Park Working Group
Coordinator: Colleen McCahill, 410-299-4489
Email: stvpark@stvchurch.org (stvpark null@null stvchurch NULL.org)
Meetings: Quarterly
In the 1960’s, Baltimore City created a park next to St. Vincent’s. The park became a favored hangout for homeless and marginally homeless people, some of whom slept in the park. Their right to do so was defended by Fr. Lawrence when St. Vincent purchased the property in 2000. In time, the park became a popular place for charitable donations of clothing and food, and mission visits from area churches. Donors brought food, clothing, tents, tarps and mattresses, and some homeless people set up semi-permanent shelters in the park. Today, anyone who must is allowed to sleep in the park, but no one may encamp 
there. St Vincent’s closes the park every day from 7:00-9:00 AM for cleaning. This task is accomplished weekdays by the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and on weekends by parishioner volunteers. The purpose of the Park Working Group is to oversee the park, coordinate the volunteer activities of parishioners, and assist in negotiating for outside assistance in park maintenance.
See a Letter to the Parish on the anniversary of the re-opening of the park.
Park Volunteers
Parishioners are needed to volunteer to work in twos. Workers should arrive by 7:00 AM to wake anybody sleeping and to close the park. Any items left in the park must be discarded, trash cans emptied, and park ground raked as needed. All necessary materials are provided. The park remains closed until 9:00 AM. The sign up roster shows the dates on which help is needed.
Read our guidelines for volunteers in St. Vincent’s Park.
