Cylburn Arboretum comprises 207 acres of woodland, meadows, gardens and lawns in Baltimore City. It is home to beautiful historic buildings, many species of wildlife, and is visited by large numbers of school children, families, garden clubs, scout troops and individuals who come to explore, learn, participate in events, and simply enjoy nature.

The Cylburn Arboretum Association commissioned Mahan Rykiel Associates to produce a Master Plan that focused on developing a new vision for the grounds of the Mansion, Carriage House, and Greenhouses. The Master Plan addressed a number of key goals:

• Satisfy immediate functional needs and
deficiencies.
• Serve visitors effectively through specific,
identified projects.
• Expand programs and facilities that establish
Cylburn as a major attraction – comparable to
other public gardens in the region.

MRA also completed full landscape architectural services for the new 10,000 SF Vollmer Center, which the Master Plan identified as a priority project. With an emphasis on sustainable design, the landscape plan includes an outdoor amphitheater crafted from reclaimed stone veneer; select areas of permeable paving; rain gardens; and large swaths of native, adapted, and other ornamental plantings that naturally extend the arboretum experience.