Cecil Community Park

2000 Cecil Avenue
Neighborhood: East Baltimore Midway

Park Amenities:

  • Adult exercise equipment

  • Early learning playground

  • Charging station

  • Open lawn

  • Outdoor seating and shade structure

  • Raised garden beds

  • Quarter mile walking track

Transforming a community schoolyard into a vibrant learning space

The development of Cecil Elementary has transformed the school and its surrounding green spaces through a $3.6 million multi-year investment combining public and private funding. Phase 1 saw the creation of an outdoor classroom with trees, vegetation, and raised beds to teach students about fresh produce and food security. In Phase 2, we completed a full renovation of the park and playground spaces, creating a vibrant community amenity for the school, Cecil-Kirk Recreation Center, and East Baltimore Midway residents.

Our role

Parks and People collaborated with the Central Baltimore Partnership to create a new park in East Baltimore Midway, featuring a playground, exercise equipment, and a playing field. This project focused on direct community engagement to ensure that the park met the needs of local families and neighbors around Cecil Elementary School.

Partners

Project Partners:

  • Baltimore City Public Schools

  • Cecil Elementary School

  • Central Baltimore Partnership

  • Greater Greenmount Coordinating Committee

  • Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks

  • Sparks at Play

  • Hord Coplan Macht

  • Plano Coudon

  • Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs

Supporters

The development of this park was made possible through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Project CORE, which invested $153k into the initiative. This project serves as a model for leveraging public funds to create impactful green spaces in urban settings.

Cecil Community Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

On October 24th, 2024, after the completion of phase 2, Parks & People, partners, funders, and community members gathered to cut the ribbon on the completed Cecil Community Park.

The Vision

Parks & People held community engagement listening sessions where residents shared their thoughts for transforming a disjointed play space into a vibrant and connected community space.

Before

Cecil Community Park Groundbreaking

Work started on Cecil Community park on January 11th 2023. Phase 1 saw the creation of an outdoor classroom with trees, vegetation, and raised beds to teach students about fresh produce and food security.

Progress

 

Cecil Community Park

Address: 2000 Cecil Avenue

Neighborhood: East Baltimore Midway

Project Type: Schoolyard Renovation

Residents within a 0.25 mile radius: 2,293

Size: 1.56 acres