Hampstead Hill Celebrates New Playground and Community Mural
October 22, 2026
Hampstead Hill Academy (HHA) celebrated the opening of its new playground on October 21, 2026, marking an exciting milestone in the school’s multi-year capital improvement project. HHA and Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) leaders, elected officials, donors, families, and community partners gathered to celebrate this investment in students’ play, wellness, and overall development.
The new playground represents phase two of the larger project, which began in April 2024 with construction of the Newstead Gym. The 9,545-square-foot facility opened in April 2025, providing students with a modern gymnasium, spectator seating, a new classroom, and upgraded restrooms. With the former playground removed during construction, restoring an outdoor play space became an important next step.
Built and installed by Playground Specialists Inc. over this past summer, the new playground provides students with a dedicated space to be active, explore their imaginations, and build friendships. For Pre-K teacher Ms. Kaminaris, who has been part of the HHA community for more than 25 years, the playground offers opportunities for learning that extend beyond the classroom.
The playground also creates a gathering place for families. Katie Stewart, HHA PTO president, emphasized the role these shared spaces play in strengthening the school community.
“While [children are] playing, we parents get a chance to connect too,” Stewart said. “Bringing families together and supporting our kids is at the heart of what the PTO does.”
A colorful, community-themed mural adds another special touch, transforming the concrete wall along South Linwood Avenue into a welcoming backdrop for the playground. Designed by multidisciplinary artist Jordan Lawson, the mural was developed with input from Matt Hornbeck, HHA Principal, students, staff, and PTO.
For eighth-grade student Delilah Keola, the mural also represents the lasting impact students can have on their school. Her brother, a former HHA student, helped paint the mural, leaving a piece of himself in the community that helped shape him.
“As an eighth grader, you don’t realize that one day you’ll look back and wish you could experience [those moments] all over again,” Delilah said. “I’ve learned that those little moments, like playing on the playground, often become the memories that mean the most.”
The project was made possible through generous support from the Middendorf Foundation, the Richman Foundation, and the HHA PTO, along with more than 30 individual donors whose gifts ranged from $25 to several thousand dollars.
City Councilman Mark Parker, who grew up in South Baltimore, reflected on the importance of neighborhood playgrounds as places where communities come together. He encouraged students to make the most of their new space, celebrating the investment in their growth and happiness.
Together, the playground and mural represent more than improvements to the HHA campus. They reflect what a community can accomplish when it comes together to create spaces where students can learn, play, express themselves, and thrive.