Federal Funds Secured to Enhance Connectivity Between West Baltimore Communities and Druid Hill Park
Federal Funds to Improve Connectivity Between West Baltimore and Druid Hill Park
CBS News – In a move aimed at reconnecting west Baltimore communities with Druid Hill Park, U.S. lawmakers representing Maryland have secured $6 million in federal grant. The money, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, will be used for redesign planning of Druid Park Lake Drive. This road, expanded more than 60 years ago to four lanes, had limited pedestrian crossings, cutting off some communities from accessing the park.
Baltimore City officials aim to use the federal grant to create safer conditions along Druid Park Lake Drive. The goal is to reconnect surrounding streets with the park by reducing traffic speed, increasing tree cover and implementing designs that prioritize the safety of all users, including cyclists, pedestrians and those with mobility devices. This initiative is part of broader efforts by the Biden Administration to address past infrastructure decisions that have disenfranchised Black communities.
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Federal Grant Initiative Aims to Overcome Historical Infrastructure Barriers in Baltimore
The federal grant is one of six totaling over $11 million for Maryland to tackle infrastructure issues dividing communities. Lawmakers emphasized the importance of correcting past mistakes, such as the widening of Druid Park Lake Drive, which had created a barrier between the park and nearby neighborhoods. With this funding, Baltimore City can begin to rectify these errors, enhancing safety along the road while restoring greater local access to the beloved Druid Hill Park.
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