Sacred Places
Metropolitan Transition Center
A rubble-filled prison yard, replanted by the men serving in it.
WHERE
Baltimore, MD
SETTING
Prison
PARTNER INSTITUTION
none named
Visit
Where it is
954 Forrest Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
What happens here
The yard is now a peaceful space to walk through and sit and reflect in. Inmates earn Master Gardener certificates while working it, learning horticulture skills and spending their days among plants and greenery rather than concrete, brick, asphalt, and steel bars.
HOW IT CAME TO BE
They beautified it while earning the certificate.
01
The Need
The prison yard was bleak and rubble-filled. The daily reality inside is concrete, brick, asphalt, and steel bars.
02
The Vision
Nature Sacred and several partners transformed the yard at the same time as creating a Horticulture and Arts program at MTC, so that the work of building the garden was itself the training. The hope is that the program will enhance the men's surroundings and ultimately reduce how many return to prison.
03
The Transformation
The yard is now an expanded greenspace with two benches for reflection, flower beds, and contemplative paths, planted by inmates while earning their certificates.
