Oct. 30 ribbon cutting celebrates a community-designed greenspace on previously vacant lots beside the Highway to Nowhere
BALTIMORE, Oct. 27, 2026 — On previously vacant lots in West Baltimore, beside a section of Baltimore’s Highway to Nowhere, neighbors now have a place to gather, rest, and connect with nature. On Friday, Oct. 30, Parity Homes, Parks & People, and Nature Sacred will dedicate the Sacred Place at Matriarch Park, 500 N. Carrollton Ave., with a ceremonial tree mulching and ribbon cutting beginning at 10 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The Sacred Place was shaped by the people who live around it. Through door-to-door outreach, listening sessions, virtual workshops, and two community charrettes in spring 2025, residents shared what they wanted to see: benches and shade, outdoor movie nights, natural play elements, a pollinator garden, and traffic calming. They envisioned a place where youth and elders could gather. A theme that emerged during the workshops — ancestors — ultimately shaped the Sacred Place’s name and design. EnviroCollab translated the community’s ideas into the finished space.
The Sacred Place grows out of Parity Homes’ commitment to West Baltimore, where the organization is restoring balance in disinvested neighborhoods by creating pathways to affordable homeownership. Its approach puts community wealth-building first and revitalizes historically marginalized neighborhoods without displacing the people who live there.
“At Parity, we know healthy neighborhoods are more than buildings and homes. So much of how we feel about where we live happens the moment we step outside onto the street. Lighting, cleanliness, and above all greenspace shape our sense of well-being and community,” said Bree Jones, CEO of Parity Homes. “This was our first park project, and quite frankly, I was intimidated. Turning six vacant lots into a park is daunting. With our incredible partners at Nature Sacred, Parks & People, EnviroCollab, and Live Green Associates, we brought this community-driven vision to life.”
Parks & People played an important role in helping turn residents’ ideas for a place to gather, connect with nature, and build community into a permanent greenspace.
“This Sacred Place demonstrates what is possible when residents are invited to shape the future of their neighborhood. What was once a vacant lot beside the Highway to Nowhere is now a place for reflection, connection, and belonging. At Parks & People, we believe everyone deserves access to beautiful green spaces that inspire wellness, community, and wonder,” said Janae Edley, Design & Construction Project Coordinator of Parks & People. “The Sacred Place at Matriarch Park reflects the dreams and priorities of West Baltimore residents, and we are proud to have helped transform their vision into a lasting community asset.”
This Sacred Place will join Nature Sacred’s national network of more than 200 Sacred Places open or in development across 18 states and Washington, D.C. As in every Sacred Place, a handcrafted wooden bench anchors the site, alongside a Little Yellow Journal where visitors can reflect and share what the space means to them. Bree Jones and Imani Yasin will tend the Sacred Place as members of Nature Sacred’s national Firesoul™ Network of more than 300 community leaders.
“Matriarch Park is a beautiful example of what can happen when a community’s vision takes root,” said Remy Shaffer Gomes, President of Nature Sacred. “It is a place for people to gather, to connect across generations and with nature, and to build a stronger sense of belonging right here in West Baltimore.”
The Oct. 30 program, led by Dr. Franklin Lance, President and CEO of Parks & People, will feature remarks from Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman; Ira Kowler of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development; Kacey Wetzel of the Chesapeake Bay Trust; Remy Shaffer Gomes, President of Nature Sacred; Nneka N’namdi of the SOS Fund; and Bree Jones, CEO of Parity Homes. Remarks will be followed by a ceremonial tree mulching, ribbon cutting, photos, and refreshments.
