The mark of any good city is lots of parks and green space, so I'm glad to see the current effort to add green space and parks in our distressed neighborhoods ("Greening Baltimore," June 20). The parks around Mount Vernon Square provide immense pleasure to all residents (and visitors) to the neighborhood.
However, simply creating the parks is not enough. A concerted and organized effort must be established to ensure the parks remain safe, clean and well-maintained or they will rapidly deteriorate into havens for the homeless, drug dealers and others who show no concern for their value or beauty. I walk my dog around the Mount Vernon early every morning, and it is so discouraging to see the accumulation of trash and other detritus that accumulates over night. Plastic bottles, beer cans, food containers, dirty napkins, old clothes, dirty pillows — the list goes on. And what is so sad is that this mess is strewn on benches, the grass, the landscaped flower and shrub areas on the edge of the parks when there is never more than a 20-foot walk to a convenient trash can.
Fortunately, we have the Mid-Town Belvedere organization which provides early cleanup services for the parks. I even pick up what trash I'm not afraid to touch on my dog walks. During the day, I see homeless people with their numerous bags taking up park benches and sleeping, many of them obviously overnight.
The parks are for everyone, so I'm not advocating disbarring anyone from using our parks, but given the investment being made in these green spaces in our disadvantaged neighborhoods, I strongly recommend that a formal effort as part of a neighborhood organization or, if funds are available, from city-sponsored maintenance, is initiated as on ongoing action to ensure that what is established as nice will continue to stay that way so that all of our city residents can enjoy them as the sponsors of this positive initiative have intended.
Jerry Cothran, Baltimore