MPA's economic and environmental achievements are dependent on strong relationships with local residents, elected officials, and non-governmental organizations. MPA encourages community members to provide options and ideas whenever a new project is proposed and welcomes their continued input during development and operation. An MPA team of professionals is always available to provide support and/or address issues raised by the community

MPA also works to increase public understanding of Port operations, maritime commerce, and the vitality of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

• All Port dredging projects have advisory and oversight committees associated with them that include representatives from the local community. For a list of project-related committees, members, and meeting information, visit the Dredged Material Management Program.
• The MPA partners with the Baltimore Port Alliance, a coalition of public and private maritime businesses, to offer educational tours of several facilities for classroom groups only. These tours focus on both economic and environmental aspects of the Port of Baltimore and related to a variety of subjects, including social studies, history, environmental science, geography, and economics of the dredged material placement sites at Hart-Miller Island and Poplar Island are offered to community associations, civic organizations and school groups. Hart-Miller Island tours provide an opportunity to learn about dredged material containment operations, habitat restoration, environmental monitoring, and recreation. Students who visit Poplar Island learn about water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, erosion/deposition, ecosystems, terrapin biology, and species diversity.
• Masonville Cove, the Port's newest dredged material placement site, has led to the new Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center. Environmental clean up of the upland area at the cove is now underway. One complete, there will be public access to the waterfront includes a kayak and canoe pier, an urban migratory bird sanctuary, and hiking trails. The education center is a showcase of green building techniques, including a solar hot water panel, two large photovoltaic panels for generating electricity, and a geothermal heating system. The center is equipped with classrooms and laboratories for environmental education classes, along with public meeting space. Students from across the state will visit Masonville Cove to participate in a variety of hands-on environmental programs run by the Brooklyn-Curtis Bay Coalition, Living Classrooms Foundation, and National Aquarium in Baltimore.
• The MPA partners with the Baltimore Port Alliance, a coalition of public and private maritime businesses, to offer educational tours of several facilities for classroom groups only. These tours focus on both economic and environmental aspects of the Port of Baltimore and related to a variety of subjects, including social studies, history, environmental science, geography and economics. click here for more info
• MPA is a partner in the Head-start Terrapin Program, which teaches students about the lifecycles and habitats of the diamondback terrapin through hands-on investigations. Students raise terrapin hatchlings for eight months at their schools. The turtles are used in many areas of study including math, music, English, and science. The students then release the terrapins in the spring on Poplar Island. A separate Visiting Terrapin Program brings turtles to the classroom for a hands-on learning. The turtles are brought back to the school during the year so students can track growth and other changes over an eight-month period. To learn more about this program contact mpasafepassage@marylandports.com
• Portfest is public event that provides visitors with opportunities to learn about the Bay's natural resources and the thriving commerce at the Port of Baltimore. The event also provides a forum for many environmental agencies and groups to interact with the public.