A New Third Place in Harford County
Martin Sanders, Alexa Brenner, Alicia Qui?ones, Anne Carroll, Colton Keddington, Jessica 
Larson, John Murphy, Justin Falciano, Ryan Trout, Rye McKenzie, Shasche Allen
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Presentation Overview
1. Background on Third Places and Joppatowne, Harford County
2. Our Four Third Place Proposals
a. Gazebo
b. Community Garden
c. Fascination Station
d. Bike Lanes
e. Community Art
3. Survey Associated with the Third Place
4. Budget
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
What is a Third Place?
? In short terms, a third place is your ?home away from home?
? A welcoming space that cultivates essential social experiences in the 
company of like-minded people
? Typical examples include coffee shops or pubs 
? Ideally, third places are open to the entire community without excess 
obligations - such as entry costs
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Joppatowne, Harford 
County
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Joppatowne, Harford County 
? As of 2016
? Median Household Income: $73,543
? As of 2010 Census
? Population of 12,616
? Compared to the overall Harford County population of 244,826 in 2010 
? Racial makeup is overwhelmingly white
? About 73% white 
? 15% African American
? The last 12% is a mix of other minority races
? Population is starting to age
? Median age is 37 
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Gazebos
Wells, ME
? Background
? Gardens
? Patios
? Example Cities
? Wells, ME
? Butner, NC
? Midlothian, IL Butner, NC Midlothian, IL
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Gazebos cont?d- Types of Gazebos
With Screen Grain Bin
W/o Screen
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Gazebo cont?d- Benefits
? Multipurpose usage
? weddings, concerts, etc.
? Parental observation
? parent informal meeting place
? Community project
? community donations, volunteer construction 
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Gazebo cont?d- Drawbacks
? Costs
? Construction
? Maintenance
? Location
? Not near water or wooded area
? Illegal activity
? After dark
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Garden
? Background
? Nutrition
? Community Development
? Cross Generation Engagement
? Phases
? Building
? Developing Community Ties
? Future Initiatives
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Garden
Phase One
? Select a location on site
? Determine maintenance structure
? Conduct soil testing
? Establish pricing
? Build marketing strategy
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Garden
Phase Two
? Community offices
? Membership
? Community Education
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Garden
Phase Two
? Community offices
? Membership
? Community Education
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Garden
Phase Two
? Community offices
? Membership
? Community Education
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Garden
Phase 3
? Evaluate the current state of the 
garden
? Build on the concept
? Increase garden size
? Bring in other proposals 
? Open a Farmers? Market
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Garden
Addison, Texas
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Garden
East Village, Alberta, Canada
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Garden
Chrysalis House, Kentucky 
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Fascination Station: Background 
Marjory Allen - Adventure Playground
David Rockwell - Imagination Playground 
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Fascination Station: Benefits 
? Fosters children?s natural creativity 
? Reduces stress 
? Increases children self-control and self-confidence
? Encourages higher level thinking and analysis of the environment
? Promotes team building/collaboration
? Enhances children?s problem-solving skills
? Good for children of all ages 
? A great way for children to exercise and develop their motor skills 
? More cost effective than traditional playgrounds
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Fascination Station: Examples
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Fascination Station: Drawbacks 
? Risks - injury
? Maintenance
? Staff 
? Only 38% of families have children under 18
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Bike Lanes
The creation of a third 
place in Joppatowne will 
be most successful when 
woven into the fabric of 
the community and 
connected to first places 
(housing) and second 
places (schools, 
employment).
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Bike Lanes: Why Biking and Walking?
? Healthier Lifestyle
? Economic Benefits
? Fewer Motorist Accidents
? Safety 
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Bike Lanes: Joppa Farm Road
? Place share use signage along the road from US Rt. 40 to Haverhill 
Road at ? mile intervals,
? Paint ?sharrows? on the pavement between US Rt. 40 and Trimble 
Road,
? Reduce parking along one side of the road to establish a dedicated 
bicycle lane from Trimble Road to Garnett Road,
? Paint ?sharrows? on the pavement between Garnett Road and 
Haverhill Road?sharrows should be repeated after each 
intersection and every 100 feet thereafter.
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Bike Lanes: Roads intersecting Joppa Farm 
?Sharrows? leading to every intersection:
? at the intersection, 
? 250 feet, and 
? 500 feet.
Approximately 50 ?sharrows? in total
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Bike Lanes: Walkability along Joppa Farm
Providing crosswalks along Joppa Farm 
Road over smaller neighborhood roads and 
drives--approximately 25 new crosswalks
Repainting the crosswalks at Shore Drive 
and Hardwick Place as well as all four sides 
of the intersection of Joppa Farm and 
Garnett Roads
Placing raised pedestrian crosswalks across 
Joppa Farm Road at Towne Center Drive 
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Bike Lanes: Student Safety
Partner with the local schools to teach safe walking and bicycling to 
lower pedestrian and bicycle accidents
Provide students with retroreflective materials for use on jackets, 
backpacks, and/or bicycles to increase viability
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, ?The 
widespread use of these retroreflective materials would increase the 
ability of drivers to detect pedestrians at night in time to avoid 
crashes.? And the ?cost to provide retroreflective materials is low, if 
such supplementary materials are distributed in quantity??
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Art
? What is community art?
? It is a Collaborative and group-based project, oftentimes designed or 
intended to address or initiate discussion about community-specific issues
? Helps Harford County ?Grow with purpose.?
? Partnership with community
? Community investment is imperative to the success of art projects
? Engaging different parts of the community
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Art
? In action - Artspace, Silver Spring, MD. 
Built through partnership with 
Montgomery County?s Department of 
Housing and various private sponsors.
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Community Art
? Incorporating into the Third Place
? Community Garden
? Fascination Station
? Bike Lanes
? Challenges and Benefits
? Engagement
? Local Business Owners
? Schools
? Community reference point
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Survey
? The survey is meant to gauge what the community wants to see included in the
Third Place.
? Questions about the four proposal ideas were included:
? Community garden, a gazebo area, a ?Fascination Station?, and bike lanes,
and community art
? We also included general demographic questions and introduction
? It?s complete with formatting and appropriate wording
? We also include what type of response the question prompts (select one,
write in, etc.)
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Sample Questions 
- Do you have a space where you regularly gather with people in your community?
(Multiple choice, single select)
- Yes
- No
- If yes, what type of place is it? (Multiple choice, multiple select)
- Park
- Church
- School
- Sportsfield
- Coffee Shop
- Diner Pool
- Gym
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
If there were bike lanes along Joppatowne Road, how often would you use them?
(Multiple choice, single select)
- Every day
- A couple times a week
- A couple times a month
- Occasionally
- Never
How far would you be willing to travel to get to a community garden? (Multiple choice,
single select)
- ? mile
- ? mile
- 1 mile
- More than 1 mile
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Survey Benefits 
? Encourages input from a larger portion of community residents 
? New residents, residents working nights and weekends 
? Utilizes varying types of questions captures a broader scope of 
information from respondents 
? Multiple choice, sliding scale, and open ended questions
? Provides a starting point for future community projects 
? Open ended comments or high participation rates provides solid 
info on what the community needs 
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Survey Drawbacks
? Nonresponse
? Survey needs to be broadly advertised 
? Self Selection Bias
? Residents already engaged in community works may be more 
inclined to provide feedback
? Total Cost 
? Survey Fatigue 
? Longer surveys may lower completion rates 
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Budget
? Gazebo
? Costs vary due to size
? $7,000 - $13,000 for 12? diameter
? $15,000 - $30,000 for 18? diameter
? Community Garden
? $3,000 startup costs
? $700 annual maintenance
? Imagination Playground
? $10,000-$40,000
? Range almost entirely dependent on surfacing materials (Turf vs. Sand, Mulch, etc.)
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Budget
? Community Art
? Grant proposal
? $2,500 - $10,000
? Survey
? $3,000 Qualtrics subscription
? ?Snail? Mail - $7,000
? Phone - $17,550
? Bike Lanes and Walkability
? $68,000
? 31 striped crosswalks - $24,000
? 1 raised walkway - $8,000
? 200 shared lane/bicycle markings - $36,000
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Thank you! 
Any questions? 
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park
Citations
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/harfordcountymaryland
Mead, R. (2010). State of Play. The New Yorker. Retrieved from http://www.imaginationplayground.com/images/content/2/8/2857/New-York-Rebecca-Mead.pdf
https://theartofcharm.com/art-of-personal-development/what-is-a-third-place-and-why-do-you-need-one/
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2016/09/14/third-places-as-community-builders/
http://www.harfordscd.org/index.html
https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/1655/Agriculture
https://communitygarden.org/resources/sample-garden-plot-registration/
https://www.addisonarbor.org/community-gardens/
https://www.evexperience.com/crossroads
https://www.chrysalishouse.org/garden/
http://www.imaginationplayground.com/images/content/2/8/2857/New-York-Rebecca-Mead.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/jul/19/junk-play-urban-adventure-playgrounds-austerity-london
http://clipart-library.com/community-garden-cliparts.html 
https://datausa.io/profile/geo/joppatowne-md/
http://www.imaginationplayground.com/product/playspace.html
National Center for Smart Growth  | The University of Maryland, College Park