* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill
Introduced by: Councilmember Costello
At the request of: Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, Inc.
Address: c/o Laurie Schwartz, Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, Inc., 650 South Exeter
Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Telephone: 443-743-3307
A Bill Entitled
An Ordinance concerning
title
City Property - Naming a Pavilion and a Nature Park in the Joseph H. Rash Playfield to be the BGE Pavilion and the BGE Nature Park
For the purpose of naming a pavilion in the Joseph H. Rash Playfield (Block 890, Lot 006), to be located at the coordinates of 39.281483, - 76.610425, the BGE Pavilion; and naming a nature park in the Joseph H. Rash Playfield (Block 890, Lot 006), to be located at the coordinates of 39,281657, - 76,610659, the BGE Nature Park.
body
By authority of
Article 5 - Finance, Property, and Procurement
Section 20-2
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
Recitals
Rash Field is a 7.5-acre public park located at 301 Key Highway, along the south shore of the Inner Harbor. The park was opened in 1977, though in the decades since has largely sat vacant and underused. In partnership with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and the Baltimore Development Corporation, Waterfront Partnership has worked with a team of city officials, community leaders, and local businesses to transform Rash Field into Rash Field Park.
Of the $17 million Phase I project cost, $9.5 million has been committed by the Mayor and City Council in the Capital Improvement Program (with an additional $1 million in the FY 2021 CIP) and $4.3 million from the State of Maryland. Waterfront Partnership has committed to raising the remainder - more than $2 million - from private sources.
Baltimore Gas and Electric Co (BGE) has offered to donate up to $1 million toward park renovations. Such a charitable contribution will come from shareholders and will not be recovered from utility customers in electric and gas rates.
In recognition of its significant contribution and support for many community efforts, Waterfront Partnership proposes to name the Pavilion and Nature Park in honor of BGE. Without its funding, the park could not be built as planned.
The Inner Harbor is an incredible asset for Baltimore. The Rash Field Park project has been designed and is being built to serve primarily citywide residents, as well as tourists. The economic benefits are numerous. Over the construction period it is estimated there will be approximately 370 jobs on the site. Materials removed from the site have been donated to the nonprofit Second Chance organization, with proceeds dedicated to workforce training. The M/WBE construction subcontracts exceed the city’s requirements. And when the Park opens, landscape maintenance and cleaning on the site will include ongoing workforce training.
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company was founded in 1816 and is the largest energy utility in Maryland. BGE has a long-standing reputation for serving the Baltimore community. Each year, BGE employees donate more than 25,000 volunteer hours and contribute more than $5 million to worthy nonprofits throughout the Baltimore region. In response to the coronavirus outbreak, BGE has donated an additional $300,000 to the United Way of Central Maryland, Maryland Food Bank and Baltimore Community Foundation to respond to community need. For these reasons and more, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the Baltimore Business Journal awarded BGE the Maryland Corporate Philanthropy Award in the large corporation category.
Section 1. Be it ordained by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That a
pavilion in the Joseph H. Rash Playfield (Block 890, Lot 006), to be located at the coordinates of
39.281483, - 76.610425, is named the BGE Pavilion, and that a nature park in the Joseph H.
Rash Playfield (Block 890, Lot 006), to be located at the coordinates of 39,281657, - 76,610659,
is named the BGE Nature Park.
Section 2. And be it further ordained, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.