Articles | Baltimore City Parks

Park Profile July 7, 2020

Druid Hill Park

– One of Baltimore City’s signature parks, Druid Hill Park has something for everybody. The park is 745 acres, a popular spot for large events…

Park Profile July 7, 2020

Patterson Park

– Patterson Park is an absolutely beautiful 133 acre park located in southeast Baltimore. It is the oldest and one of the most historic parks…

Park Profile July 6, 2020

Evesham Park

– Evesham Park is actually two odd little parks that are connected by a pedestrian bridge that spans Northern Parkway at the intersection with Clearspring…

Articles, Benefits of Parks, Funding Parks June 9, 2020

Funding the Recreation and Parks Department

– The Baltimore City Council is meeting this week to discuss its fiscal year 2021 budget. Considering the important role our parks and recreation centers…

Articles, Funding Parks June 8, 2020

Program Open Space provides substantial support to Baltimore City’s park system

– Although Baltimore City’s Recreation and Parks Department is underfunded to a large degree, the State of Maryland has stepped in to help through Program…

Articles June 8, 2020

Access to Baltimore City parks

– There is good news news when it comes to the accessibility of Baltimore City parks. The Trust for Public Land reports that eighty-five percent…

Articles, Benefits of Parks June 8, 2020

More trees = less crime?

– Ever get a request to volunteer to plant trees at your favorite park? Personally, I receive at least a half dozen of these requests…

Special Series on Financing Patterson Park January 14, 2019

Executive Summary – Creating a Special Benefits District For Patterson Park

The idea to create a special benefits district for Patterson Park appeared shortly after publication of Patterson Park’s 2016 Master Plan. The Master Plan made…

Special Series on Financing Patterson Park January 13, 2019

No. 17 – What would a special benefits district at Patterson Park look like?

There are a number of management models to choose from when setting up a special benefits district. Fortunately, Baltimore already has several special benefits districts…

Special Series on Financing Patterson Park September 23, 2018

No. 16 – Expanding the concept of special benefits districts for parks city-wide

While our special series of articles focused on Patterson Park, there is little reason that the concept of special benefits districts could not help…

Special Series on Financing Patterson Park September 22, 2018

No. 15- Proving the concept before creating a special benefits district at Patterson Park

Although the evidence suggests the public will support the creation of a special benefits district at Patterson Park, creating such a district should proceed…

Special Series on Financing Patterson Park September 22, 2018

No. 14 – Data indicates that creation of a special benefits district at Patterson Park would be supported

There is substantial evidence that creating a special benefits district to pay for parks will be supported. For instance, the Trust for Public Land’s LandVote…

Special Series on Financing Patterson Park September 22, 2018

No. 13 – Proposed boundaries of a special benefits district for Patterson Park

It is difficult to create a geographic boundary line that captures those that benefit park users and those that have increased property values due to…

Special Series on Financing Patterson Park September 22, 2018

No. 12 – Special benefits districts are not just for businesses

Baltimore does not utilize special benefits taxing districts specifically for parks, but has successfully created special benefits districts for businesses.[1] For instance, the Downtown Partnership and Waterfront Partnership manage two special business districts in Baltimore’s…

Special Series on Financing Patterson Park September 22, 2018

No. 11 – Advantages of creating a special benefits district for Patterson Park

As those who live near Patterson Park benefit from any improvements at Patterson Park, funding of improvements should be aimed at those individuals. Creation of…

Special Series on Financing Patterson Park September 22, 2018

No. 10 – Increased value of property near parks in Baltimore

A study of Baltimore parks by Troy and Grove in 2008 confirms that those that own property in proximity to Patterson Park had higher…