Green Spaces: Real Access, Not Just Space on a Map
Baltimore County is a diverse landscape, and District 7 is at the center of that diversity. Currently, 80% of our population lives within the Urban Rural Demarcation Line on just over 30% of our land. This density makes our green spaces more than just scenery—they are essential for our physical and mental health.
I am committed to a “Green Infrastructure” plan that prioritizes people and access.
- Access with a plan: We need hiking trails, playgrounds, and outdoor spaces where families and communities can gather. “Pocket Parks” are a great example of introducing green spaces in neighborhoods, but we need maintenance plans in place before shifting around County land and designating parks. Without these plans, the responsibility for these parks can get lost between departments, leaving their maintenance in limbo and potentially draining unintended resources.
- Proactive Planning: As our communities grow, green space cannot be an afterthought. I will advocate for long-term planning that requires budding developments and redevelopments to incorporate direct, walkable green space access from day one.
- Follow the Infrastructure: By focusing on smart, community-centric development within our existing infrastructure, we can maintain the open spaces that help shape our county’s rural character without sacrificing the quality of life in our suburban and urban centers.
- Equity in the Outdoors: No matter where in Baltimore County you live, every resident deserves access to our green spaces. I will work to improve access to our existing trail systems and public outdoor spaces while increasing functional green spaces and parks inside the URDL.