Nearly five months after the death of West Baltimore resident Freddie Gray triggered riots and looting around the city, Baltimoreans gathered to mark a sign of rebuilding.

Public officials and community leaders cut the ribbon today for the Sally and Butch Michel Center for Parks & People, the first permanent headquarters for a non-profit that works to revitalize communities through environmental education programs, green jobs training and other activities that protect and sustain natural environments.

The two-story building is the centerpiece of a $13 million park restoration project in the Greater Mondawmin area, close to where rioting broke out last April following the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody.

“A few months ago, this was the epicenter of unrest. Now it’s the epicenter of opportunity,” said Lisa Schroeder, president and CEO of the Parks & People Foundation.

“We are all aware of the events of last spring,” said Parks & People chairman Anthony Rodgers. “This is a chance for us to reach out to West Baltimore and make a change.”

“This was a dead zone” in the city, added Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. “I knew that if we got this right, we would be able to see ripple effects throughout the area.”

The nine-acre property at 2100 Liberty Heights Avenue, across from Druid Hill Park, was abandoned and derelict for years before Parks & People approached the city about reusing it.

Besides the new headquarters, designed by Ziger Snead Architects and named for longtime supporters of the foundation, the revitalized campus includes two historic structures, a former park superintendent’s residence and a carriage house.

Today’s ribbon cutting is part of a two day event that includes a sold-out “Picnic in the Park” fundraiser tonight and a free family festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow

More information is available at www.parksandpeople.org.