Exeter Gardens Volunteer Day 2013

7/28/2019 Exeter Gardens Volunteer Day 2013

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June 12, 2013 CONTACT: Shaynaye Franklin

Contact for day of the event: 410.608.1797

Email: [email protected] CONTACT for MRA: Cynthia Fraser Email: [email protected] Tel. 410.235.6001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VOLUNTEERS TO BUILD A COMMUNITY GARDEN AND

MAYOR TO VISIT EXETER GARDENS

ON JUNE 29th

BALTIMORE--- A year of planning and design work will culminate on June 29th and 30th when neighbors, volunteers and

employees of private companies come together to create Exeter Gardens! Exeter Gardens is a community-led initiative to

address the “food desert” within the historic Jonestown neighborhood of Baltimore. Like more than 24 million other

Americans, the residents of Jonestown live in a “food desert” – a community where low-income families have little or no

access to affordable, healthy food. Their goal is to transform an abandoned lot at Exeter and Lombard streets (101-103

S. Exeter) into a beautiful green oasis where neighbors can build community spirit while learning about healthier lifestyles

through growing and preparing their own food. This project also aligns with broader community development goals to

promote Jonestown and its cluster of museums as a tourist destination by enhancing the livability and walkability of this

historic community. Another broad goal is to gain an appreciation of the different cultures and ethnicities that exist in the

neighborhood through sharing different cuisines. It is hoped neighbors will share their recipes and dishes created from the

herbs and vegetables grown in the garden.

On June 29-30, starting at 8AM, volunteers from the community, WPM Real Estate Management, Mahan Rykiel

Associates, Morgan Stanley, Johns Hopkins University, MAC Harbor East, Whole Foods Harbor East, Mainscapes, Home

Depot and many others will come together to convert a blight on the landscape into a neighborhood green space and

community vegetable garden. Artist,Sarah K. El-Jallad, will be painting a beautiful mural. The garden will be blessed at

noon on Saturday by clergy from several different religions and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has agreed to visit

with the volunteers at 1PM-1:30PM on Saturday, June 29th.

WPM became involved in the Exeter Garden Project through direct contact from the project founders, Lindsay

Thompson-(Lindsay & Associates, CPA, John Hopkins Carey School Of Business)- Founder , Hasdai Westbrook-

(Changing Media)-President, and Eric Walker -Morgan Stanley- (Morgan Stanley)- CFO. Michael Klein- President of

Commercial Management and Construction Services accepted the offer to assist in making this project come to life by



taking on the role of General Contractor . WPM donations include labor, equipment, and monetary contributions. WPM

has also gained the help of the Volunteer Committee to assist in making this a well-developed and organized construction

project. WPM has also secured donations from Home Depot, Smart Slopes, and Mainscapes to assist in the construction

of the Garden. WPM has a proven responsibility to give back to the community and environment in which they live. WPM

feels the garden extends to the community a green space in an urban setting. It will also act as an interactive and learning

space that improves the neighborhood.

Mahan Rykiel Associates provided various design services for the community garden. “Mahan Rykiel is proud to provide

pro bono landscape design services for the Exeter Gardens project. Creating a garden that improves the lives of the

neighbors, fosters a sense of community, and beautifies the city is at the heart of what we enjoying doing as landscape

architects. We are hopeful that Exeter Gardens will create an oasis that will empower families to grow healthier foods, and

in working in their community garden, develop a sense of civic pride,” says Joe Burkhardt, Associate Principal at Mahan

Rykiel Associates.

Additional major supporters of the community project include the Abell Foundation, Sylvan/Laureate Foundation, Lindsay &

Associates, CPA and Butler, Melfa & Taylor. Other companies providing financial support, goods or services include: PNC

Bank – Harbor East, MD Athletic Club – Harbor East, Bin 604 – Harbor East, Aveniu Brands – Harbor East, McCormick &

Co., The Perennial Farm, National Lumber, Belair Supply, Potomac Valley Brick, Mainscapes Landscaping, Vulcan

Materials and Parks & People.

For more information about the Exeter Gardens project, please visit their website at http://exetergardens.net/ . #####

Aerial perspective of the garden. Courtesy: Mahan Rykiel Associates



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Exeter Gardens Volunteer Day 2013