Located in the geographic heart of Baltimore, Johnston Square is one of dozens of Baltimore’s hyper-segregated “Black Butterfly” neighborhoods that has suffered generations of disinvestment, population loss, and extreme poverty. It is currently among the most distressed areas of Baltimore. The mission of Rebuild Johnston Square Neighborhood Organization (RJSNO) is to develop Johnston Square into a model community in Baltimore City by building community power, creating open spaces and recreational opportunities, improving local beautification and public safety, and fostering the revitalization of the community without displacement.
This site is a string of vacant lots, now just turf, that could be transformed into an urban oasis and contemplative garden. CSX trains run under this site, which prevents it from being developed beyond a green space. RJSNO has established a strong partnership with the Green Spring Valley Garden Club, which has provided essential materials, labor, and design for the existing greened lots. The Garden Club would continue to be a partner in this endeavor, providing long-term maintenance. Given its larger size and visibility, this site has the potential to be catalytic for this neighborhood.
The Johnston Square 2020 Vision Plan recommends reclaiming the unbuildable lots along Hoffman St to create an open space corridor. Meanwhile, a second conceptual research masterplan re-imagines Johnston Square’s vacant land assets as spaces to deliver ecosystem services and resources for community development. This masterplan was a community-driven design that incorporated focus groups comprised of neighborhood residents and stakeholders. The research done acted as a framework for higher-level design goals, specifically on the ecosystem services aspects.
This Sacred Place contributes to both and, in particular, kicks off the implementation of the second masterplan. The Beehive will be a space within the Johnston Square neighborhood that uniquely sets out to be a setting for all members of the neighborhood to find peace within themselves as individuals and within fellowship. The hope is that this garden reflects, even in subtle ways, the investments that the community has put into themselves.
Through the engagements, the community highlighted the young population as a priority user group. Giving the youth spaces after school that they feel comfortable in came up several times from adults and young people. Residents also have a range of meditative practices, from art to movement. The design reacts to this by providing flexible spaces with choices for active or quieter uses, and for group or individual activities.
The design utilizes simplicity, favors affordable and classic furnishing, and minimal hardscape. A concrete pathway connects the two adjacent streets, and a sinuous aggregate walking loop journeys through brightly colored native plantings, which adhere to Johnston Square’s established plant palette for coherence throughout the neighborhood. Boulders scattered through the plantings and signature bright yellow Johnston Square benches along the pathway provide seating and a place for individual or slower activities. In the midpoint of the concrete pathway is a pergola with the Nature Sacred Bench underneath. Many of the plantings were installed by RJSNO’s Junior Green Team.
Design Team
Micaela Ada, Nature Sacred Design Advisor, Neighborhood Design Center
Lauren Marshall
