Separated from Catonsville's main street on Frederick Road by the bridge above Interstate 695, the Paradise community has long been viewed as the stepchild of Catonsville.
The Paradise Community Association has been working to shake that image and integrate itself with the rest of Catonsville, according to Jimmy Laughlin, president of the association.
The group was recently honored for its efforts with the Revitalization Award by the Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce. The PCA will be recognized at a ceremony hosted by the chamber on Jan. 15.
"I hope that we can use this as an example for other small communities that are struggling as well," Laughlin said.
"It's not that it takes a lot of money, but a lot of passion and a lot of interest. Once you get the right passion, the right people, the right interest — the sky is the limit."
Laughlin said the effort to improve Paradise began about three or four years ago, and it picked up speed when Paradise artist Edward Williams painted a mural at the Paradise bus shelter on Frederick Road with the Kaleidoscope Arts Camp in the summer of 2013.
"As soon as that was installed, people began to start to take notice, and before you knew it, new benches were going in the area," said Laughlin, who has lived in Paradise for four years.
Volunteers Maureen Sweeney Smith, Scott Schools and Williams began planting flowers and shrubs, pulling weeds and putting down mulch to beautify areas around the businesses, Laughlin said.
"The Paradise community has been wonderful. There are so many people there that have been dedicated to fostering the revitalization of Paradise — Jimmy Laughlin, Brad Sweet, Joe Pallozzi, Scott Schools, Maureen Sweeney Smith and so many others," said 1st District Councilman Tom Quirk, who represents Catonsville.
"I wish I could take that dedicated group of people and clone them and put them in other parts of the area as well, because they're the ones that are really driving this," Quirk said.
The community association worked with the chamber of commerce to brand itself as a community and launched a "Love Living in Paradise" Facebook page about a year ago, Schools said. The page had 452 likes as of Jan. 2.
"[Paradise] was kind of slipping, and I think the branding has helped focus on the possibilities," Schools said. "It gave us positive forward momentum."
Laughlin said there have been some challenges along the way.
"When I became president, a couple of us got together and we wanted to take a holistic approach to Paradise, which meant the community association taking more of an interest in the businesses," Laughlin said. "We knew that if we could help the businesses and brand Paradise ... we could probably make a lot more strides."
Laughlin said it was a struggle to get everyone from the community association on board with the idea at first.
"Homeowners are thinking to themselves: 'What does that have to do with my neighborhood? What does that have to do with the rat or garbage situation?' " Laughlin said. "But if the businesses aren't doing well, then the area itself is less desirable. Not to just live in, but to visit as well."
Investment from two businessmen – Sam Pleeter and Gilbert Moscatelli – who purchased commercial buildings on the north and south sides of Frederick Road, respectively, will make a huge difference, Schools said.
"Ultimately, a lot of successes are driven by private capital," Quirk said. "I'm really hoping the residents who live nearby spend their money locally and really help by shopping and patronizing these businesses."
Quirk said he hopes the completion of sidewalks and a bike lane on the Interstate 695 bridge that connects greater Catonsville with Paradise will help encourage foot traffic between the two communities.
"When the Beltway was put in, it almost unintentionally divided Paradise and Catonsville. But I think that's started to change," Quirk said.
Quirk said he has been working to secure funding from the state and county for a streetscape project on Frederick Road in Paradise.
Residents and businesses would like to see the outdated planters with trees that block businesses from the view of passers-by removed.
"The wrong trees were planted in those planters years ago. They hide what businesses are actually there," Laughlin said.
Quirk will continue to push for funding to improve the business corridor in Paradise.
"I'm hopeful and confident that the new governor [Larry Hogan] will also embrace the revitalization needed in Paradise, and I'll be working very closely to make sure that the plans in place from the state side continue," Quirk said.
Quirk said he is concerned about the budget shortfall, but will also work with County Executive Kevin Kamenetz to see if the county can "pick up the difference."
The PCA, meantime, will continue to look at ways of improving the community, Laughlin said.
The group will host a Paradise Festival in the spring before the chamber launches its annual Frederick Road Fridays music series, Laughlin said.
"We're looking to bring in food trucks, at having different artists, crafters, tents and music to try to not just help with the community in Paradise, but also bring folks in greater Catonsville to Paradise, so they can see what Paradise is becoming," Laughlin said.