Preservation Maryland’s leadership—through its advocacy for 2019’s Senate Bill 741—helped bring attention to underutilized historic government complexes, including Crownsville Hospital in Anne Arundel County, one of the last segregated mental asylums in the country. Our 2020 report not only identified Crownsville Hospital as a prime candidate for adaptive reuse, but also laid out the challenges and policy tools needed. Today’s Nonprofit Center at Crownsville is the direct fruition of that groundwork—transforming a long-vacant site into a vibrant space for wellness, connection, and community support. The County’s recent ribbon-cutting for the Nonprofit Center at Crownsville is a tangible realization of what the report envisioned, transforming these historic assets into community-serving spaces.
“Preservation Maryland is proud to have played a part in laying the groundwork for the transformation of Crownsville Hospital through our advocacy and study of historic government complexes,” said Preservation Maryland’s president & CEO Nicholas Redding. “The opening of the Nonprofit Center is a powerful example of how adaptive reuse can breathe new life into historic places while honoring the past and meeting today’s community needs.”
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Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman joined federal, state, and local leaders, nonprofit partners, and community stakeholders today for the official ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening of the Nonprofit Center at Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park.
Located on the historic Crownsville campus, the newly renovated Nonprofit Center at 41 Community Place is a cornerstone of the County’s long-term vision to transform the site into a space dedicated to healing, wellness, and community connection. The facility offers no- and low-cost space for nonprofit organizations, as well as in-person and virtual support services to strengthen nonprofit operations and impact across the county.
“We created the Nonprofit Center to support the people who support our communities,” said County Executive Steuart Pittman. “This Center will bring organizations together under one roof to build a stronger, more connected Anne Arundel County.”
Created in 2023 with support from Anne Arundel County and federal earmarks, the Nonprofit Center has introduced a range of initiatives to strengthen local nonprofits in their efforts to improve the health and wellness of county residents. The Center has hosted workshops on fundraising, sustainability, strategic planning, and grant writing; launched an online tool to connect residents with local organizations; organized a full-day nonprofit conference; and partnered with Anne Arundel County Public Libraries to expand access to GuideStar’s Candid database.
“Everyday nonprofits in Anne Arundel County are doing the hard work of caring for our neighbors,” said Jennifer Purcell, Executive Director of the Nonprofit Center. “By bringing organizations together and providing the tools they need to grow and collaborate, we’re helping build a stronger support system for the residents of Anne Arundel County.”
Today’s ceremony featured remarks from elected officials and partner organizations, as well as a tour of the facility and introductions to the first resident nonprofits moving into the space.
The Center is also part of a broader county effort to reimagine Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park as a vibrant, inclusive public space. Future plans for the site include housing, expanded mental health services, trails, and historic preservation initiatives. For more information on Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park and to view the Master Plan visit aacounty.org/CrownsvillePark.