MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

PARKS & RECREATION

MUNICIPAL PARKS

[photo, Seated Lion statue replica, by Antoine-Louis Barye, Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, Maryland] Seated Lion statue (replica), by Antoine-Louis Barye (1796-1875), Mount Vernon Place Park, Baltimore, Maryland, August 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.


Gift of William Walters to City of Baltimore, 1885, along with Barye's original sculptures representing War, Peace, Force, and Order, also in Mount Vernon Place Park, Baltimore.

ALLEGANY COUNTY
The municipal parks of Allegany County offer a number of ball fields, pavilions, and playgrounds. Cumberland also maintains a public swimming pool at Constitution Park.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
Home to a number of aquatic diversions, such as fishing, swimming, and boat launches, Annapolis even offers an educational alternative with Back Creek Nature Park.

[photo, Union Square Park (from Hollins St.), Baltimore, Maryland] BALTIMORE CITY
With approximately six thousand acres of parkland, the City of Baltimore operates a large number of parks.


Union Square Park (from Hollins St.), Baltimore, Maryland, December 2005. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St., Baltimore, Maryland] City parks provide diverse recreational options: walking and bike trails, fishing, sports fields and courts, golf courses, picnic areas, two ice rinks, campgrounds, historic and natural areas, and swimming pools.

The Skatepark of Baltimore is located in Roosevelt Park in Hampden. The free public park includes an 11,000 square-foot concrete plaza containing rails, ramps, and stairs, as well as a 5,000 square-foot concrete bowl. The Skatepark is open to skaters of all experience levels.


Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St., Baltimore, Maryland, July 2016. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

[photo, Pagoda, Hampstead Hill, Patterson Park, Baltimore, Maryland] [photo, Walker with seven dogs, Patterson Park, Baltimore, Maryland] Started in 1827 from William Patterson's gift of land, Patterson Park is Baltimore's oldest City park. Now holding 137 acres, the Park lies in southeast Baltimore.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Druid Hill Park holds the Maryland Zoo, the Howard P. Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens, and Druid Hill Lake.

Pagoda (left), Hampstead Hill, Patterson Park, Baltimore, Maryland, September 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Walker with seven dogs (right), Patterson Park, Baltimore, Maryland, March 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

CAROLINE COUNTY
Through a number of small parks, Caroline County’s municipalities provide sport courts and fields, playgrounds, boat ramps, fishing, and picnic areas. Marshyhope Greenway Park also maintains bike and hiking paths in Federalsburg.

[photo, Prospect Park, Mount Airy, Maryland] CARROLL COUNTY
The municipalities of Carroll County maintain a number of parks throughout the County. Westminster has fourteen parks. They offer walking trails and paths, swimming, and skate and skateboard facilities.

Prospect Park, Mount Airy (Carroll County), Maryland, April 2007. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

CECIL COUNTY
Cecil County municipal parks provide sport fields and courts, picnic and playground areas, fishing, and hiking and walking trails.

CHARLES COUNTY
Overseen by a Parks and Recreation Commission in Indian Head and La Plata, Charles County municipal parks offer such amenities as sport fields and courts, hiking trails, fishing, and boating.

FREDERICK COUNTY

[photo, Carillon, Baker Park, Frederick, Maryland] Municipalities in Frederick County include a number of sport fields and courts, playgrounds, picnic areas, fitness trails, and gardens. A skateboard park also is available in Brunswick (entrance fee required, rental equipment available).
  • Frederick Parks & Recreation Dept.


    • Carillon, Baker Park, Frederick, Maryland, August 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Middletown Memorial Park, Middletown, Maryland]


    Middletown Memorial Park, South Church St. (Rte. 17) & Franklin St., Middletown (Frederick County), Maryland, September 2007. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    GARRETT COUNTY
    The municipal parks of Garrett County provide sport facilities, hiking, bike and walk paths, playgrounds, picnic areas, boat ramps, and fishing.

    KENT COUNTY
    Kent County municipal parks offer a number of areas for swimming and picnics. They also provide sport fields and courts, hiking, walk paths, and playgrounds.

    MONTGOMERY COUNTY
    Park facilities operated by Montgomery County municipalities have hiking, bike and walk paths, playgrounds, picnic areas, as well as swimming pools and lakes. Collier Circle Park in Poolesville also offers an area for fishing. A unique site maintained by the Gaithersburg Parks, Recreation, & Culture Dept., is the International Latitude Observatory, which includes the restored observatory which first operated in 1899.

    PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
    Municipalities located in Prince George’s County maintain a number of sites with sport fields and courts, picnic areas, playgrounds, walking and bike paths, swimming pools, and skate parks for skateboards.

    TALBOT COUNTY
    Offering sport fields and courts, picnic areas, and playgrounds, Talbot municipalities also maintain a number of walking and biking paths. The Easton Parks and Recreation Department also assists with the upkeep of the Warner Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Talbot County Historical Society grounds which include historic structures and gardens.

    [photo, City Park, Salisbury, Maryland] WICOMICO COUNTY
    Wicomico’s municipal parks offer sport facilities, playgrounds, walking paths, fishing, and picnic areas. The Salisbury Field Operations Department also maintains the Salisbury City Park, the Port of Salisbury Marina, and the Salisbury Zoological Park.

    City Park, Salisbury, Maryland, August 2000. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

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