Oriole Garden at Camden Yards

Snapshot Solution

by Amelie Claessens, The National Wildlife Federation

A Baltimore oriole, the team mascot that Oriole Garden was designed to support.

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The Oriole Garden was established in 2016 at the Maryland Stadium Authority’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards Sports Complex in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. The project is part of the National Wildlife Federation’s Grow Together Baltimore program that works with communities to grow vibrant green spaces that benefit Baltimore’s residents in many ways. The garden of Camden Yards seeks to attract the native bird species, the Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula), which also serves as the team mascot. With bird populations in decline due in part to urbanization, this native plant garden provides orioles and other species the food and shelter they need to survive. The garden is located near the stadium entrance, where it not only benefits urban wildlife but where the native plant landscaping can be enjoyed by fans, athletes and employees. Its location also coincides with the orioles’ natural migratory pattern, putting the Oriole Garden in their direct path home.

Last update: 03 Nov 2021

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Context

Challenges addressed

Land and Forest degradation

Loss of Biodiversity

Ecosystem loss

Scale of implementation

Local

Ecosystems

Buildings and facilities

Green spaces (parks, gardens, urban forests)

Theme

Access and benefit sharing

Biodiversity mainstreaming

Species management

Connectivity / transboundary conservation

Cities and infrastructure

Urban planning

Location

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

North America

Impacts

The Oriole Garden covers over 930 m² and includes more than 30 species of perennial native plants, which attract pollinators, butterflies and birds, including the Baltimore oriole. The stadium itself is located less than two kilometres away from two other large green spaces (M&T Bank Stadium and Carroll Park), and thus greening efforts on the Oriole Park grounds can improve matrix quality and connectivity in conjunction with other local green spaces. In addition to featuring native gardens to support wildlife, both Oriole Park and M&T Bank Stadium are LEED Gold certified (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and strives to deliver energy- and water-efficient, healthy, environmentally-friendly, cost-saving buildings, homes and communities). This includes integrated pest management practices to reduce chemical inputs and run-off, which have detrimental impacts on the nearby Chesapeake Bay. The native plant garden at Oriole Park has co-benefits of promoting team spirit, providing habitat for orioles and other birds and insects, and creating a beautiful space for fans to enjoy.