Baltimore City Paper: CPTV: Hoop Dreams
This is part of the Harris Creek Watershed of the Baltimore Harbor Watershed and the Plan is to utilize this concept of Hoop Greenhouses throughout the Harris reek Watershed.
Ray Bahr Coordiator Harris Creek Watershed tormwater Project
The Journey to the Harris Creek Watershed Plan
Creating Community by promoting Justice
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving Day as a time to Justice in the World
Thanksging is a warm Holiday of Remembrances as we fill our stomachs with a standard menu (not to be touched with),then sit back in soft armchairs and doze off to short periods of sleep as we watch endless football games of little significance.......but it is also a Time to reflect and think about those Not So Blessed.......those Struggling,many times through no fault of their own.......Poverty is a real issue in America today.....it is often said that for many Americans,they still live in a third world country........in some way or other,our Humaness needs to reach out to these fellow Americans and World People. How we do it and how often will depend on many factors and has to be individualized........but we need to do so for these needy people....not just for them.....but to restore our own Humanity.
Perhaps,another thought that needs to come to mind is that "bad things happen to poor people"....... and this is something that we do wrong and need to correct. This should not happen,and when it does we need to quickly speak up and speak out to the wrongful actions. I am talking here about Environmental Injustice. Affected communities are taken advantage of and lose TRUST and become suspicious when even good programs for their communities are presented. This is what we found when we tried to develop. a Watershed Stormwater Project to reduce Trash and Pollution flowing into the Baltimore Harbor.
Enough said,we concluded that before we could develop the Stormwater Project,we must first find out from the residents the true issues confronting them and work to improve these conditions as well. Strong neighborhoods and stakeholders are needed so when challenged will be a factor in restoring Baltimore. The Improvement in the Quality of Life for residents in these neighborhoods will then enable a successful Stormwater Project,such as the Harris Creek Watershed Plan ,to become a reality.
This is what we are finding in this "Work in Progress". What are your Thoughts?
Raymond D.Bahr MD Coordinator Harris Creek Watershed (246) Project BHWA
Perhaps,another thought that needs to come to mind is that "bad things happen to poor people"....... and this is something that we do wrong and need to correct. This should not happen,and when it does we need to quickly speak up and speak out to the wrongful actions. I am talking here about Environmental Injustice. Affected communities are taken advantage of and lose TRUST and become suspicious when even good programs for their communities are presented. This is what we found when we tried to develop. a Watershed Stormwater Project to reduce Trash and Pollution flowing into the Baltimore Harbor.
Enough said,we concluded that before we could develop the Stormwater Project,we must first find out from the residents the true issues confronting them and work to improve these conditions as well. Strong neighborhoods and stakeholders are needed so when challenged will be a factor in restoring Baltimore. The Improvement in the Quality of Life for residents in these neighborhoods will then enable a successful Stormwater Project,such as the Harris Creek Watershed Plan ,to become a reality.
This is what we are finding in this "Work in Progress". What are your Thoughts?
Raymond D.Bahr MD Coordinator Harris Creek Watershed (246) Project BHWA
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Recognition of Patterson Park Top 12 Great Parks in the United States
Congratulations to Tim Almaguer and the Friends of Patterson Park for getting on the Forbes List for the Top 12 Great Parks in the United States. What an Achievement! WOW! The amount of Time, Effort and Commitment over the last 10 years has been Phenomenal. Citizens of Baltimore need to take time to recognize this,stand and applaud.
The Harris Creek Watershed Association is Proud that Patterson Park lies within its Watershed. Not only is it in it,but in many days long ago,it had a more intimate relationship. It was at the Northern part of Harris Creek that William Patterson had a six acre farm. There were two large steams that met just North of the Park to form a Major Stream that gave way to the Harris Creek that eventually flowed into the Baltimore Harbor along Boston Street in Canton. Harris Creek in 1797 had two large Boat Yards and it was at the Stodder Boat Yard where the famous Frigate Constillation was built as well as many Clipper Ships that played havoc with the British in the War of 1812.
We are trying to clean up the Harris Creek Watershed these days with a Stormwater Project that aims to reduce Trash and Pollution from going into the Baltimore Harbor. We are Proud of our Heritage....Proud of Harris Creek.....and even more Proud of Patterson Park after getting this recognition. Thanks Tim and Friends of Patterson Park. We appreciate your Effort.
Best,Raymond D.Bahr MD Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association
The Harris Creek Watershed Association is Proud that Patterson Park lies within its Watershed. Not only is it in it,but in many days long ago,it had a more intimate relationship. It was at the Northern part of Harris Creek that William Patterson had a six acre farm. There were two large steams that met just North of the Park to form a Major Stream that gave way to the Harris Creek that eventually flowed into the Baltimore Harbor along Boston Street in Canton. Harris Creek in 1797 had two large Boat Yards and it was at the Stodder Boat Yard where the famous Frigate Constillation was built as well as many Clipper Ships that played havoc with the British in the War of 1812.
We are trying to clean up the Harris Creek Watershed these days with a Stormwater Project that aims to reduce Trash and Pollution from going into the Baltimore Harbor. We are Proud of our Heritage....Proud of Harris Creek.....and even more Proud of Patterson Park after getting this recognition. Thanks Tim and Friends of Patterson Park. We appreciate your Effort.
Best,Raymond D.Bahr MD Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Moving ahead with the Harris Creek Watershed Project
The easiest part of doing this Project is to Educate about Trash and Implement Best Management Practices for dealing with excessive runoff from Stormwater. There are 17 neighborhoods in the Harris Creek Watershed that goes from Clifton Park to the Baltimore Harbor in Canton at the Outflow Drain located just across from the Safeway. However doing the Project this way only would wind up as a Failure. There are a lot of Issues in these neighborhoods that are more Important than Stormwater Management. These Issues need to part of the Equation in solving the Trash and Pollution Problem.
The medium earned Income is about $45,000 in the Canton area and this decreases to about $10,000 as one goes North. The Unemployment Rate is about 6% in the Canton area and rises to about 30% as one goes North. This translates to neighborhoods having Poverty Issues that results in an increase in the Illegal Drug Trading and the Violence and Homicide that goes with this trend. Humanity gets lost and there is a sense of Hopelessness. Homes become neglected and vacant. Dumping of trash in alleys and on vacant lots occur, setting the scene for rat infestation.
Residents become suspicious of outsiders,especially developers and urban planners. Trust is lost and becomes an obstacle preventing any meaningful discussion about a Stormwater Project.
Yet despite these shortcomings,all is not lost. Residents are still fellow human beings that seemingly have lost temporarily their humanity. Needed is a developing fellowship based on an understanding that Projects become sensitive in working to become more aware of the many issues confronting a neighborhood.
Yes,we will continue in the Watershed 246 Project or the Harris Creek Watershed Project,but we will tread lightly as we attempt to find ways to get back this Community Trust, so very much needed to engage deeply the Stakeholders that will help us in connecting Neighborhoods ......and use this as a Bridging Force to bring back a Live Baltimore.
Help us to understand what we have to do to unite and ignite the Neighborhoods in this Effort.
Respectfully,Raymond D.Bahr Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association
The medium earned Income is about $45,000 in the Canton area and this decreases to about $10,000 as one goes North. The Unemployment Rate is about 6% in the Canton area and rises to about 30% as one goes North. This translates to neighborhoods having Poverty Issues that results in an increase in the Illegal Drug Trading and the Violence and Homicide that goes with this trend. Humanity gets lost and there is a sense of Hopelessness. Homes become neglected and vacant. Dumping of trash in alleys and on vacant lots occur, setting the scene for rat infestation.
Residents become suspicious of outsiders,especially developers and urban planners. Trust is lost and becomes an obstacle preventing any meaningful discussion about a Stormwater Project.
Yet despite these shortcomings,all is not lost. Residents are still fellow human beings that seemingly have lost temporarily their humanity. Needed is a developing fellowship based on an understanding that Projects become sensitive in working to become more aware of the many issues confronting a neighborhood.
Yes,we will continue in the Watershed 246 Project or the Harris Creek Watershed Project,but we will tread lightly as we attempt to find ways to get back this Community Trust, so very much needed to engage deeply the Stakeholders that will help us in connecting Neighborhoods ......and use this as a Bridging Force to bring back a Live Baltimore.
Help us to understand what we have to do to unite and ignite the Neighborhoods in this Effort.
Respectfully,Raymond D.Bahr Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association
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