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On Saturday, June 17, the grand opening ceremony for the Carroll/Archer Streets Tot Lot marked the culmination of a year-long partnership to reconstruct the once-rundown neighborhood playground. Attended by Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Secretary Kendl P. Philbrick, local dignitaries and residents, the event celebrated the cooperative efforts of MDE, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, the Washington Village/Pigtown Community Association, and neighborhood volunteers.
“This playground is a small example of how state and local government collaboration is making Maryland a better place to live,” said Governor Ehrlich. “By having designated this area as an Environmental Benefits District, we are concentrating economic development and environmental rehabilitation efforts in this and other targeted communities. This environmentally-friendly playground is just one of the many projects that will improve the lives of the residents of southwest Baltimore.”
Located in the heart of the Washington Village/Pigtown community, the project was funded with $75,000 from the Maryland Used Tire Cleanup and Recycling Fund.
“This is a simple example of the successes we can find through cooperation from multiple levels of government and community members,” said Lt. Governor Steele. “As the result of hard work from everyone involved, this forgotten lot was turned into a safe play area for the children and a beautiful piece of real estate for residents.”
“MDE Headquarters is located in Washington Village/Pigtown and we are pleased to have been able to contribute to our neighborhood,” said MDE Secretary Philbrick. “Our contributions were necessary, including assistance in refurbishing the tot lot and providing the new playground tire safety surface at the Charles Carroll Barrister Elementary School last year.”
The playground was constructed in three phases:
Phase One - The demolition of the old playground, began in June 2005, and consisted of the tear-down, removal, and recycling of the old metal equipment that was rusted and not safe for use. Several sections of asphalt were also removed.
Phase Two - New coated metal and plastic play equipment designed to minimize the potential for injury was installed. A rubberized safety surface manufactured from tire chips and recycled rubber was installed under the equipment to provide a protective cushion for the children. The installation of the new equipment and the safety surface was completed in December 2005.
Phase Three - This spring new fencing was installed around the playground, deteriorated asphalt was replaced, and neighborhood volunteers painted the concrete wall adjacent to Carroll Street by neighborhood volunteers.
During the ceremony, Governor’s citations were presented to “Miss Edith” Nelson and Ms. Patricia Blake, long-time residents of Washington Village, also known as Pigtown, for their dedication to neighborhood activities, volunteer efforts to assist youth and the elderly and to improve the community, and commitment to renovating the Carroll/Archer Streets tot lot.
“It is through the hard work, love of community, and diligence of residents like Miss Edith and Ms. Blake, along with shared government resources and wishes for fulfilling dreams of better neighborhoods that projects like this can be realized,” said Secretary Philbrick.
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