Events and Projects
BHCA sponsors a number events and projects around Bolton Hill that are consistent with the community association’s mission. BHCA can support projects around Bolton Hill through its regular budgeting process or as a fiscal sponsor.
A project with BHCA as a fiscal sponsor must be consistent with the community association’s mission and have at least two project representatives, who raise project funds that BHCA holds and reimburses for project expenses. If there’s a project you’d like to undertake to improve a public space affecting Bolton Hill, fill out the fiscal sponsorship agreement form and send it to the BHCA treasurer. All projects are subject to approval by the BHCA executive committee. Because it’s always good to spread awareness of improvement projects happening around the neighborhood, you’ll probably be asked to share your project at a BHCA monthly meeting or through the Bolton Hill Bulletin.
Making Check Requests
BHCA will issue checks to vendors and reimburse neighbors for approved expenses or reimburse project representatives for a project’s expenses. Before filling out this check request form, be sure you have the following:
- To issue a check from a BHCA project account, requires approval from two project representatives. Approval can be emailed to treasurer@boltonhillmd.org.
- Payments to vendors require an invoice, and reimbursement checks require a copy of all receipts. Invoices and receipts can be uploaded through the check request form.
- Payments to independent contractors require BHCA to collect an IRS W9 form before issuing the check. You can upload the completed W9 form through the check request form or the contractor can email it to treasurer@boltonhillmd.org.
Checks are generally issued within a few days after BHCA receives the supporting documents. Payments exceeding $500 require a second signature and so may take a bit longer to issue.
Current Projects
Unity@Park Avenue. Unity@Park Avenue is a three-part project to bring new life to the south side of the Park and North intersection, which borders Bolton Hill and Reservoir Hill and serves as a gateway to West Baltimore: 1) painting murals on the row house walls on either side of Park Avenue; 2) transforming an empty lot at the base of one wall from a concrete eyesore to an attractive place to passersby and bus riders waiting for the bus; and 3) reimagining the generic design of the bus shelter between the lot and the street.
Baltimore-based mural artist, Ernest Shaw, painted the murals in the summer of 2021 with project management by Mural Masters. More than $32,000 was raised over 15 months through a combination of grants from the Abell Foundation, Baltimore Community Foundation, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, PNC Bank Foundation, an employer match from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, private donations, and a contribution from BHCA. Photos by Zhee Chatmon.
Fundraising is underway for renovating the lot and creating a new bus shelter. The project website is www.parkaveunity.org. Donations can be made on the donations page of the BHCA website.
Linden Gazebo Restoration. Residents on the 1700 block of Linden Avenue worked with Bolton Hill’s councilman and City officials to obtain funding to restore the iconic gazebo in the block’s center plaza. The gazebo’s metal was repaired and repainted in colors appropriate to the time it was created. A music performance and party will be held to celebrate the gazebo after the restoration is complete.
Completed Projects
Lanvale Triangle Park Joe Costa Memorial. Residents raised funds to create a memorial in Lanvale Triangle Park for longtime and beloved Bolton Hill resident Joe Costa, who died from COVID-19 serving patients as a critical care physician. The decorative fence was created to surround the center garden, which is now called Lanvale Memorial Garden in honor of Joe.
Lanvale Tree Planting Project. Neighbors along the 100 block of Lanvale Street partnered with MICA and the Midtown Community Benefits District to raise money to expand and create more tree wells for more trees in the southwest corner of Bolton Hill.
Contee-Parago Park Renovation. In celebration of its fiftieth anniversary, Contee-Parago Park underwent a major transformation. Removal of a large brick wall and sections of pavement opened the space to a new rain garden and native plantings, and new signage highlights the park’s history and relationship to urban renewal. Contee-Parago Park is likely the first park in Baltimore to be named after two African-American Baltimore citizens, William Gailes Contee and Edward Wilson Parago, Sr., who lived in Bolton Hill starting in the early twentieth century. The renovation was funded through grant support from the Baltimore National Heritage Area, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Neighborhood Design Center, Baltimore Heritage, and the Bolton Hill Garden Club, and contributions from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and many individuals.
