Westport & Smith Cove
Waterfront Parks

Following the adoption of the Reimagine Middle Branch Plan in 2023, the City of Baltimore and South Baltimore Gateway Partnership are partnering with Stonewall Capital and the Westport Community and Economic Development Corporation to develop a 10.5-acre waterfront park for the Westport neighborhood. Situated along one mile of shoreline on the Middle Branch, the park will bring water access and open space to a community that has been burdened by decades of disinvestment and environmental injustices.

Formerly home to a power generation plant and glass factory, this post-industrial site is being reimagined to include multi-family housing, neighborhood retail, an 11-acre public park with a multi-use trail, living shoreline, community amenities, and a Memorial to the Baltimore Black Sox, one of the city's Negro League baseball teams that played in the neighborhood from 1913 to 1936.

The park is centered on a multi-use trail that will connect to Middle Branch Park, the future Smith Cove Project and a new trailhead. Running parallel to the trail is a restored living shoreline designed to absorb storm surge, improve water quality, and increase biodiversity. At the heart of the park, the shoreline expands into a wide gravel cove inspired by the natural shorelines of the Chesapeake Bay. Near the gravel cove, an event lawn, nature play space, picnic area, and fishing piers offer neighborhood amenities designed in response to community priorities identified during the project's engagement process.

As part of the broader Reimagine Middle Branch Initiative, the Westport and Smith Cove Waterfront Parks Project continues to advance its mission to revitalize approximately 30 acres of waterfront space in Baltimore City. Moving into the construction phase, the project will enhance accessibility, create inclusive recreation, and gathering spaces, and emphasize environmental sustainability.

For generations, Westport has been a community defined by connection and culture. Its waterfront, once shaped by industry and commerce, now stands as a canvas for a new vision — one rooted in shared values, community pride, and the deep historical ties that make Westport unique.

*A note that these renderings are conceptual and subject to change.

PHASE 1 Construction

Phase 1 construction of the Westport and Smith Cove Waterfront Parks will reconnect Westport residents to their waterfront through trail and shoreline improvements. A new pedestrian and bicycle boardwalk will provide safe, off-road access between the Westport and Cherry Hill waterfronts, regional transit, and surrounding resources, helping overcome barriers created by roadways and freight infrastructure.

As community members move through the waterfront, they will experience restored wetlands, living shorelines, and natural habitats that improve water quality, reduce flood risk, and strengthen the resilience of the shoreline. Together, these investments transform a formerly inaccessible section of the waterfront into a connected public greenspace that supports recreation, mobility, community well-being, and equitable development goals.

Phase 1 Construction - Trail Segment B and Smith Cove

Phase 2 Construction Black Sox Park & Trail Segment C-F

OUTREACH & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

PROJECT HISTORY

Since early 2023, the Westport & Smith Cove Waterfront Parks project has engaged the local community through a variety of outreach events, programs, and feedback opportunities. These efforts were designed to ensure the voices of residents, local organizations, youth, and historians were reflected in the design of the new park, and now, in the Black Sox Memorial.

EXPLORE THE STORYMAP

The project’s interactive StoryMap is a key outreach tool. It highlights the park design process, community input, and the story behind the Baltimore Black Sox.

Explore

KEY ENGAGEMENT MOMENTS HAVE INCLUDED:

• Spring 2023 – Fall 2024: A series of small group conversations and community events, including a back-to-school backpack giveaway. We also hosted a well-attended community event at Westport Academy featuring the school’s cheerleaders, where we provided meals for attendees, introduced the park design to neighbors, and captured the communities vision for the space.

• Fall 2024 – Spring 2025: During the 60% Design Phase, we participated in coffee chats at Westport Academy, where we conducted community surveys. We also developed the Westport Waterfront Parks StoryMap during this phase. Additionally, we participated in the May 2025 Rails-to-Trails Earth Day Event, where we engaged residents in conversations about the Westport & Smith Cove Waterfront Park Project, shared key updates, and collected community stories.

• Ongoing Stakeholder Conversations: Throughout 2024 and 2025, we continued coordination with community groups like the Westport CEDC, Baltimore City agencies, Parks & People, and the Maryland Historical Trust.

• Spring 2026: Westport residents, neighbors, and project partners gathered to experience the future of the waterfront from a unique perspective—on the water.

• Summer 2026: Community information meeting took place in Westport to share updates about the upcoming construction and benefits of the project. You can access the meeting recording here.