(WOODLAWN, MD – July 8, 2026) — Every summer, the 1 Baltimore Cookout brings together generations of Baltimoreans to celebrate community, reconnect with old friends, and preserve one of the city’s richest athletic traditions.
This year’s gathering will take place Saturday, July 25, from noon to 7 p.m. at Woodlawn Recreation and Parks, 1928 Woodlawn Drive in Woodlawn, Maryland.
Founded in 2003 by Jimmy Conyers, 1 Baltimore hosted its first cookout in 2008. Since then, the annual event has evolved into much more than a reunion. It has become a homecoming for former athletes, coaches, community leaders, families, and friends whose lives have been shaped by Baltimore sports.
For longtime member Timmy Greene, one of the organization’s most important responsibilities is ensuring that Baltimore’s basketball history is never lost.
“The younger guys know the coaches,” Greene said. “Coach came along around 1979 or 1980. But they don’t know what happened from the 1950s through the late ’70s. They don’t know that history.”
That concern has inspired a broader vision for 1 Baltimore.
Greene hopes this year’s cookout will spark a new generation of volunteers dedicated to documenting and preserving Baltimore’s athletic and community history long after the grills have cooled.
“We’re going to recruit some people,” he said. “Then maybe we have a meeting after the event for people who want to be part of the ongoing work of 1 Baltimore.”
His goal is straightforward: preserve the stories, relationships, accomplishments, and lessons of earlier generations so they can inspire those who come after them.
That mission became even more meaningful following the recent passing of beloved Baltimore basketball icon JoJo Parker.
After inviting Parker to the cookout for nearly two decades, Greene was thrilled when his longtime friend finally attended last year.
“He finally got his flowers,” Greene said. “He saw how much people loved him.”
Following Parker’s passing, Greene visited his home and discovered what he described as a remarkable tribute to Baltimore basketball.
“It was a virtual basketball museum,” Greene recalled. “Pictures, plaques, artwork, sneakers, trophies—every floor had something. Every room had history.”
Among the many keepsakes was a photograph commemorating BMORENews Publisher Doni Glover’s successful effort to secure a headstone for the late Baltimore basketball standout Tony Brown—a reminder of how deeply Parker cherished the people, relationships, and stories that helped shape Baltimore’s basketball legacy.
For Greene, preserving those stories is exactly why 1 Baltimore exists.
As the organization prepares for another successful cookout, Greene hopes attendees leave with more than a full plate.
He hopes they leave with a renewed appreciation for the men and women who built Baltimore’s basketball culture—and with a commitment to help preserve that legacy for future generations.
The 1 Baltimore Cookout is free and open to the public and will be held Saturday, July 25, from noon to 7 p.m., at Woodlawn Recreation and Parks, 1928 Woodlawn Drive, Woodlawn, Maryland.
