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Patapsco Heritage Greenway
Goals
The Patapsco Heritage Greenway is a Recognized Heritage Area under the stewardship of The Friends of the Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway, Inc. (FPVHG). The mission of FPVHG is to preserve, protect and restore the environment, history and culture of the Patapsco River Valley by:
Encouraging the management of the park and the visitor experience.
Developing educational materials about the environment and the history of the Valley.
Interpreting the story of the Valley.
Location
The Patapsco Heritage Greenway boundary encompasses much of the Patapsco Valley State Park, generally south of the Hollofield Area bounded by Route 40 on the North, heading southeast to the portion that intersects the center of Elkridge at its northwest corner. There are several outparcels within the State Park boundaries that are not included within the proposed Greenway. In addition, the Greenway includes the Ellicott City Historic District, and the area of the Ellicott Mills Historic District on the other side of the river, to include the open space area along the water just north of the bridge and, heading southward, the Wilkins-Rogers flour mill and the George Thomas House on the north side of Frederick Road, east of Westchester Avenue. On its southern end, the proposed Greenway includes the “downtown” area of Elkridge, bounded by Main Street, Furnace Avenue, Railroad Avenue, and Race Road. To the east, the boundary includes the Catonsville portion of Frederick Road as a gateway corridor, the #9 Trolley Trail that connects Oella and Catonsville, and the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park.
Presently, the community associations within Relay, Oella, and St. Denis have opted to be excluded from the Patapsco Heritage Greenway boundaries.
 Management
The Friends of the Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway, Inc. (FPVHG), a private nonprofit corporation, was established in 2000 as the result of a merger between two chartered nonprofit organizations with similar goals. The FPVHG is a grass-roots organization of residents who are also environmentalists, historic preservationists, and trail and water enthusiasts. The two major activities of FPVHG are: 1.) preserving the environment of the Patapsco River Valley; and, 2.) telling the story of the Valley. Some significant examples of these activities are:
Sponsorship, with Save Our Streams, of an environmental survey to determine the overall condition of the Patapsco watershed and potential projects for enhancement.
An annual “Garlic Mustard Challenge,” designed to remove that invasive plant from the Patapsco Valley State Park. In addition to the actual removal of truckloads of garlic mustard, the “Challenge” also affords the public environmental education, cooking contests, and, for some, their first exposure to environmental activism. Co-sponsored with Maryland Cooperative Extension, Howard County Master Gardeners.
Sponsorship of “Greenway Guides,” a volunteer program of nature and history guided walks.
Management of “Story Circles,” a highly praised program that captures and preserves oral history from older Valley residents and presents the stories in a staged setting.
Sponsorship and grant management of comprehensive research and publication (Summer 2001, Maryland Historical Society) of The Patapsco Valley: Cradle of the Industrial Revolution in Maryland, by Henry K. Sharp.
Sponsorship and grant management of Patapsco: Portraits of a Valley, featuring photographs and accompanying interview text. This is now a traveling exhibit. The Library of Congress for their bicentennial celebration selected the project as a “local legacy.”
Participation in the development of the National Road Corridor Management Plan (expected release Summer 2001). The Maryland Department of Planning is the lead agency in a public-private-government partnership to preserve, enhance, interpret, and market (for heritage tourism) Maryland's part of the Historic National Road, with potential designation as an “All American Road.”
Coordination and participation with local, state, and federal preservation organizations to inventory and preserve the historic and cultural assets of the Valley.
Currently, the FPVHG is working towards obtaining certified heritage area status for the Patapsco Heritage Greenway.
Contact Information
Mr. Kit J. Valentine
Friends of the Patapsco and Heritage Greenway, Inc.
P.O. Box 96
Ellicott City, MD 21041
410-480-0824
410-465-1718 (fax)
E-mail: kibe@juno.com
Website: www.patapscoheritagegreenway.org
Last updated: August 16, 2006
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