Collins Streamside Community is located in a place of remarkable natural beauty within an urban context. The community is defined to the south by Maiden Choice Run, a small stream that feeds into the Gwynns Falls, thence to the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River and then to the Chesapeake Bay. At one time several decades ago, Maiden Choice Run was one of the most environmentally degraded streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Because of old and leaky sewers, it would run with raw sewage with every major rain, and sewage breaks were common. In about 2008 as part of the overhaul of the water and sewage system in Baltimore, the pipes were relined. Soon fish returned, and with them herons (who now nest along the stream each year), crayfish, ducks, kingfishers, snapping turtles, etc. Other common wildlife include hawks, foxes, deer (lots of them!), raccoons, groundhogs, opossums, lizards, snakes, etc. For many children in the community, this area provides an introduction to and access to nature and wildlife.
However, the stream is located in a highly developed watershed, and trash that falls on the street, by design, washes into storm grates and then into the stream. So Collins Streamside members regularly organize cleanups of the stream along with other areas where trash collects.
The bottom of Collins Street dead ends into the stream and a green space (part of Michael and Jill’s yard which is made available as community green space, with a tire swing and basketball court and paths leading along the stream. This is the most accessible place to reach the stream and neighborhood children in particular gravitate to it to skip rocks, look for minnows and crayfish, climb on rocks in the stream, and just be in nature. This area was once a neglected dumping ground for trash, and the residents who previously lived in Michael and Jill’s house took 18 dumbtruck loads of trash out of this area and purchased it from Baltimore City. Through efforts over many years, most of the large trash has been removed. There is now a walking trail along the creek and a fire pit which is open to community residents who want to have a campfire, roast marshmallows, etc. During the COVID 19 pandemic, a number of families would bring their children down to this area each day to get some fresh air and exercise.
