Often the key ingredient in a thriving Baltimore community is the quiet dedication of a giving neighbor. Southwest Baltimore is fortunate because Cynthia Tensley calls the Carrollton Ridge neighborhood her home. Inspired by her faith and the joy in helping others, you’ll usually catch Cynthia and her dog Miles outdoors, connecting with their neighbors.
Carrollton Ridge is buzzing with all kinds of greening projects, all of which Cynthia has led. The next goal on the horizon is a community garden. The plan is to re-purpose a series of vacant lots and grow vegetables and herbs in ground and in raised garden beds with help from community residents, outside volunteers and children involved in activities at Samuel F. B. Morse Recreation Center and The Food Project.
Cynthia’s latest project is the Carrollton Ridge Community Field. Recently cleaned and cleared of debris, the inviting outdoor space where the Association has hosted outdoor concerts, flea markets, been the launch point for the community’s many clean-up days and supported community Church outreaches, is ideal for neighborhood barbecues. A future vision is to host outdoor plays on their “permanent” stage.
“Our neighborhood’s biggest problem is that some folks use vacant lots and alleys as dumping grounds,” said Cynthia. “After a while some people just get used to seeing the trash as normal. Together we’re working hard to clean up these trash sites and make Carrollton Ridge the little jewel in the mix, a place our community can come together and gather. Amid all the trash, debris and chaos, it is important for neighbors to become used to seeing some places that are always clean and beautiful. None of this would be possible were it not for the help of three or four dedicated adult volunteers and youth workers.”
Next on Cynthia’s to-do list is to install the fence around the Garden, repair the fencing around the Field, flower and plant landscaping at the Field and continue the landscaping and design at the proposed Memorial Garden located at W. Pratt and S. Bentalou where their community sign is located. She attempts to keep everyone in the loop via a community bulletin board located at the Field and through the Association’s Facebook page in between publishing the Carrollton Ridge Communicator newsletter.
Cynthia Tensley is the President of the Carrollton Ridge Community Association.
Photo courtesy of Becca Gohn.
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