GREENING RESERVOIR HILL: OUR MASTER PLAN


Click on the image above for a larger image. (PDF)
(Example of the Master Plan in use, at the bottom of this page.)

For the Green Master Plan objectives and task outline,
click here.

RHIC has a proud tradition of investing significant resources in greening projects. Some have become hallmark projects, such as the Community Garden on Lennox Street and the rose garden on Eutaw Place. Whether small or large, the greening projects bring together diverse elements in the community, build relationships, and instill community pride. In 2004, RHIC brought the various scattered projects into one initiative called Greening Reservoir Hill. This was done to generate recognition for Reservoir Hill around its greenery as well as its Victorian homes, and to mobilize resident activity around increasing the beauty, environmental health, and enjoyment of the community.

In 2007 a Green Master Plan was created to provide a general framework to guide community greening activities. In addition to restoring parks and vacant lots, and planting trees, the plan analyzes the condition and functionality of pedestrian walkways, streets, signage, lighting, proposed bike routes, public transportation routes, bus stops, and historic features such as brick pavers and notable monuments and buildings. By analyzing the physical layout of the community, strategies can be developed to improve public safety, sanitation conditions, and other common community concerns.

At the core of this plan is Community Organizing and building social unity. Residents must commit to participating in the creation and maintenance of the projects. Also, to achieve greater social unity, the projects must involve a diverse group of residents.

The plan has five principles:

Greening creates a more appealing and pleasant community, and in doing so, fosters neighborhood pride, increased public safety and social cohesion, and a unified neighborhood identity

Citizens play a vital role in the environmental health of the community

Residents deserve to be educated about environmental and community health issues

Educated residents are effective neighborhood advocates in the creation and maintenance of community greening projects

The community has a responsibility to care for the environment as surrounding communities are effected by neighboring conditions

The plan has five goals:

Restoring and preserving all unused vacant lots, underutilized parks, and other under-maintained green spaces

Increasing the tree canopy in the neighborhood to meet the City’s goal

Promoting green design in large development projects

Promoting residential gardens

Creating attractive and safe pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists

How Neighborhoods Can Use the Master Plan

The overall Green Master Plan is a tool to help guide projects that will improve the health, beauty, safety, and social fabric of the community. Neighborhoods within the range of the Master Plan, or even single blocks, can take the Master Plan, look at their area within the context of the whole community, and identify projects that will enhance their immediate neighborhood. The map provides details about the physical layout and features of a targeted area which can be used to plan projects to deter activities such as illegal dumping, improve traffic and pedestrian safety conditions, enhance historic features, and beautify the community.

Take a look and see how neighbors on the 2200 and 2300 blocks of Linden Avenue used the map and worked with RHIC to create their own plan for their blocks.