Baltimore County Growing Home Campaign

Baltimore County Growing Home Campaign is designed to help in greening the county and provide $10 savings on qualifying trees from local nurseries.

The Baltimore County Government‘s site shares the benefits of planting trees, what trees you may want to plant depending on where you live, what kind of soil you have, and what purpose you would like to have it serve.

You can use your $10 tree coupon on each qualifying tree purchased — but you need one per tree.

The Growing Home Campaign is also being put on in conjunction with Harford County and Baltimore City.

Participating nurseries include the Timonium Lowe’s Home Improvement, Cockeysville Home Depot and Towson Home Depot, Valley View Farms in Cockeysville, and Watson’s in Lutherville, among others.

What a great way to make Baltimore County a better place to live, while offering savings to Baltimore residents!

Thornton Road Construction in Towson

If you drive by the area of Thornton Road and West Joppa Rd, you most likely have noticed (or been stuck in traffic) because of the Thornton Road Construction in Towson.

Searching the Baltimore County Government site, I wasn’t able to come up with much information, “Thornton Road Construction” sends me to this page, where I see information about the Thornton Mill Bridge overpass by Western Run which is in Cockeysville.

I also found an old article from the Towson Times by Lori Ingraham from 2003, when that major construction on West Joppa bridge crossing over 695 was happening. In the article, she states:

The project will also provide a continuous sidewalk on Thornton Road, and landscaped stormwater management facilities in the area. And the bridges will be more “aesthetically pleasing,” according to SHA.

I do not believe that happened yet, so I wonder if this is the continuation/end of this project. New sidewalks have been installed across the street from the Royal Farm. I also found from the Ruxton Riderwood Lake Roland Area Improvement Association information about a possible bike path (action 5.2a) on Thornton Road from Timonium Rd to Joppa Rd.

It has been causing delays as people come south on Thornton to go to West Joppa Rd, as many times there are sign people and one lane open at a time. If I get more information, I will share this with you!

Baltimore County Pedestrian and Biking Cockeysville Planning Meeting

Baltimore County is hosting a workshop to have residents help plan the pedestrian and bicycle path improvements over the next few years.

Cockeysville Middle School is the location of the next workshop, on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 7 pm.

If you live in Baltimore County or use the Baltimore County hike and bike paths, then this meeting is for YOU!

The committee for the Baltimore County Department of Planning needs input from those who use the amenities or would like to, in order to find out where improvements need to be made, and how urgent those changes need to be put in place.

The main impetus for undertaking this plan comes from Baltimore County’s Master Plan 2010. The master plan describes the need to improve the variety of transportation options available to its citizens.  It calls for a county-wide plan for developing and improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Master Plan Goal for Pedestrian Facilities: Develop and maintain pedestrian facilities that provide desirable levels of accessibility and safety for pedestrians, and encourage walking for both utilitarian and recreational purposes.

Master Plan Goal for Bicycle Facilities: Develop and maintain bicycle facilities that provide an adequate level of convenience, mobility, and safety for bicyclists at all levels of experience, and encourage bicycle trips for utilitarian, recreational and commuting purposes.

Cockeysville residents are able to enjoy many hike and bike paths because of meetings such as these. It is wonderful to have the Cockeysville community‘s input in the improvement of the local amenities!

Cockeysville Middle School is located at 10401 Greenside Drive, Cockeysville, MD 21030.