Healing spaces

A recent article in the Baltimore Sun highlighted how neighborhood green spaces honor local heroes. Former residents that are memorialized with parks in their names include community activists, ambassadors, barrier-breaking politicians and other local luminaries. Many of them are people of color.

By Andrew Szwak February 16, 2022
Young black child who appears to be male wearing a mask pulled down below mouth hugging a tree.

A recent article in the Baltimore Sun highlighted how neighborhood green spaces honor local heroes. Former residents that are memorialized with parks in their names include community activists, ambassadors, barrier-breaking politicians and other local luminaries. Many of them are people of color.

It is a high honor to have a park named, let alone established, for you. Unlike a street, bridge or other infrastructure, parks elicit an emotional connection with members of their surrounding communities. They are also much more vital to the health and wellbeing of the neighborhood.

“Our green spaces are precious and are considered our healing spaces,” Marion McGaskey Blackwell, a former social worker, told the Baltimore Sun. “We believe community engagement through the use of our green spaces help heal and nourish our communities with a human connection and engagement.”

February is Black History Month and its theme is Black Health and Wellness. What better way to honor this theme than to get outside and visit places that are important to your community’s Black history? Opportunities abound in urban areas, such as Baltimore, but also in more rural and suburban areas, including Fauquier County, Virginia and Harford County, Maryland.

You can also volunteer your time and talents. Land trusts and other organizations across the nation are starting to host cleanups, tree plantings and other workdays. A long winter following two years of pandemic restrictions have left many of these special spaces that honor our cherished local heroes in need of some serious TLC.

So, please, get off the computer, go help out, and experience our nation’s rich Black history!

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