It was a delight to have so many familiar faces and new neighbors tuned in for the virtual PPNA Community Meeting on September 13, 2021! We learned a lot from Senator Bill Ferguson about the BGE gas meter upgrade project going on in our neighborhood, and about the upgrades and restoration projects going on throughout Patterson Park. Read more to see what you missed, or scroll down to watch the full meeting recording.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to PPNA New Neighbors: We’re happy to have you in our neighborhood! Recently updated from 2017, the New Neighbor Welcome Packet is now available online (click here). Don’t see something here that would be useful to you while you’re getting settled in? Reach out to marketing@pattersonparkneighborhood.org.
Butchers Hill Flea Market and Craft Fair: Coming up on Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 9:00a-2:00p. Use the park entrance near the Friends of Patterson Park (FOPP) White House, located on Patterson Park Ave at Lombard Street (27 S. Patterson Park Ave.) PPNA will be there with SWAG and info; come by to see us in person, and pick up your PPNA gear! We’re selling tshirts, tumblers, and koozies. For more information: __link.
Baltimore Concert Opera: Performing in Patterson Park on Friday September 17 at 6:00p. Join us on the hill for an FREE evening of operatic and musical theater highlights! BYOC: Bring Your Own Chair. Click here to learn more.
Voluntober: Come and visit or learn more about the stewardship teams and volunteer opportunities through Friends of Patterson Park (FOPP). Stop by on Saturday, October 2, 2021 from 8:30-11:00a. Pick up a “Green and Go Kit” to support trash pick up in the park and neighborhood all year-round!
Mueveton and BabyFest, and the Latin American Folklore Fest are taking place in Patterson Park on Saturday, September 25, 2021. Mueveton and BabyFest kicks off with a FREE 5k run/walk, starting at 9:00am. The Latin American Folklore Fest starts at 3:00pm, featuring music, dance, food, and more.
The Great Halloween Lantern Parade is back! Coming to Patterson Park on Saturday, October 23, 2021, line-up is at 6:30pm and the parade starts at 7:00p! Click here to learn more.
Brewfest: Tickets are on sale now for the 4th Annual Patterson Park Brewfest, Saturday, November 13, 2021, starting at 11:00a. Buy your tickets today; click here.
GUESTS
Senator Bill Ferguson on the BGE gas meter upgrade project:
Senator Ferguson and his team hosted a community meeting with the Public Service Commission and BGE on September 9, 2021. Click here to read the meeting recap.
Almost all residences in Baltimore City have low-pressure natural gas hook-ups. These are being changed to medium-pressure hook-ups, which are safer. To make this change, every residence address must have three required components:
1. Meter (Residences already have gas meters)
2. Regulator (Most regulators are external to the home. These regulate natural gas pressure and vent to the external part of the home.)
3. Shut-off valve (Most residences already have a shut-off valve, but the location of the shut-off valve in each home varies widely.)
The regulator must be installed within a three-foot clearance of the meter. In some instances, contractors of BGE have approached homeowners and demanded that they make modifications to their home to accommodate the external regulator.
There have been numerous issues with the communication between BGE, neighbors, homeowners, and city officials.
140,000 residences across Baltimore City are being upgraded to medium-pressure hook-ups. To do this, BGE needs to upgrade the public utility gas lines.
So far, 90 homes in PPNA have been affected by this project, with more to come. The timeline of this long-term BGE project across Baltimore City is not clear.
Bill’s team is considering legislation to help mitigate this issue, and is advocating for the rights of homeowners. Contact Bill: bill.ferguson@senate.state.md.us
Jennifer Robinson, Executive Director, Friends of Patterson Park (FOPP)
Jennifer is a neighbor in PPNA, and the Executive Director of FOPP.
15 more trash cans are coming to Patterson Park! Thank you, BCRP!
The appropriate name for “the pagoda” is “The Patterson Park Observatory.” Pagodas have important religious and cultural connotations, and the Observatory is not a true pagoda. Click here to read more about “What’s in a name?”
BCRP is working to upgrade park entrances to make the park less accessible for vehicles. There will be improvements to traffic barriers, a new garden space, and upgraded pavement on the pathways throughout the park.
Contact Jennifer: jennifer@pattersonpark.com
Linzy Jackson and Larissa Torres, Baltimore City Rec & Parks (BCRP)
BCRP will be soliciting community feedback about suggestions for traffic barriers being installed at the gated park entrance, located at Baltimore St. and Luzerne Ave. Stay tuned!
Other upcoming capital improvements to the park include light fixture restoration projects and basketball court resurfacing.
Boat Lake was last renovated in 2000. Plans are underway to dewater the lake, work on grading efforts in the forebay, remove the invasive species, excavate the phragmites, replace the boardwalk decking, and install a new underwater aeration system.
Are you knowledgeable about wildlife preservation? Seeking collaborators who can help with a smooth transition for our animal neighbors while Boat Lake is under renovation.
Contact Linzy: linzy.jackson@baltimorecity.gov
Contact Larissa: larissa.torres@baltimorecity.gov
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