara Hopkins, Executive Director, at barbara@neighborspacebaltimorecounty.org, or at 443-377-3760.