A Hidden Oasis in Frankford

The Live Baltimore team spent a morning in Northeast Baltimore’s Frankford neighborhood for October’s “Love Where We Live” outing.

With over 17,000 residents, Frankford is one of the biggest neighborhoods in Baltimore, both in area and population. It’s located north of Herring Run Park between Belair Road and 895. The housing stock ranges from new townhouses to mid-century rowhomes, apartments, and detached single-family homes. The median home sale price was $230,000 in 2025. Additionally, the entire Frankford neighborhood sits within the eligible area for Live Baltimore’s Buy Back the Block program.

Partnerships for Safety and Community

We met three leaders from the Frankford Improvement Association (FIA): current FIA President Jamal, as well as Ms. Gladene and Ms. Cecilia. Jamal was drawn to Frankford’s balance of suburban convenience and urban charm—as well as the “genuinely great people” living and working there. Its proximity to 895, I-95 and Route 40 make it easy to access other parts of the region by car.

Jamal has nurtured close relationships with the Northeastern District police and other neighborhood leaders to ensure public safety is a top priority in Frankford, and residents seem to agree. Over 2,000 residents participated in Frankford’s National Night Out event, an annual nationwide community-building campaign connecting residents and the law enforcement personnel who serve their communities.

“We are very passionate about ensuring that everybody gets the things that they need.”

-Jamal

Ms. Cecilia, who has lived in the neighborhood for 40 years, loves that Frankford is one of Baltimore’s “hidden oases you didn’t know were there.” The forested areas are “quiet 24/7” and teem with wildlife such as deer, foxes, rabbits, and opossums.

She aims to build strong bonds between residents, legislators, and local businesses, inviting companies to sponsor initiatives such as graduation ceremonies and holiday meals. She also partners with local churches to host community events, such as an upcoming Corvette show at Mount Pleasant Church. Ms. Cecilia appreciates the intergenerational feel of the neighborhood, with many seniors aging in place and their children returning to their Frankford roots.

“It’s the wide variety that Frankford offers, from young people coming in to our seniors who are still living here saying, ‘I’m not moving.’”

-Cecilia

Proud Furley Foxes

A major asset in the community is Furley Elementary School, serving about 400 neighborhood kids in a colorful, energy-efficient building that opened in 2025. Principal Howze, Community School Site Specialist Ms. Dudley, and Judy Center Coordinator Ms. Tardy shared that their diverse community includes families from 35 different countries.

“The parents and the families in the Frankford area really hold you to a high standard.  They expect excellence from you as an educator. […] They’re very committed and they’re willing to partner with you to make that happen.”

-Ms. Tardy

STEAM is a particular focus of this community school. The cutting-edge building has opened the doors to many new extracurricular options, including a pottery club, choir, dance classes, basketball league, and Robotics Club. School leaders are also working on opening a full health clinic inside the building, and hope to offer vaccinations and dental care in the near future.

Frankford families with children from birth to age five have two Judy Centers in their backyard: one of the city’s newest at Furley Elementary, and the oldest at Moravia Park Elementary. Judy Centers support school readiness by offering free parenting classes, weekly playgroups, diaper and food giveaways, case management, and other resources for families. Frankford residents are also served by Vanguard Collegiate Middle School, which will move to a new building in the near future, and the language immersion charter school, Baltimore International Academy (BIA) West.

Nurturing Nature Stewards

Our final stop of the morning was Backyard Basecamp at BLISS Meadows, whose mission is to (re)connect Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to local food, land, and nature in Baltimore. Founder/Executive Director Atiya began stewarding this 10-acre campus in 2019, transforming a vacant lot and abandoned home into an educational center, active farm, and community gathering place. In addition to trails, a “peace pond,” and woods, BLISS Meadows is home to an orchard, beehives, a market garden, greenhouses, and barnyard animals including sheep and goats.

Education is a major focus of Backyard Basecamp. They run one of the first fully licensed outdoor preschools in Maryland in addition to “schools out” camps for kids ages 4 to 13, field trips, and in-school programming. While we were there, we crossed paths with a group of curious children walking over a bridge and observing mushrooms growing in the woods. These City kids may not realize it yet, but they are fortunate to experience Frankford’s unique blend of natural beauty, caring community, and urban amenities.

We hope you enjoyed learning all about the Frankford neighborhood. You can view more content from our tour in our Facebook Album. Learn more about Baltimore City’s 250+ unique neighborhoods on our Neighborhood Page. Want to give us a tour of your neighborhood? Email us at hello@livebaltimore.com to set up a Live Baltimore staff visit. We can’t wait to meet you!