Reimagine Middle Branch
South Baltimore, MD
Reimagine Middle Branch is a multi-year effort to reconnect South Baltimore neighborhoods to more than eleven miles of shoreline along the Patapsco River.
Large-scale waterfront planning often moves quickly and at technical scale. The Community Design Lab created space for young people living near Middle Branch to build civic literacy, understand capital systems, and shape ideas connected to their neighborhoods.
The result was not only a set of proposals, but a replicable model for embedding youth leadership within infrastructure-scale planning.
Youth-Led Community Design
• 2021–2022•
Project Type: Waterfront Master Planning
Focus: Youth Civic Design Integration
Scale: 11+ Mile Urban Waterfront Corridor
Led by the City of Baltimore, South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, and Parks & People Foundation, the project brings together planners, designers, engineers, community leaders, and residents to shape the future of the Middle Branch waterfront.
The Urban Studio led the Community Design Lab, a structured youth engagement program aligned with the equity framework, visioning, and implementation phases of the master plan.
Working alongside landscape architects, engineers, and feasibility consultants, our role was to ensure that young people were not only consulted, but equipped to contribute meaningfully to conversations about land use, capital investment, and environmental justice. Rather than positioning youth as observers, the program treated them as emerging civic designers working within a real planning process.
Phase I
Phase I
Design Immersion
10 Weeks | March–May 2022
Students met weekly at Digital Harbor High School and engaged in:
Place-based design curriculum
Site observation and spatial analysis
“How Might We” problem framing
Field visits to Middle Branch Park
A construction tour of the Middle Branch Fitness & Wellness Center
Feedback sessions with members of the RMB design team
Students developed site-specific project concepts grounded in community health, environmental justice, and public space access.
Phase II
Phase II
Summer Incubator
5 Weeks | July–August 2022
Participants advanced their ideas through:
Research and precedent analysis
Capital funding exploration
Cost estimation and phasing
Stakeholder mapping
Structured mentorship
Public presentation preparation
Sessions were hosted at Morgan State University, Digital Harbor High School, and virtually.
How Students Reimagined the City
Each student developed a proposal tied directly to Middle Branch, including:
Mental health programming integrated into park space
A $10M financing model for boathouse redevelopment
Waterfront litter prevention and trash capture strategies
Skate park activation concepts
Public art placement informed by community survey
Food access partnerships and distributed pantry systems
Native species education and environmental programming
Proposals included defined problem statements, site analysis, partnership recommendations, and preliminary funding strategies.
One student-developed capital stack modeled over $10 million in potential public and private funding sources, including city allocations, ARPA funds, tax increment financing, and philanthropic support.
My name is Ruby! I am a growing artist and academic! My art is often inspired by the small and obscure objects around me. I make jewelry and art of things most people would throw away, like soda can tabs and receipts. Through my art in the design space, I hope to highlight overlooked communities and find meaning in the little things.
Hi, I’m Delonte . I love baseball, I have integrity, courage, loyalty, passion, trustworthy, intelligent, and generous. I value integrity, my favorite color is black, and my passion is sports.
Hi! My name is Deven. Some of my field interests include Business, Architecture, Engineering, and Entrepreneurship. When I am not tangled in schoolwork, I enjoy working on my architectural designs, Hanging with friends, golfing, and sleeping.
Hi, I’m Javon. I am a senior. I am an introvert, and I also like fashion. A few fun facts about me include: My favorite color is black. I have a passion for technology, and I like to talk to people that I can relate
Hello! My name is Laila. In my fee time I like to create art, listen to music, play video games, and watch my favorite shows. I want to get more into making my own clothes, sewing, and cosplay in the future. I am very passionate about creating and character designing. Look at my art!
At a Glance
The Community Design Lab directly informed the broader engagement strategy and contributed to the development of a future Youth Advisory Committee within the Reimagine Middle Branch governance structure.