Park-loving Partners Start New CCA Committee

The CCA has a new Parks Committee and we’d like to introduce the two cool neighbors who stepped up to co-chair. Meet neighborhood volunteers and park-loving partners Kurt Hoffman and Alex Yates.

Hi Guys. How long have you been Canton residents and how did you end up here?
We bought our house in Canton in 2016. Alex and I both grew up in Baltimore County and after graduating from college, we decided to move into the city so that we could take advantage of the walkability and unique neighborhood vibe of Canton. We have really enjoyed getting to know everyone involved in the CCA!

Why did you volunteer to form and run the new CCA Parks Committee?
Alex and I decided to organize a community cleanup in 2023 for Earth Day with the Waterfront Partnership, which maintains the Baltimore trash wheels. We reached out to the CCA to ask if there was an existing pool of volunteers who could help with the cleanup. From there, we hosted monthly cleanups and realized that we could help more by co-chairing the Parks Committee.

What have you accomplished so far?
The Parks Committee has a lot of plans for the next few months! So far we have succeeded in organizing biweekly neighborhood cleanups at multiple locations and offering a lanternfly trap workshop. We also helped the CCA write a grant proposal to revitalize O’Donnell Square Park.

What’s in the works for the rest of 2024?
We’re excited to plan, co-host, and/or participate in several projects/events including the Dypski Playground Tour on July 25 and an End of Summer Bash. We are also partnering with Healthy Harbor to reinvigorate the Harris Creek Rain Garden, starting with a community clean up on July 5 at 6pm, and we’re planning a Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser for Two Rivers Park.

How can someone participate in the Cornhole Tournament for Two Rivers Park?
The tournament will be held in Two Rivers Park as a fundraiser for park upgrades. We will host the Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, September 14th from 10 a.m. to noon. In addition to the tournament, we will have a raffle and party games with prizes for spectators. If anyone is interested in participating in or sponsoring the tournament, please email Kurt at hofftheprof@gmail.com.

When you’re not helping to green the neighborhood or organizing helpful events for the community, what do you do for fun?
Alex and I both enjoy camping, cooking, and reading. Alex prefers to read fiction but Kurt usually reads nonfiction. We like to camp in Maryland’s great state parks and go hiking and canoeing or kayaking.

What do you like most about living in Canton and volunteering with the CCA?
We feel very lucky to live in Canton. The neighborhood is friendly and walkable, with plenty of events going on throughout the year.

What would you like the community to know?
We can always use more volunteers. It doesn’t matter if you have an hour or 10 a year, we’d love for you to participate. Just shoot Kurt an email and we can chat about how you can help.

To volunteer with the Parks Committee or participate in the Cornhole Tournament for Two Rivers Park, email Kurt @HoffTheProf@gmail.com.

Canton has 5 parks: O’Donnell, Canton Waterfront, Two Rivers, Dypski, and the off-leash Dog Park. The CCA Parks Committee also helps at the I Wonder Garden and the Harris Creek Rain Garden, too. To learn more, visit https://www.cantoncommunity.org/parks.