APA Planning Excellence Award: Reimagine Middle Branch Plan
Field Operations; City of Baltimore; South Baltimore Gateway Partnership
South Baltimore, Maryland
Access the full announcement here.
South Baltimore’s 19 neighborhoods are reconnecting to their 11-mile waterfront on the Patapsco River, thanks to the Reimagine Middle Branch Plan.
Unanimously approved by the Baltimore City Planning Commission in February 2023, the plan adopted an implementation strategy that provides a roadmap for transforming not only the physical landscape but also the social fabric of South Baltimore.
Building on previous initiatives, the planning team prioritized community collaboration, recruiting 150 residents and technical experts to serve on advisory committees. The plan’s Community Advisory Committee included community leaders from each of the 19 neighborhoods in the plan’s study area, serving as trusted liaisons to ensure the alignment of priorities with residents of South Baltimore.
The plan comprises 40 projects aimed at improving the environment, catalyzing economic growth, activating parks and open spaces, and celebrating the area’s cultural heritage. These efforts have attracted over $175 million in funding, demonstrating a strong commitment to transforming South Baltimore’s waterfront into an inclusive space for all.
Jury said: “The scope of the plan is massive — and connecting neighborhoods with the waterfront at its core is an equity issue.”