Oriole Garden at Camden Yards

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Published: 25 November 2020
Last edited: 03 November 2021
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Summary

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.

Classifications

Region
North America
Scale of implementation
Local
Ecosystem
Buildings and facilities
Green spaces (parks, gardens, urban forests)
Urban ecosystem and build environment
Theme
Access and benefit sharing
Biodiversity mainstreaming
Cities and infrastructure
Connectivity / transboundary conservation
Species management
Urban planning
Challenges
Land and Forest degradation
Loss of Biodiversity
Ecosystem loss
Sustainable development goals
SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities
SDG 15 – Life on land
Aichi targets
Target 1: Awareness of biodiversity increased
Target 2: Biodiversity values integrated

Location

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

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. 

Contributed by

amelie.claessens_39301's picture

Amelie Claessens International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Other contributors

Giulia Carbone
IUCN
Eric Ndayishimiye
San Francisco Estuary Institute
Robin Grossinger
San Francisco Estuary Institute
Megan Wheeler
San Francisco Estuary Institute
Erica Spotswood
San Francisco Estuary Institute
Russell Galt
IUCN