Happy Earth Day everyone. This may not be as lively a celebration as, say... St. Patrick's Day, but there's no denying it's relevance. Most people don't associate environmentalism with Downtowns, but as we've noted on this blog, there's increasing evidence that dense transit-oriented communities like Downtown are much more eco-friendly than developments that gobble up land and require a car to go anywhere.
We'd also like to point out that, as far as The Partnership is concerned, every day is Earth Day. Each year our Clean, Safe & Beautiful Team picks up more than 700 tons of litter. We plant and maintain 300 flowerpots and hanging baskets. We've spent more than $30 million on streetscape improvements to make Downtown Baltimore even more walkable. And we're dramatically improving parks and plazas by adding green space, trees, energy efficient lighting, and surfaces that minimize runoff.
If you're interested in learning more about how you can help the environment, or if you're just looking for something fun to do, this Friday kicks off Baltimore Green Week - a series of free or almost free, eco-centered activities. The biggest event is EcoFest, which takes place this Saturday in Druid Hill Park. Check it out here.
-m.e.
