Severna Park Emerges As State Finalist In Nicest Places Contest

SEVERNA PARK, MD — Severna Park residents already know what the publication Reader's Digest is declaring in a contest -- they really are genuinely nice. The Whitehurst community in Severna Park is Maryland's finalist in the Reader's Digest Nicest Places in America contest.

Jeremy Greenfield, senior editor for Reader’s Digest, told WBAL that the community was chosen because it is hard to buy a house in the neighborhood. That's because houses in Severna Park are handed down from generation to generation, fostering tight-knit relationships between families that last a lifetime and where neighbors become more like family.

According to WBAL, Betz Wild is an example of what makes the community nice. Wild and her family moved to Whitehurst from Ohio in 1979. Years later she bought her parents’ house and raised three children in the community, including her son Taylor who dedicated himself to protecting his country by becoming a Marine.

Eventually Taylor was deployed to Afghanistan. But in 2013, he was killed in a mortar explosion. After his tragic death, the community showed their support for Wild by lining the streets around her home with American flags.

There are 50 finalists in the Reader’s Digest Nicest Place in America competition. Voting will be held until July 21 on the Reader’s Digest website to select a national winner and anyone can vote in the contest.