Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/21474

The Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) is administered by the National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). It is a campus-wide initiative that harnesses the expertise of UMD faculty and the energy and ingenuity of UMD students to help Maryland communities become more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. PALS is designed to provide innovative, low-cost assistance to local governments while creating real-world problem-solving experiences for University of Maryland graduate and undergraduate students.

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The Frederick City Watershed: Forecasting Climate Change Impacts
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Espinola, Brandy; Farge, Kevin; Greer, Emily; Knight, Erin; Thomason, Katie; Veiga, Henrique; Gedan, Keryn
This report serves to assist The City of Frederick in making future planning decisions about the Frederick City Watershed, a 7,000 acre, forested property just west of the city. Specifically, this report will address the question of how the Frederick City Watershed will be impacted by anticipated shifts in precipitation and extreme weather events due to climate change. To assess the potential impacts that climate change may have on the Frederick City Watershed, climate models were applied to the watershed area and a forecast of several climate variables such as temperature, precipitation, snowfall, runoff, evapotranspiration and wind speed were evaluated. The data used for forecasting climate change impacts was taken from the Downscaled CMIP3 and CMIP5 Climate and Hydrology Projections website (Maurer et al, 2007; Reclamation, 2014). The datasets aim to provide a set of high resolution, bias-corrected climate change projections. These can be used to evaluate climate change impacts on processes that are sensitive to finer-scale climate gradients and the effects of local topography on climate conditions. Two scenarios were projected: the RCP 4.5 business-as-usual trajectory, and RCP 8.5 worst case emissions scenario. In addition to the climate modeling, an extensive literature review of potential climate factors on ecosystem services was conducted. Under both modeling scenarios, temperatures are predicted to increase significantly across seasons and over the course of the century. Precipitation will remain fairly constant, but the greatest increase will occur in winter and spring; more of the precipitation will fall as rain rather than as snow. Runoff and soil moisture is expected to increase slightly during the winter and spring for both emissions scenarios, while evapotranspiration is expected to see significant increases in the spring, summer and fall. The models project no change in wind speed. Overall, the results demonstrate a significant increase in temperature, which would seasonally affect the duration and type of precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture and runoff. Changes in these variables translate to specific implications for the Frederick City Watershed ecosystem, including decreased water quality due to increased storm water runoff, an increased spread of invasive plant species, and a rise in plant diseases. In order to effectively manage The City of Frederick’s drinking water supply, the city should prepare for anticipated changes in climatic variables. Given the model projections, The City of Frederick should consider the following management techniques for the City of Frederick Watershed: commit to creating a Frederick City Watershed water balance model; incorporate regional water management and storage strategies; implement storm water management techniques; monitor water quality; and prepare for increased pest outbreaks. These suggested management measures will strengthen the city’s resilience and ensure that The City of Frederick will be able to continually provide adequate supplies under both current and potential future climate change conditions.
Frederick Municipal Airport Consulting Project
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Bender, Caitlin; Ducker, Jason; Eble, Mensah; Morgan, Sarah; Rivera, Sylvia; Winokur, Shelly Ann; Dastidar, Protiti
Frederick Municipal Airport (FAA Code: FDK) is an asset to the Frederick community and a potential catalyst for business and increased tourism in the Frederick area. Due to its proximity to Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD, FDK is an ideal location for travelers who do not want to deal with the hassle of security, frequent delays and traffic at the surrounding major airports. The airport is owned by the City of Frederick and a Fixed Based Operator (FBO), Landmark Aviation, manages day-to-day operations. The City of Frederick is interested in exploring ways to increase revenue at FDK through current operations and future business possibilities, and create a reputation as the number one corporate executive airport in the Baltimore/Washington area. FDK can explore the following areas to increase the volume of flights and revenue streams: Extend the length of the runway; Build additional hangars to increase rentals; Explore other uses for airport land. To increase the volume of flights and generate increased revenue, FDK should make improvements to its current infrastructure and marketing strategy. As FDK increases its air traffic and grows through new expansion projects, it is critical to maximize revenue generation through strategic marketing and a concerted outreach effort. This marking strategy will help entice additional transient travel operations, encourage local companies to invest in air travel and maximize fuel transactions. In order to do so, local government and Landmark should coordinate to enhance the airport’s online presence and market directly to regional businesses in order to position FDK as the destination of choice for corporate executive travel in the area. This strategic marketing effort could include the following: Improved website content; Improved corporate outreach; Airport Fence; An extended Bus Route to connect FDK to existing public transportation and the surrounding are; Name change and consistent branding strategy to position Frederick Municipal Airport; Increased presence of FDK staff and advocates at industry conferences.
Invasive Species Survey, Frederick City Watershed
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Edson, Kiel; Bezerra, Maira; Graber, Robin; Kim, Tiffany; Taddei, Kristin; Cartas, Anika; O’Connor, Jessie; Gedan, Keryn
Invasive plant species are present within Frederick City Watershed and are a concern for ecosystem health. Research has shown that roads and trails often act as vectors for invasive species. Within Frederick City Watershed, there is a 9.5-mile sanctioned (legal) trail and over 100 miles of unsanctioned (illegal) trails. We addressed three questions to better understand the impact of roads and trails on invasive species prevalence within Frederick City Watershed. First, does invasive species prevalence differ near sanctioned versus unsanctioned trails? Second, does invasive species prevalence decrease with increasing distance from trails? Last, does invasive species prevalence increase closer to roads? To address these questions, we performed a survey of invasive species along transects running perpendicular to both sanctioned and unsanctioned trails. For each transect, we estimated a percent cover of invasive species within one-meter square plots at zero, five, 10, 15 and 20 meters on either side of the trail. In addition, we used GIS to determine transect distance from the nearest road. Our results show that invasive species cover increases with decreasing distance from both trails and roads. Our survey results also show that invasive species cover was greater near unsanctioned trails. However, due to the low sample size, it is unclear whether trail type or distance from the nearest road is responsible for this trend. Based on these results, we recommend closing trails farthest from roads to prevent the establishment of invasives in more remote areas of the Watershed, while focusing removal efforts along roads and trails closest to roads.
57 Creekside: A Luxury Apartment and Retail Community
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Kohler, Tyler; McFarland, Margaret
KMK Development is currently soliciting an investment opportunity that can generate returns of up to 19% on equity. The project entails a mixed-use real estate development for residential rental units and ground floor retail located in Frederick, Maryland. To accomplish this project KMK Development has established a relationship with The City of Frederick to expedite acquisition and to fulfill the project’s development potential. The project’s expected stabilization is projected for Fall 2017 if KMK can develop investor interest by the close of 2014.
Indicators of Neighborhood Distress
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Willis, Alex; Gimpel, James
Is there a geographic pattern of crimes in Howard County? Are these crimes clustered? Any hot spot?
Frederick Municipal Airport: Expansion & Business Development Strategy
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Curley, Ryan; Moscariello, James; Chiragh, Furqan; Reddick, Steven; Chudy, Andrew; Wintringer, Gretchen; Dastidar, Protiti
Frederick Airport (FDK) has the potential to become a self-sufficient, leading executive airport by focusing on increasing the number of customers and leveraging existing space and expertise. The runway extension will increase the number of potential customers that can land at FDK, but an improved online presence will attract customers who simply were not aware of FDK. Frederick can also capitalize on existing space, in turn capturing additional revenue, by building additional T hangars, which will simultaneously satisfy the backlog of customers waiting for hangar space to rent. Additionally, recommendations are to improve the airport’s value to the community by hosting aviation related events and participating in “agritourism” with hot air balloon type services. The future of the unmanned aerial vehicle industry may also present opportunities for FDK to provide valuable services; however, it may present safety issues and Frederick should make a concerted effort to stay apprised of the best practices in order to keep air travel at FDK safe.
Neighborhood Locations and Amenities
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Greene, Cole; Johnson, Jacob; Tariq, Maha; Liu, Chao
This report presents exploratory research that examines the relationship between neighborhood boundaries and amenity location/accessibility in The City of Frederick. A series of maps were produced that depict neighborhoods based on distance to amenities. Surveys were conducted to better understand which amenities draw locally and which draw regionally. Research shows that accessibility is higher the closer to downtown you live. Additionally, residents prefer to use grocery stores close to their local neighborhood, but travel to Baker Park regardless of where they live. This research provides a framework for addressing the amenity accessibility of neighborhoods and discusses potential further research using this framework and how it could benefit the City of Frederick.
The City of Frederick – An Architectural Tour Guide
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Tesfaye, Abby; Linebaugh, Donald W.
The City of Frederick requested an architectural tour guide as part of this year’s PALS initiative. With a rich history and well-preserved historic district, the City’s historic resources draw local, regional, and national attention. Tourists seek out Frederick’s diverse cultural attractions. While the City has several existing tour guides, none specifically highlight architectural resources. The existing tour guides are also difficult to access as they are scattered across different websites and brochures.This project sought to address the City’s need for an architectural tour guide in a comprehensive way. The goal was to provide the content necessary to produce an architectural tour guide, one that could be used on various platforms including brochures, websites, or apps (see Attached Brochure). The project takes an interactive approach to the tour guide, focusing on the content, translating this content into a range of user-friendly media, and making recommendations on how to make these resources as available as possible. This paper should be viewed as a resource and as a background document for the actual tour guide, explaining how and why various choices were made.
Analysis of Proposed Hotel and Conference Center in Downtown Fredrick, MD
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Kim, Won; Beaver, Ryan; Adam, Rebecca; Hedberg, Shawn; Kirsch, Nick; Klink, Andrew; Dastidar, Protiti
The City of Frederick has joined with PALS and the University of Maryland Smith School of Business to assess a proposed hotel and conference center planned for downtown Frederick. They are particularly interested in assessing the demand for the meeting space planned, and better understanding the likely economic impacts of businesses and nonprofit organizations making use of the conference center. An analysis of the trade show and events industry was conducted to provide additional background as the City and its private partners continue to develop their plans and goals for the project. Two conference centers in similar cities were analyzed to assess likely economic impacts and best practices for marketing strategies. Finally, the regional competitive landscape for conferences and private event venues was analyzed, and opportunities for business development were identified.
Human Dimensions of the Frederick City Watershed
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Aldebron, Charlotte; Biba, Jasmine; Evansen, Meg; Fisher, Jaclyn; Harp, Ashton; Waldrop, Anthony; Gedan, Keryn
The Frederick City Watershed is a multi-use property with the primary function of providing clean water for The City of Frederick, but also provides many opportunities for recreation. Our research focused on analyzing the historical and current human dimensions of the Frederick City Watershed to inform management decisions. To better understand the makeup of recreational user groups and their impact on the watershed, both interviews and surveys were conducted. Interviews with Frederick City Watershed stakeholders provided historical context related to land use activities, forest cover, wetland modification, native species distribution, and management decisions. The surveys of recreational users imparted a better understanding of use and perceptions of the Frederick City Watershed. From the surveys and interviews, eight main topics of interest were identified for further discussion: user group demographics, environmental concerns, trail signage, trail conditions, garbage and illegal dumping, invasive species, forest purpose, and safety. Public perception on each of these topics is expanded through quantitative survey data and user comments within the report. We recommend creating a Recreation Management Plan for the Frederick City Watershed geared toward the multi-user group community. Besides the watershed’s primary function as a source of high quality water, survey responses and user comments can be used to pinpoint the areas of greatest concern to the majority of users and help narrow the focus of the Recreation Management Plan to the most pressing issues facing the Frederick City Watershed.
City of Frederick Downtown Hotel and Conference Center Demand Analysis
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Gibbs, Anthony; Huang, Kristie; Iudica, Tracy; Park, Helen; Sohr, Nick; Williams, Russell; Dastidar, Protiti
The City of Frederick is pursuing the development of a downtown hotel and conference center (DHCC). The City has tapped as its project lead the Plamondon Companies, a local developer with a wealth of relevant experience in the hospitality industry. Plamondon has proposed a 207-room hotel bearing the Marriott brand and an attached conference center of about 23,500 square feet. The City and its Department of Economic Development are pursuing necessary approvals to build on the proposed site but it also must convince key stakeholders of the project’s viability. Development of the conference center portion of the DHCC will require significant public subsidy from the City, Frederick County, and the State of Maryland. The local business community, particularly existing hoteliers, will be greatly affected by the DHCC. What types of meetings and events will the DHCC host? And will the conference center attract visitors who fill not only the Marriott’s beds, bars, and dining tables, but induce spillover business for the other restaurants, hotels, and local attractions already established in and around Frederick? The DHCC faces competition locally and across the State from facilities similar to that proposed by Plamondon. But Frederick, the project’s developer, and its eventual operator, can leverage the City’s existing strengths and position the DHCC to be an economic engine for the City. First, the City and DHCC should forge connections with key nonprofits and regional organizations as well as meeting planners, who are the gatekeepers to much of the conference center industry and are invaluable advocates for locations such as Frederick. Building these relationships and dutifully maintaining them will keep Frederick in the rotation as groups like the Maryland Economic Development Association and Maryland Municipal League schedule regular meetings across the State. Second, the pitch to these groups must be about Frederick—not ballrooms or hotel suites. The lively downtown, historical sites, nearby natural beauty and other attractions can differentiate Frederick from other cities with similar conference facilities. And third, the City and DHCC should make a play for government business in the long-term. Tighter budgets in Washington and meeting and events restrictions following a string of conference scandals across a number of agencies have slowed the federal meeting business to a trickle. But Fort Detrick cannot be ignored. Its unique and essential leadership in biotechnology could bring the DHCC some business in the short-term. It is, however, much more likely to yield greater dividends in the long-term as spending once again opens up. Positioning the DHCC to capture the eventual increase in demand from the Fort and other local agencies will help ensure the long-term viability of the facility. Pursuit of the strategies outlined above will put the DHCC on solid footing to attract meeting and event business from its four core market segments. Special events, such as weddings, are a natural source of business for the Center and will likely fill much of its calendar. Local businesses led by the largest employers in the County are a key driving force behind the project and will use the DHCC and Marriott regularly for a number of purposes. The DHCC and City as a whole will have the opportunity to attract significant conference and meeting business from regional and statewide nonprofits and organizations. And while demand will be slack in the short-term, government business could be a boon for the DHCC as the federal dollars start to flow once again.
Accessibility and Infrastructure in The City of Frederick
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Gerbes, Katie; Pastore, Max; Rockwell, Zachary; Liu, Chao
This report analyzes pedestrian and bus accessibility in the City of Frederick using three methods: geospatial analysis, cataloging photographs and surveys. ArcMap was used to map the locations of four vulnerable populations: the elderly, renters, minorities, and those with low vehicle ownership. This information was overlaid with a quarter-mile walkshed from Frederick County TransIT bus lines to identify neighborhoods that are both high risk and appear to have limited accessibility. After identifying neighborhoods, the team cataloged and geocoded the existing neighborhood infrastructure. Finally, a survey of City residents gathered information about their attitudes and habits about riding the bus and walking as a means of transportation. The report’s findings are mixed: bus accessibility and usage is low, while the City excels in walking infrastructure and accessibility.
Carroll Creek Wildlife Recreation Area
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Allen, Nathan; Hayes, Kathleen; Hoge, Connie; Posthuma, Katelin; Reinstein, Jorah; Sorvalis, George; Zerfas, Matt; Ellis, Christopher D.
The Carroll Creek Wildlife Recreation Area conceptual plan is the result of a collaboration between The City of Frederick Planning Department, the Partnership for Active Learning in Sustainability, and a team of graduate students in Landscape Architecture at the University of Maryland. The design team was asked to prepare a detailed site analysis of the Carroll Creek floodplain between Highland Street and the Monocacy River and to develop a conceptual design for a shared use (bicycle and pedestrian) path that would connect existing infrastructure through upcoming development in East Frederick to the future Monocacy River Trail.
Algae in Carroll Creek: Green Infrastructure and Community Greening Approaches
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Clark, Jesse; Dennis, Mark; Doeller, Matthew; Fleming, Seth; Gilbert, Nicholas; Gaimano, Josh; Narang, Jaspreet; Noyes, Patrick; Petrusic, Luke; McCartney, Timothy; Reilly, Dylan; Samuel, Rochelle; Spensieri, Adam; Treacy, Stephanie; Yi, Vincent; Myers, David N.
This report describes green infrastructure and community greening approaches to address excess algae in Carroll Creek in The City of Frederick. This report was written as partial fulfillment of course requirements for LARC 452: Green Infrastructure and Community Greening. Addressing excess algae in Carroll Creek is a complex problem that merits multifaceted approaches. The students in the class also recognized previous efforts that have been in part successful in documenting and reducing some of the algae in Carroll Creek. The report is organized into five sections: 1) a review of selected watershed reports; 2) a case study of the San Antonio Riverwalk; 3) approaches that address the symptoms of algae; 4) approaches that address the root course of excess nutrients; and 5) establishing a Carroll Creek watershed advocacy group.
A Comparison of the Accessibility of Three Neighborhoods’ Institutions and Amenities in Frederick, MD
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Hampton, Elizabeth; Johansson, Christopher; Demireva, Yana; Engel, Albert
Frederick is a city of neighborhoods. We studied three neighborhoods in the southern part of the City: Downtown—the area of downtown Frederick, South—the area to the immediate south and west of downtown, and West—the area west of the Frederick Bypass anchored by the Golden Mile and US-40. We based our analysis on the institutions and amenities present in each neighborhood. Institutions were landmarks or structures of civic nature such as schools, banks, churches, and parks, while amenities were necessities or conveniences such as groceries, retail, or service areas. We determined the boundaries of the neighborhoods by mapping the locations of institutions and amenities within the City and observing how they were geographically organized, then using differences in the age of the buildings in those areas as well as physical barriers between them to designate borders. We then studied selected social, demographic, and economic characteristics of the neighborhoods. These were age, income, race, and household size. We found that households tended to consist of fewer people closer to downtown Frederick, the youngest and most racially diverse areas were along the Golden Mile, the oldest and least diverse were in downtown Frederick and west of downtown, and income levels throughout the study area can be seen as having a bi-centric distribution. We also administered a survey in person at three locations within the City. Survey questions explored how often respondents visited amenities and institutions, and what form of transportation they used to get to those places. Respondents indicated that convenience stores were the type of service they used the most often, most trips they took to such destinations were less than five miles, and the mode of transportation they chose depended on their destination. Large numbers of respondents indicated support for bike lanes, traffic abatement, and crosswalks. Three recommendations result from this analysis: add bike lanes wherever possible; improve walkability; implement policies to encourage the opening of a grocery store within downtown Frederick. In the future, appropriate areas of research to extend this study may include bicyclist and pedestrian counts at key locations to guide bicycle and pedestrian policy within the City, a thorough assessment of the City’s public transportation system, and a review of neighborhood zoning to determine whether it reflects a desirable and functional land use pattern.
PALS: Neighborhood Identification, City of Frederick, Maryland
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Boston, David; Choudhry, Razia; Davis, Chris; Liu, Chao
This report aims to address questions on changing socio-economic and physical conditions in Frederick and how those conditions could formulated into a new neighborhood identification system. This report recommends that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, online surveys and photo sharing applications are some solutions for creating such a neighborhood identification system. While these planning technologies provide multiple ways or “layers” to define neighborhood boundaries, survey distribution is necessary to contextualize the quantitative results of the analysis.
Site C-2: Frederick, Maryland Feasibility Analysis
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Weber, Amy
According to the Frederick Comprehensive Plan, new developments should, “…allow for land uses that enhance the Central Business District (CBD) as a tourism, arts, and business center.” Hotel 162 and Artist Studios will serve as a destination along Carroll Creek Park, attracting tourists and residents alike. We have crafted a leasing, financing and design plan that implements clever adaptive reuse and design to convert the existing undeveloped land and adjacent properties into an art-centric boutique hotel, with public amenities to support the Carroll Creek Park Amphitheater and the surrounding neighborhood. The development will include a 120 key hotel with an adjoining restaurant, a local food market and rentable art studio spaces. The City of Frederick has nurtured a vibrant art scene for decades. Public art is an integral part of the Carroll Creek Park. Public art such as Carroll Creek’s Community Bridge, iron trees, water features and mosaics not only attract visitors to the City of Frederick, but also enhance the city’s role as a cultural and recreational resource. 1 To support the Carroll Creek Park Amphitheater and the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, the development will incorporate artist and dance studios, as well as gallery space that will draw visitors to the site and further down the Park.
Reconnecting Neighborhoods: Carroll Creek & The Communities of Frederick, MD
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2014) Chaudhry, Lubna; Doeller, Matthew; Hunjan, Charishma; Leestma, David; McCartney, Timothy; Moreno-Holt, Daniel; Nolen, Betsy; Palmadesso, Allison; Petrocelli, Luke; Petrusic, Luke; Rosenthal, Shira; Steen, Siobhan; Stout, Taylor; Svensson, Katarina; Wallerich, Nader; Watt, Richard; Weller, Sofia; Bell, Matthew
Frederick, Maryland is a unique and beautiful city, rich in history and steeped in historic architecture. Situated at the foothills of the Catoctin Mountains, the City is a robust employment center. Its location within forty miles of Baltimore and Washington D.C., allows Frederick residents to commute to jobs in these cities and their outer suburbs. Founded in 1745, Frederick possesses a rich texture of historic residential, commercial and civic architecture. The city is principally defined by Market Street, the main commercial spine of the city, and by Carroll Creek. Carroll Creek crosses Market Street at a low point, passes through Baker Park and residential neighborhoods on the City’s west side, and terminates in the light industrial areas on the east. In the 1970’s, Carroll Creek flooded twice, devastating the commercial enterprises in the downtown and causing great hardship to the regional economy. In an effort to reduce the risk to downtown Frederick and restore economic vitality to the historic commercial district, the City built Carroll Creek Park. This project provides flood control and protects the downtown while offering new public outdoor space and civic amenities. Today, more than $150 million in private investments are underway or planned in new construction, infill development or historic renovation in the park area. The first phase of the park improvements total nearly $11 million in construction. New elements to the park include brick pedestrian paths, water features, shade trees and plantings, pedestrian bridges, and a 350-seat amphitheater for outdoor performances. The Carroll Creek project has been a tremendous success for the City as a rebirth of the downtown is underway.
Anchor W, Baltimore
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2015) Wang, Shuchun; Kaufman, Robert; McFarland, Margaret
The Southwest Partnership neighborhoods located adjacent to downtown Baltimore, are Barre Circle, Franklin Square, Hollins Roundhouse, Mount Clare, Pigtown, Poppleton, and Union Square. Neighborhoods in Southwest Baltimore have a proud legacy of industrial enterprise. In the middle of the 20th century, dozens of factories, warehouses, and shops near Carroll Park employed thousands of West Baltimore residents. Unfortunately, shifts in traditional industry left long-term vacancies and abandonment of industrial properties, leading to a declining population in Southwest Baltimore.
Fulton South Community Park Project
(Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), 2015) Collier, Nathan; Dennis, Mark; Espinoza, Maria; Lague, Renee; Reilly, Dylan; Shirazi, Saeed; Yi, Vincent; Ellis, Christopher D.
Fulton South is an 77 acre site owned by Howard County at the intersection of Route 29 and Rocky Gorge Reservoir. Howard County plans to create a community park at the Fulton South site. The Fulton South Conceptual Plan is the result of a Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) collaboration between Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks and a team of graduate students in Landscape Architecture at the University of Maryland. The design team was asked to prepare a detailed site analysis and two master plans for the site that include connectivity with the local community, ample and diverse recreational opportunities, and valuable habitat conservation/expansion.