BALTIMORE—(November 14, 2017) — Nearly three dozen mature trees will be planted around the MedStar Harbor Hospital campus this week to kick off a plan to reduce storm water runoff, while growing green spaces for patients to enjoy.
The project is funded by a $1.34 million grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, issued through the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, and pays for design assistance, watershed planning and programmatic development to protect and restore the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Planting trees and other plants will help absorb and filter the water, and slow down flooding.
MedStar Harbor Hospital also plans to install eight bio-retention ponds around the south Baltimore hospital campus, starting in March 2018, to reduce the amount of storm water that runs into the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River. The project will be complete in June 2018.
A healing garden will also be built as part of the project, affording patients a peaceful recovery space. The fresh air and nature will improve the physical and mental health of patients and hospital associates.
“MedStar Health takes the health of the environment as seriously as it does the health of patients,” said Brian K. Gray, the Director of Clinical Engineering & Environment of Care at MedStar Harbor Hospital. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the cleaning of the Patapsco River and to install a garden for our patients to enjoy nature.”
The trees being planted include 18 shade trees: Red Maple, Yellowwood, Thornless Honeylocust, Black Gum, and Pin Oak, and 16 ornamental trees: River Birch, Redbud, Fringetree, and Natchez Crape Myrtle. The trees are all four to six years old and weigh about 500 pounds.
The bio-retention ponds will help filter out storm water before it reaches the Patapsco River. Only native Maryland plants will be used in the storm water and greening projects.
