About

Site Background

The 1200 block of Shields Place and the 600 block of West Lafayette and the 600 block of Dolphin Street were formerly residential properties. Shields Place is known as part of the "Bottom," where people who frequented the entertainment, shops, and restaurants on Baltimore's Historic Pennsylvania Avenue would come for after-hour activities. Following the end of the Civil War, Baltimore City witnessed the development of residential housing in many alleys. These alley homes were usually small, poorly constructed, and home to the city's poor. Over time, these neighborhoods deteriorated, becoming ridden with poverty and crime.

The properties in the 1200 block of Shields Place were demolished, and the vacant land became a pathway for neighbors, increasing illegal dumping. Grass and weeds grew quickly, making the space an unhealthy part of the neighborhood.

Gardens of Hope was founded under the leadership of Ms. Gloria Luster. As a certified master gardener, tree ward, and master composter, Ms. Luster utilized the Baltimore City Adopt-A-Lot program, managed by the Department of General Services, to establish a program in Upton that encourages healthy eating and activities. Gardens of Hope is one of Baltimore City's original Adopt-A-Lot licensees.

The Upton Planning Committee, Inc. has expressed interest in replacing the garden with a sports field and potentially new residential development (Upton Master Plan 2026). However, this plan has not received full support from the residents and stakeholders in the Upton communities.

The Community

Gardens of Hope is located in the Upton West neighborhood of Upton, a neighborhood with a rich African American history that boasts numerous local and national "firsts." The neighborhood is home to more than five faith-based institutions, Furman L. Templeton Academy (year-round), Zion Senior Housing community, and over 250 residents.

There are no other open community areas in Upton West. The Upton neighborhood includes a public park in the 1200 block of Druid Hill Avenue, a recreational field in the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, and a monument park at the corner of Pennsylvania and West Lafayette avenues.

Description of the Site

The Gardens of Hope site includes an open community space, parking area, and individually managed garden plots. The community space is available for outdoor community activities such as harvest festivals, pumpkin giveaways, and other events for residents. The parking area is located in the center of the block and is made with crush and run materials. The individually managed garden plots are open to residents of Upton and the entire city. Each plot is for non-commercial growth, and vegetable and herb plantings are encouraged.

The site also includes an area to the east of the existing garden where we intend to install a horseshoe pit, garden workshop area, and additional individually managed plots.

Over the past 10 years, Gardens of Hope has hosted numerous community activities, including gardening workshops, volunteer days, an annual harvest festival, and food giveaways. These events have received support from residents and stakeholders. The Upton Planning Committee, Inc. serves as the lead for the community garden and acts as the fiduciary agent for grant applications or donations. We aim to establish an Upton Green Thumb committee to support the community-managed open spaces in the neighborhood.

Community Leadership and Management

Our current site manager, Teresa Stephens, is a certified Master Gardener sponsored by the University of Maryland's Extension services division. Teresa has been gardening at Gardens of Hope for over 17 years and has partnered with various neighborhood stakeholders to host volunteer days and recruit gardeners.

Tamara Thornton and Christine Alestock have both gardened at Gardens of Hope for over 5 years. They have been instrumental in retaining gardeners and providing assistance to new gardeners. Tamara and Christine live in close proximity to the garden site and can address urgent concerns associated with the garden.

Our partnership with the Upton Planning Committee includes making our garden available to all residents of Upton. Additionally, we aim to encourage the various organizations that comprise the committee to volunteer and assist with garden promotion. We will continue partnering with Pennsylvania Avenue AME Zion Church, Wells Fargo, and other stakeholders for volunteer support.

Maintenance and Security

Currently, each gardener is expected to volunteer to keep portions of the public space clean, including walkways, sidewalks, and compost areas. We have several working mowers, clippers, and other tools housed in our onsite shed. The Upton Planning Committee assists with regularly scheduled mowing of the public spaces. Trash pickup occurs on Mondays at the corner of Shields Place and Dolphin Street.

Gardeners have access to water from a City pump on Dolphin Street, and our hose runs the length of the garden. We plan to incorporate a better water system in the future.

Like many gardens in Baltimore City, we often deal with illegal dumping scenarios, typically involving trash and debris from construction sites. We are working on implementing a better monitoring system for the site. Fortunately, our garden is fenced, thanks to sponsorship from the National Italian American Foundation and Wells Fargo banking institutions.

Sustainability

We are fortunate to have longstanding relationships with neighboring institutions and have received support from the following organizations:

• Well Fargo Bank

• National Italian American Foundation

• Pennsylvania Avenue AME Zion Church

• Furman L. Templeton Academy

• Sav-A-Lot Food Markets

• Maryland Area Gleaning Network

• Plant-A-Row for the Hungry

• Promised Heights