As shown in the map at right, 65% of residences inside the URDL lack adequate access to open space within a 5-minute walk, when we apply the county standard of 1,000 square feet per dwelling unit. We worked with several groups and the County Council between 2014 and 2019 to amend the County Code to include a new basis for calculating open space waiver fees, a new tiered structure for fees that is based on the need for open space and the cost of providing it, and to remove loopholes that unfairly reduced the amount of open space being provided by new development projects. But there is still work to do in terms of:

• Developing a fee schedule that aligns with the fee tiers created in 2016;
• Revising the Local Open Manual, which acts like a regulation in implementing the open space law and has not been updated in 20 years.

The Bear Creek Heritage Trail is a The Maryland Line Trail is a proposed spur of the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail in Dundalk, which would:

• Mark the historic line protected by the Maryland Militia during the War of 1812 to prevent the British from advancing up the North Point Peninsula;
• Connect those travelling up Bear Creek by water to Battle Acre and the North Point State Battlefield;
• Provide educational and interpretive opportunities related to the War of 1812; and
• Foster improved opportunities for land- and water-based recreation and heritage tourism.

Working with community leaders, NeighborSpace has raised $2500 from private individuals and  $4,000 in grant funding, which, along with $5,000 in open-space waiver fee funds, was used to hire the Neighborhood Design Center to develop a Concept Design in 2019.

The Beech Avenue property located in Overlea is proposed to be a charming neighborhood pocket park. Beech Avenue is located directly north of 7011 Beech Avenue and across the street from the dead end of Elm Avenue.

On December 22^nd, 2015, the property was donated to NeighborSpace.

Creating usable space requires extensive removal of invasive vines and large felled trees. This clearing began in Spring of 2019 supported by Towson University's Alpha Sigma Phi, City Youth Group: Bridges Baltimore, and Stevenson University’s Phi Mu Delta.

This project continues to develop in collaboration with the Overlea Community.