MOUNT VERNON PLACE CONSERVANCY INC

Description

The Conservancy was formed in 2008 with the goal to restore Baltimore's Washington Monument and reopen it to visitors. In 2012, we entered a partnership agreement with Baltimore City, and in 2015, completed the restoration of the monument in time for its bicentennial. The Washington Monument is now open year-round to visitors. Admission to the gallery is free, and visitors may climb to the lookout level for a small fee.

Along the way, the Conservancy merged with the Friends of Mount Vernon Place, a neighborhood group which helped maintain, and organized events in the four parks of Mount Vernon Place. We currently present Summer in the Squares, an outdoor concert and film series, Art in the Park, a series of free outdoor art classes, weekly yoga and fitness classes, and seasonal events throughout the year. We occasionally ask for volunteers to help facilitate events, and decorate the squares during the holiday season.

In 2019, the Conservancy was given management of Baltimore's annual Flower Mart, a two-day festival held in Mount Vernon Place every spring. We have re-focused the event to its original mission of urban green spaces, home gardening, and environmental awareness, and have incorporated a series of educational lectures and workshops to promote this theme. The event attracts thousands of attendees and requires hundreds of volunteers.