Druid Heights to Jones Falls: Community Watershed Connections in Baltimore

Sitting within the Jones Fall Watershed, a sub-watershed of the Chesapeake Bay, lies Druid Heights in West Baltimore, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.

The state of Maryland has identified the neighborhood as having significant environmental justice concerns including air and water quality, heat and flood risks, and other impacts of pollution. Through engagement, service, and advocacy, the Druid Heights Community Development Corporation (Druid Heights CDC) is working closely with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to re-develop and revitalize the green spaces in one of Baltimore’s oldest neighborhoods to improve these conditions.

Environmental Outreach, Education, and Engagement Projects

Despite sitting near Druid Hill Park and the Jones Falls creek, infrastructure like large highways, train tracks, and lack of access points keep the neighborhood disconnected from natural spaces. As part of Druid Heights CDC’s ongoing efforts to better connect neighbors to nature and address wider watershed health issues, NWF is once again partnering with the community to support greening and watershed education through the Druid Heights to Jones Falls project. This project combines public education on water quality, water pollution, and local watersheds with restoration of community green spaces.

In addition to working with Grow Home (a local youth leadership and green workforce development program aimed at revitalizing the existing rain and pollinator gardens at the Druid Heights Peace Park and Elijah Cummings Nature Play Space), the Druid Heights CDC and NWF are hosting a series of workshops and educational events as part of the Druid Heights to Jones Falls project.

Rather than simply restoring green community spaces, the partnership will help deepen the connection between Druid Heights residents and the Jones Falls Watershed by offering hands-on experiences in understanding how small-scale infrastructure can improve watershed health.

With the right tools, residents of this historic neighborhood have the power to improve the health of their community and local environment.

Educational Workshops

A key component of the Druid Heights to Jones Falls project is supporting community members in building a relationship with their green spaces. By targeting key age groups with specially designed events, community members will be invited to explore their unique role in protecting the Jones Fall Watershed.  

In December 2025, the first event took students from the Druid Heights CDC after school program on a field trip for an educational nature walk at Druid Hill Park and along the Jones Falls creek to learn about the interconnection of the park, stream, and Druid Heights within the Jones Falls Watershed and the Chesapeake Bay.

Upcoming events will take the after school program on a second field trip to the Baltimore Harbor, work with summer campers to stencil storm drains, engage adults from the Green Thumb Club in park clean-up and planting events, and invite seniors on a field trip to learn about watersheds, stormwater, flooding, and pollution and how best to protect waterways, improve ecological conditions, and advocate for positive environmental change.

The final two events will be community planting and “spruce-up” days at the Elijah Cummings Nature Play Space and Druid Heights Peace Park. By cleaning trash, removing invasive plants and weeds, and planting new trees, shrubs, and perennials, residents will help restore the ecological functionality of these important spaces.

Measuring Success

In this historic neighborhood, the Druid Heights to Jones Falls project looks to connect an already interconnected community to the green spaces and watersheds that impact their water quality and ecological health.

The ultimate measure of success for this Chesapeake Bay Trust funded work will be in seeing renewed interested in active, positive use of community green spaces and residents who feel empowered to advocate for improved water quality in the Jones Fall and Chesapeake Bay Watersheds.

Supporting communities in building their capacity to steward green spaces, green stormwater infrastructure, and wildlife habitat is a long-term process. With sustained commitment to the Druid Heights community and the health of their watershed, the National Wildlife Federation, Druid Heights CDC, and residents of this historic neighborhood are taking steps small yet critical steps toward community and ecological resilience.