BLISS Meadows Creates Equitable Access to Nature
BLISS stands for Baltimore Living in Sustainable Simplicity
The BLISS Meadows project is a 10-acre land-reclamation project at the intersection of environmental and food justice. The project weaves together 3 contiguous properties through public and private partnerships with landowners.
1. A 7-acre abandoned City park
2. A 2.5-acre farmland with 2 freshwater ponds
3. A farmhouse on 0.5 acres
In 2017, our Founder and Executive Director, Atiya Wells, came across the vacant property in her Frankford neighborhood in Northeast Baltimore. She envisioned a space for community dinners, environmental education, nature play spaces, and gardens.
In 2019, that dream became a reality when she received the blessing from the owner of the 2.5-acre lot. Noticing the vacant house adjacent to the property, she launched a fundraising campaign to purchase it and met the goal in less than 30 days. The 2.5 acres were subsequently donated to Backyard Basecamp in 2022.
After stewarding this space for the past five years, we are continuously working to ensure BLISS is safe, accessible, and welcoming to our community.
