The Sandtown-Winchester community of West Baltimore deserves to have Recreation Center and a dedicated green space.

 The Lillian Jones Recreation Center has been closed since 2021. Its closure has had a significantly negative impact on our community’s well being. Residents, of all ages, have lost a vital source for fitness, leisure, health & wellness, social interaction and community connection.  It’s central location encouraged community engagement, as the Lillian Jones Rec center was often used by both community based organizations and area citizens for private and public events. The rec center was also the only dedicated polling site for the community.

The proposed long term plan for the community is a new state of the art recreation center, to be completed around 2030. But the plans to build it on what is currently the Pauline Fauntleroy Park will rob Sandtown of its only large dedicated green space. The 3 acre park sits directly across from the Lillian Jones Recreation Center. The park is a stark contrast to the surrounding decay that has built up from years of neglect and divestment . Pauline Fauntleroy Park is truly the oasis in the desert of Sandtown.

 If the current location of the Lillian Jones Recreation Center cannot be renovated, we please request that a new recreation center not be built on Pauline Fauntleroy Park. We must preserve our green space.  Sandtown deserves a recreation center now, and In the interest of immediate action we request that there be temporary spaces created that our citizens can utilize for community happenings. For so many area residents, our rec center was a place of peace and refuge. It was a safe place for our children to play, learn and build character. A place where adults gathered for community meetings and group sports like ping pong. Please show your support for Showdown For Sandtown by signing this petition. Showdown For Sandtown is a collective of area organizations that are working to preserve the history and integrity of the Sandtown-Winchester community.