At five million square feet, the Westport Waterfront will rival Harbor East as one of Baltimore's largest developments.

Alex DeMetrick reports a crucial part of that project is literally in the hands of children.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore provided rubber boots and gloves to students from the Westport Academy who were there to provide the muscle.

Nature provided the mud, which is just what smooth cord marsh grass needs.

A lot is changing along the Middle Branch of the Patapsco, Two thousand homes, businesses and a 500-room hotel are going in at a project called Westport Waterfront.

Running the length of the shoreline is a wetland.

"A wetland right at the edge of the site to try to absorb runoff as it comes off the site, and clean up that water before it goes into Baltimore's harbor," said Dr. David Nemerson, conservation biologist.

It's a wetland kids are helping to plant at low tide, with grass grown in classrooms.

The project gives nature room to grow and students some hands-on learning, even if it's muddy.

Besides a soft edge made up of marshes, the Westport Waterfront will also plant more than 70,000 trees and shrubs.