Masonville

Masonville and Masonville Cove: A Partnership Making History

The Masonville facility encompasses two sites in one: both an active dredged material containment facility (101 acres) and a pioneering and award-winning Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership, named Masonville Cove.

Since restoration began in 2007, Masonville Cove has created rich educational experiences for community members young and old. Masonville Cove is a unique partnership and a model for stakeholder engagement through an innovative partnership between the MPA, National Aquarium, Living Classrooms, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Kayakers paddling around Captain Trash Wheel in Masonville Cove

Today

Masonville Cove boasts over 50 acres of restored wetlands with nature trails, a floating dock, an award winning environmenal education center offering learning experiences for area students, and the ever popular Captain Trash Wheel to help keep litter out of the Patapsco River.

Countless animals including over 200 bird species–including Baltimore City’s first known pair of nesting bald eagles–have been observed at Masonville Cove.

Open to the public, Masonville Cove welcomes thousands of local English and Spanish speaking students, communities and birdwatchers from across the region each year and is consistently named one of the top birding sites in the state with regular events hosted throughout the year. Sign up for events here and stay up to date with Masonville Cove happenings by signing up for its newsletter.

Beyond Education: Workforce Development Opportunities

Hosting the WildSTEM summer internship, Masonville Cove provides interns with exposure to conservation career paths, practical experience, and a pathway for future careers and leadership opportunities. These interns have come from Historically Black Colleges and Universities including Bowie State University, Coppin State University and Morgan State University.

Stewards in the Community: The Masonville Cove Connector

Designed to provide safe and equitable access to the Masonville Cove site, the Masonville Cove Connector concept is currently in development to link Masonville Cove to the broader network of local walking and biking trails. The Connector will link area residents to a unique educational and community asset and integrate Masonville Cove into the larger outdoor recreational landscape in Baltimore. Once completed, the Masonville Cove Connector will become a vital link in a network of over 20 miles of trails, offering walking and biking connections to dozens of neighborhoods, a regional hospital, and wellness facilities. The Masonville Cove Connector is made possible by the many partners at Masonville Cove and with support from the Federal Highway Administration, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.