The Middle Branch is part of the Chesapeake Bay, which is known for its beauty and bounty. Reimagine Middle Branch offers an incredible opportunity to protect and connect 11 miles of shoreline. This will improve the Patapsco’s water quality, restore its environmental health, and secure South Baltimore’s resilience in the face of climate change and increasing natural disasters.

The area around the Middle Branch has been shaped by transportation infrastructure creating barriers and causing blight. Complete streets, which put existing roads on diets, will strengthen connections between neighborhoods and job centers. Combined with an extensive new trail network, pedestrians and cyclists will be able to make new safe connections between neighborhood and waterfront amenities.

South Baltimore is home to nearly 600 acres of parks and open spaces, both on the water and in neighborhoods. Diverse in scale and character, these parks are a significant asset to the communities. Programming and facilities in parks today are beloved and well-used. In many cases, facilities are at or over capacity and can’t meet present demand of nearby communities. The Plan creates an active and inclusive park-shed for people by supporting current programming with expanded and enhanced facilities, and adding new features and amenities.

There is a wide range of needs and opportunities across the neighborhoods, and no one development strategy will be effective or appropriate across the entire park-shed. With this in mind, the Plan sets forth a bespoke and community-centered approach to development that leverages existing opportunities, supports burgeoning initiatives across South Baltimore, guides future development, and further details initiatives proposed in previous plans.