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Located just off the west side of Hampden’s Avenue shopping district, is eighteen acre Roosevelt Park. The park is well used and has some nice amenities including a very popular and large skate park, an attractive pool, a great playground, several ball fields and a recreation center. Despite the fact that the park is well used, the park has some pressing maintenance needs. In particular, the ball fields and walking surfaces are not in the best shape, the bleachers are in a state of disrepair and the lack of trashcans has led to unnecessary litter problems. Although some maintenance is needed, this park has a good location and the major amenities appear to be well maintained.

LOCATION

The northwest corner of Roosevelt Park is at the intersection of W. 36th Street and Falls Road in Hampden. This is the best location to obtain street parking as the park does not have a parking lot.

HISTORY OR ROOSEVELT PARK

Roosevelt Park was called “West Park” in the early 1900s and contained a reservoir over part of its current space. The park was re-named Roosevelt Park in 1920 to honor President Theodore Roosevelt. In the 1960s and 1970s, when the Jones Falls Expressway was built, dirt from the construction was used to fill the reservoir adding additional acres. At the time, the new acreage was proposed to be used as heliport. Opposition to that proposal forced abandoning that plan allowing for the new acreage to be used for the park.

AMENITIES

1. Skate Park

If you are a skater or BMX bike rider, Roosevelt Park is where you want to be. The skate park is 16,000 square feet and has a variety of different ramps and edges along with various elevations and drop-offs into a concrete bowl. Stadium lighting and shade structures make this park usable during hot summer days and at night. The park is very well used and is one of three skate parks in Baltimore (the only other skate parks are in Carroll Park and Rash Field at the Inner Harbor – both of which are much smaller).

The skate park would not have been created with the efforts of the non-profit Skate Park of Baltimore and its President Stephanie Murdock. I don’t know Stephanie personally, but I certainly saw her at various events pushing to have this skate park built over the years. She was always persistent and full of positive energy while she lobbied local leaders. The skate community owes Stephanie a debt of gratitude for all of her hard work.

2. Pool

On the southwest corner of Roosevelt Park is a medium-sized pool along with a smaller splash pad. This pool, unlike most Baltimore City pools, has tall trees on two sides of the pool allowing for some shade. The pool appears to be in relatively good condition, is a good size for the neighborhood and has an attractive pool house. For pool hours, check here.

3. Roosevelt Park Recreation Center – 1221 W. 36th Street, (410) 396-6050

Located on the north side of the park, the Roosevelt Park Recreation Center is housed in an attractive building. The Recreation and Parks website indicates that the center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. On Saturday the center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

I was unable to find any information on the web that provides details about programming inside the center. Instead, I only found a link to the Roosevelt Park Recreation Center website, which has not been updated since 2013. In the future, we will attempt to provide additional information.

4. Playground

The northeast corner of the park contains a gated area with a nice playground and swings along with a few benches. The playground looks to be in good shape with a rubber matting surface. Overall, Roosevelt Park’s playground is well maintained and a really nice space for children.

5. Baseball Fields

Roosevelt Park has four fields for baseball or softball. The fields are not in very good condition and the backstops and dugout areas are in various states of disrepair and could use some attention. None of the fields have lighting so use is confined to daylight hours.

6. City Farm

On the west side of the recreation center is a small urban garden/city farm plot. It appears that these plots are well used by those in the surrounding community as it appeared that the lot was fully planted in the summer of 2020. Plots can be rented to gardeners / urban farmers on an annual basis based on availability. For more information on renting a plot, see the City Farms webpage here.

7. Village Green

At the corner of Falls Road and W. 36th Street is an entrance to the park that contains a few benches and a circular lawn ringed by a circular walkway. This area appears to be meant as an inviting entrance into the park and to act as a meeting area. The circular lawn area is an ideal space for a monument.

8. Fields for athletics or events

Along the Falls Road side of the park are fields that could be used for soccer, football or events.

ROOSEVELT PARK MASTER PLAN

Roosevelt Park developed a master plan in 2004. Some of the recommendations in the master plan were implemented such as creating a skate park and renovating the “village square” area at the corner of W. 36th Street and Fall Road. Other recommendations, on other hand, have not been accomplished including improving walkways, adding signage and refurbishing the ball fields. Regardless, the recommendations made in the master plan appear to make sense and should offer a way forward if budgets allow.

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