The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore has announced the The Michael D. Hankin Award for Conservation was awarded to Laurie Schwartz, president of The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore. The award, named for former chairman of the zoo’s board of trustees Mike Hankin, was created by The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore in 2005 to recognize individuals who epitomize the legacy of conservation, volunteerism and philanthropy.
The Hankin Award was presented to Schwartz at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore in front of the zoo’s board of trustees, Waterfront Partnership colleagues and zoo staff and volunteers.
Under Schwartz’s leadership, the Waterfront Partnership has made vast improvements to the waterfront parks including building the award-winning Pierce’s Park featuring original sculptures for play, a musical fence, native plantings, four rain gardens and a living willow tunnel; adding tables, shade trees, granite stone seating as well as raising funds toward construction of the interactive Walter Sondheim Fountain at West Shore Park; raising funds for and launching the Waterfront Partnership Ice Rink; and creating hundreds of free and affordable events such as Waterfront Wellness, summer socials, the Harbor Harvest Children’s Festival and the Shamrock Shindig that have drawn thousands of locals to Waterfront parks.
