Jordan Alley Landscape Design

Bringing out the full potential of a beloved neighborhood green space.

This green space hidden in an alley in Reservoir Hill, Baltimore has been maintained by nearby residents over the last several years by moving, weeding, planting shrubs and trees, and coordinating regular clean ups.

With funding secured by Reservoir Hill Improvement Council Inc., the group has worked towards attaining site control through the Adopt-A-Lot program, and sought design support from the Neighborhood Design Center to create a conceptual vision for the lot as a beautiful sanctuary.

Honoring residents’ investment of time and resources, the project took shape under Form Garden Design design volunteers Anna Dennis and Hayley Welzant, with direction by NDC staff Julia DiMauro and Maura Dwyer.

Gathering research, resident feedback, and then coalescing into concepts.

Our team held surveys and meetings, and took stock of existing assets and top needs, presenting several iterations of what might be possible.

The Vision: Create a calm oasis for neighbors to relax and garden.

Our design seeks to preserve the space as a habitat for native and edible plants, pollinators, and wildlife, maintain a small selection of community garden beds, and include walking paths and open gathering space underneath a full tree canopy for neighbors.

The Plan: Taking a gentle approach.

The final design for the Jordan Alley Lot uses mulch pathways instead of concrete, an open law instead of a built structure, small group socializing and solo relaxation spaces, raised beds with kitchen herbs, and the reuse of large stone blocks as grouped seating.

The plan keeps a majority of existing trees and shrubs and removes ones that contribute to invasive weed growth. Stormwater natives help with rainwater management at the lower end of the sloped lot. Woodland natives, pollinators, and edible plant species are shown below, planted along the edges of the lot.

In fall 2025, installation got underway!