YRP Accomplishments
Our Work
The York Road Partnership is an active force in the improvement of our neighborhoods and commercial corridor. Here are a few projects we have worked on.
Roots and Roofs: A York Road Collective Housing Fair
In an effort to increase housing resources along the corridor, York Road Partnership and Healthy Neighborhoods, Inc. partnered together to host "Roots and Roofs: A York Road Collective Housing Fair" in Fall of 2024. The fair got information to neighbors about home improvement and repairs, homebuying and downpayment incentives, financial and estate planning, and community building. The event, included resource tables, meet-and greets with local community school coordinators, live demonstrations on home repair presented by the Station North Tool Library, and an interactive tool crafting table for youth.
Resource tables included reps from Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Services (MVLS), Live Baltimore, Rebuilding Together Baltimore, Healthy Neighborhoods, Inc., League of Women Voters, York Road Partnership, Habitat for Humanity, and Civic Works, Govans Elementary and Walter P. Carter Elementary/Middle School.
York Road Streetscape Projects
B’more Birds Mural Initiative
As part of Baltimore’s 1% for Public Art Program, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts hired community artist Iandry Randriamandroso to design and paint 5 original murals of native Baltimore birds. Those murals can now be found along York Road between 43rd Street and Belvedere Square. Thank you to Loyola University's York Road Initiative for their work to make this happen.
Community stakeholders including the York Road Partnership chose the local birds as the subjects of the murals due to their universality, inclusiveness, and connection to the local environment.
Some words from the artist: “In ever changing urban landscapes, they [the birds] represent adaptation, resilience, and the continuation of life. When changes occur in a neighborhood, it will change the dynamic make- up of the population- new inhabitants come; some leave; some stay and adapt with the new changes. Eventually, they represent us and our neighbors”.
On October 17, 2014 the murals were officially introduced to the community with an afternoon of mural tours, bird-related crafts, art for sale, great weather, and an opportunity to meet the artist.
To spot the birds, just follow their bright plumage along the corridor: Oriole at 4333 York Road on Riley’s Beauty; Cedar Waxwing at 4811 York Road on Gomez Tires; Woodpecker at 5017 York Road; Blue Jay at 5219 York Road on Academy Cleaners; Warbler at 5225 York Road on Northern Community Action Center.
Govans Urban Forest
The Govans Urban Forest (GUF) is a small city-protected forest patch located between CVS and Govans Boundary Church in the 5200 block of York Road.
In Fall 2012, the York Road Partnership began work in the forest with additional help and resources from Loyola University and the Friend’s School. Illegal dumping has been removed as well as a large portion of invasive ivy and vines. We have planted native species of trees and bushes from Herring Run Nursery, secured through grants and donations. We are hoping this space will become an area of learning for local schools and a place of meditation and relaxation for local churches and residents. This is an on-going project for which ‘volunteer days’ are scheduled periodically.
Tree Inventory
The Committee has developed an inventory of trees on the York Road Corridor. This inventory allows for easy identification of trees that are in need of maintenance or need to be replaced.
Commercial Corridor Revitalization
The Baltimore City Planning Commission approved the York Road Corridor Vision and Action Plan in 2015, making its recommendations for key development sites, community needs, infrastructure and transportation improvements, and urban design part of the city’s comprehensive master plan. A key recommendation of the plan was to create a Business Improvement District, which is now in existence, providing services such as cleaning, greening, safety and business promotion. See their website here.
Dewees Park
The YRP Public Space & Greening Committee of the YRP and the Mid-Govans Neighborhood Association worked together to create a Master Plan for Dewees Park. The Park is a 14.5 acre green space within the Mid-Govans neighborhood that is home to the Dewees Recreation Center and City Gardens. In the spring of 2014 PS&G and Mid-Govans obtained the assistance of the Neighborhood Design Center to develop a Concept Master Plan for Dewees Park. The NDC has recruited a team of landscape architects to help the community begin a visioning process for the future of Dewees. Check out the master plan below!
Initiatives are following the Master Plan:
Dewees Park Rain Garden- Rain underground designed the rain garden and Blue Water Baltimore did the construction. Students from Govans Elementary School planted the rain garden in May 2016 with help and advice from Peter Bienman of Greenfields Nursery.
Community Orchard- an orchard supportd by the Baltimore Orchard Project
Memorial Garden
Dewees Recreation Center
Located in the Mid-Govans Neighborhood
In 2011, the Dewees Recreation Center was facing the possibility of closing due to lack of funding for renovations and ongoing programming. The Mid-Govans neighborhood and the York Road Partnership, Loyola banded together to fight to keep the rec center open.
York Road Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan
In May 2003, a public forum was held on York Road and attended by over 100 residents from up and down the corridor to brainstorm priority topics to be addressed. The outcome of this and future meetings was the York Road Partnership Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan (SNAP) was adopted by the City of Baltimore in February 2006.
The York Road SNAP addresses the same boundaries as the York Road Partnership: From the City Line, south on North Charles Street to 39th Street, from 39th Street to Argonne Drive, along Argonne Drive to The Alameda, north on The Alameda to Northwood Drive and along Northwood Drive to the northern City Line. Twenty neighborhoods are included in YRP’s catchment area, 15 of which border York Road.