About the Project
The Greater Baybrook Blue-Green Master Plan is a community-led effort to better connect the Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn, and Curtis Bay neighborhoods to each other and to the many green resources found within the Patapsco/Back River basin. Rebuilding native ecosystems and enhancing neighborhood green spaces will provide more opportunities for recreational activities and a cleaner environment to live and work in. A healthier environment means a happier and healthier community!
Improve Water Quality
Connect the Community to Green Resources
Increase Environmental & Community Resilience
Enhance the Quality of Life
This project is supported by a grant from the
Context Map
Project Timeline
OCTOBER 2021
Project Outreach Launch
Citizen engagement and involvement are vital to the planning process for the Greater Baybrook Blue-Green Master Plan.
You can participate in the Planning Process by:
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Attending Community Workshops
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Filling out the Contact Form to receive project updates
We need your help identifying locations on public and private property for blue-green strategies such as planting rain gardens and new trees, installing rain barrels, and reducing impervious surfaces. Smart development of vacant property will also be included in the vision.
NOVEMBER 2021
Stakeholder Workshop #1
MARCH 2022
Master Plan Report and Summary
DECEMBER 2021
Stakeholder Workshop #2
MARCH/APRIL 2022
Stakeholder Workshop #3
JUNE 2022
Design Completion of Pilot Projects
What are Blue-Green Strategies?
Blue and green strategies mimic natural environmental systems through the use of plants, trees, and other measures to manage stormwater runoff. They complement and in some cases replace the need for gray infrastructure, such as gutters, drains, and pipes. In addition, blue and green strategies can increase neighborhood tree canopy, beautify parks and open spaces, and restore natural habitats.
Indy Cultural Trail
Credit: Ryan Gravel, ryangravel.com
Stormwater Runoff
Credit: The Baltimore Sun
What is Stormwater?
“Stormwater” is just what it sounds like: water that originates from rain storms. Stormwater also includes water originating from melting snow and ice. If stormwater is not properly managed and flows over impervious surfaces, such as streets and rooftops, into the nearest storm drain, it can have a detrimental effect on river and stream corridors.
Safety Concerns of Stormwater Runoff
Impervious Surfaces
As cities grow and more development occurs, the natural landscape is replaced by impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, and parking lots.
Flooding
With increased impervious surfaces and no place for stormwater to go, streets and basements can flood more frequently.
Trash & Litter
Stormwater carries trash and litter found along roadways in to local creeks and streams, polluting waterways and diminishing water quality for residents.
Clogged Drain Inlets
Clogged drain inlets are inefficient and can lead to increased flooding along streets and sidewalks.
Underutilized Lots
Trees and vegetation help filter stormwater runoff that eventually replenishes the groundwater.
Blue-Green Strategies & Greater Baybrook
The Blue-Green Master Plan will identify community sites for blue and green strategies that combines natural environmental systems with roadways, parking lots, sidewalks, and more to generate benefits, such as clean air, better stormwater management, and public health.
Rain gardens, green streets, green roofs, permeable pavement, greenways and trails, constructed wetlands, and urban forests are some of the types of blue and green strategies that assist in creating healthy, happy, and environmentally resilient communities.
Blue and green strategies offer a feasible and valuable solution for urban areas facing the challenges of frequent flooding, safety, waterway health, drinking water, urban heat island effect, and community investment.
New York City Playgrounds Program
Credit: Timothy Schneck, The Trust for Public Land, tpl.org
Mapping Assets & Challenges!
You showed us where the Blue-Green Assets that you value, and the Challenges your community faces with respect to the environment and safety are located. This helped us understand what will be most important in creating a Blue-Green master plan that truly empowers your community.
1.
Where are you located?
Greater Baybrook Alliance would like to document the areas of the community that are being represented in this community-sourced mapping effort. People who live and work in Greater Baybrook are encouraged to map their residence or place of business in the three neighborhoods.
*Specific addresses will not be made public.
2.
What blue-green assets do you value?
Blue-Green Assets are beneficial
environmental features that enhance
or improve the quality of life for members of the Greater Baybrook neighborhoods.
Blue-Green Assets may be...
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Trees
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Trail
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Park or Open Space
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Recreation Center
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Community Garden
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Empty Lot
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Waterway, River, Stream, or Creek
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Forest or Woodland
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Wildlife Area
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Great View
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Or something else!
3.
What challenges do you see?
Challenges are negative environmental
features that hurt or lower the quality
of life for members of the Greater Baybrook neighborhoods.
Challenges may be...
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Flooding
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Clogged Storm Drain Inlet
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Trash or Litter
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Underutilized or Overpaved Areas
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Environmental Hazard
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Source of Pollution
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Vehicular Traffic
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Disconnected Sidewalk or Pathway
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Vacant Lot
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Extreme Hot Temperatures
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Undesirable Activity
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Mosquitoes
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Or something else!
What Happens Next?
The planning team will use the community-sourced input to create a series of maps that highlight the beneficial environmental features (Blue-Green Assets) and recognize the negative environmental features (Challenges) in Greater Baybrook. These maps will become important resources for the Greater Baybrook Blue-Green planning process for identifying and developing blue-green strategy recommendations.
Community Map
See your identified Blue-Green Assets and Challenges come to life! Click the arrow icon in the upper left to expand the map legend.
Pilot Projects Survey
The Greater Baybrook Blue-Green Master Plan design team has identified nine (9) sites as suitable candidates for hosting green infrastructure pilot projects. Pilot projects are the initial projects used to prove the viability of a community master plan.
Greater Baybrook Alliance is interested in learning from the community about which of the recommended sites should be designed and constructed first.
Please review the following pilot project sites, and select the top five (5) sites of your choice. Information about individual pilot sites can be found in the following GBA presentation given on January 18:
Note: While only two sites will eventually be selected by GBA as pilot projects, all nine sites will be considered for the final Blue-Green Master Plan recommendations!
Resources
The links below provide information about past and ongoing planning efforts within Greater Baybrook.
Community Plans & Studies
Watershed Health & Assessments
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Brooklyn Baybrook Community Action Plan
Community Data
More Info about Blue & Green Strategies
Ongoing Community Projects
Contact Us
Would you like to be involved and/or contacted about Greater Baybrook Alliance community events? Please fill out the contact form below!