Page 24 - Port of Baltimore Magazine Nov/Dec 2012
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The Port of Baltimore
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November/December 2012
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It is, Brown said, a project that is
“central to the vision of a Maryland that
is smart, green and growing,” referring
to a multi-agency, statewide initiative to
help the state achieve a more sustainable
future through community revitalization,
transportation improvements, economic
development and other efforts. Brown
explained that the state hopes to continue
more such projects “that take something
that was hurting our community and turn
it into an asset.”
U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, who wrote
the “No Child Left Inside” Act to bolster
outdoor environmental education, noted,
“When kids are connected to nature, their
achievement scores go up. … Masonville
Cove is a terrific, innovative project that
advances economic and environmental
interests. We are transforming one of the
city’s most contaminated sites into an
outdoor attraction where families can learn
about and interact with their environment,
all the while advancing the viability of the
Port of Baltimore.”
The Maryland Port Administration
(MPA) worked closely with the community
to reclaim the area and design a placement
site for dredged materials. Since Hart-
Miller Island, another innovative dredged
materials project, reached capacity in
2009, the MPA needed a new place to
put material that results from dredging
operations necessary to keep the shipping
channels open. Maryland Environmental
Service (MES) manages the entire
Masonville site for the MPA.
A dike was constructed at Masonville
enclosing 127 acres of water that will be
filled with 500,000 cubic yards of dredged
material a year; the total site capacity is
15 million cubic yards. Eventually, the new
land created within the dike will become a
marine terminal providing additional space
for autos.
“I think the [MPA] has been very
creative and innovative,” Brown said.
“We’re proud of the Port and its ability to
work with the community on issues of the
environment and sustainability.”
Frank Hamons, MPA Deputy Director
for Harbor Development, called the
opening of the Masonville Cove nature
area “a true milestone for this project.” He
added, “We promised we would open this
to the neighborhoods, and it’s wonderful
to be able to keep a promise. This is the
first time in more than 70 years that the
neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Curtis Bay
