Baltimore City's green spaces are sacred. Wyman Park and Stony Run provide essential habitats to the species that live there, and Stony Run is one of the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. For those of us who cherish these green lungs of our city, the thought of them being threatened by construction is a daunting prospect.

Johns Hopkins University's (JHU) proposal to construct the Data Sciences and Artificial Intelligence Institute, known as DSAI, on its chosen site, blatantly disregards the environmental sanctity and violates their own Forest Conservation promises. The DSAI complex is envisioned to become an expansive development on the edge of one of Baltimore’s most cherished urban wilds, and at 476,000 sq ft, it will be larger than the exhibition floor space of the Baltimore Convention Center.  JHU also plans to cut down over 90 trees for this construction project. This project poses a dire threat to Wyman Park and the Stony Run Watershed's ecological integrity.

The repercussions of JHU's previous campus expansions, like the Agora building, illustrate the potential environmental risks. We've witnessed immense amounts of stormwater runoff, which is immensely damaging, and with DSAI, the risks are even more significant due to the planned size of the building. Respected environmental experts agree that continued urban development without due consideration of ecological impacts can lead to irreversible damage to local habitats and water systems.

The City of Baltimore must prioritize environmental sustainability and conservation. By allowing permits for the DSAI Complex, a precedent will be set for further urban encroachment into our precious and dwindling green spaces. Baltimore has a responsibility to its citizens and natural areas to protect against unsustainable developments and to ensure that urban growth doesn't come at the cost of our environment.

The solution here is renewable and responsible development planning. JHU must source alternative sites for its expansion that do not compromise Baltimore’s limited natural landscapes. The use of land already developed or degraded should be considered first, combined with rigorous environmental impact assessments for any proposed sites.

I urge the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office to intervene to save Stony Run. Protect our parks, preserve our watersheds, and stand by the promises made in city and university sustainability goals. Please prioritize the voices of Baltimore residents who seek to safeguard the natural history and future health of our city.

Please sign this petition to call on the Mayor’s Office to protect Wyman Park and the Stony Run Watershed from unnecessary development.