Sacred Places
Choose Life Memorial Garden
A mural inscribed with the names of everyone the block has lost.
WHERE
Baltimore, MD
SETTING
Neighborhood
PARTNER INSTITUTION
Intersection of Change
Visit
Where it is
1947 Pennsylvania Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217
What happens here
The garden is a dedicated space for healing its community, with restful seating areas among the planting.
HOW IT CAME TO BE
A lot left behind after the demolition.
01
The Need
An empty building was demolished, leaving a vacant lot. The community was losing people to drugs and violence.
02
The Vision
The space began as an effort to repurpose that lot, and found its second purpose in memorializing those lost. The source frames it as capitalizing on the opportunity to create a nature-focused memorial space in a crowded metropolis.
03
The Transformation
The lush garden now holds towering trees, wooden plank benches, and a massive mural inscribed with the names of community members lost to drug use and violence.
WHO TENDS IT
Todd Marcus
Firesoul, Choose Life Memorial Garden
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HEAR FROM THE VISITORS
From the Little Yellow Journal
No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and I will bless the Lord at all times. And with faith we will prevail. Amen
– Mena + Warren
