Enjoying Parks and Green Spaces in Baltimore

This gorgeous spring weather is just perfect for an afternoon in the park, don’t you think? Baltimore has an abundance of wonderful parks and green spaces, both large and small, across the city. Here are a few of my personal favorites:

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Druid Hill Park: I believe Druid Hill is truly the crown jewel of Baltimore’s park system. Its 745 acres are perfect for picnics (my favorite spot is the Latrobe Pavilion), taking in views from the Moorish Tower, biking around the reservoir, playing tennis, meeting animals at the Maryland Zoo, admiring exotic flora at the Rawlings Conservatory, playing disc golf, wandering around the paths and trails (and encountering the cemetery, community garden, and random abandoned buildings), and taking a dip in the pool. I’m also a fan of Safety City, a small model city where kids learn about traffic safety—it looks like such a fun fieldtrip! Druid Hill Park has something for everyone and is certainly worth checking out, if you haven’t already.



Roosevelt Park: My neighborhood park has one of the coolest pools I’ve ever seen, although it’s only open a few weeks a year due to city budget cuts. Renovations have been taking place and the community garden, busy skate park, dog park and kids’ area are all in great shape. The rec center isn’t bad either. I feel lucky to live just a stone’s throw from this expansive, versatile park.

Patterson Park: This giant park is a wonderful asset for the East side neighborhoods surrounding it. The Pagoda is certainly unique—and offers great views from the top. The park hosts a variety of events such as film screenings in the summer, the Great Halloween Lantern Parade in the fall, and ethnic festivals throughout the spring-fall. I’ve heard it’s also a great spot for dog walking. I personally love eating doughnuts from Hoehn’s Bakery in Patterson Park.

Carroll Park: This southwest park is home to the Mount Clare Museum House and is a busy hotspot for rec sports. If you’re a fan of the abandoned-industrial scene, you’ll enjoy the view of Carroll Park from the train ride offered at the B & O Railroad Museum. 

Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park: This huge park on the western border of the city offers plenty of trails for biking and hiking. It is so densely forested that it easy to forget you’re in Baltimore City here. I also enjoy wandering around the time warp that is Dickeyville when I'm in the area.

Mount Vernon Place: Although there isn’t a ton of green space to toss a ball around, I love spending time outdoors in this historic plaza in the heart of the city. I only work about two blocks away, making this the perfect place to eat my lunch al fresco or catch a free concert after work.

Sherwood Gardens: This lovely tulip garden tucked into the affluent Guilford neighborhood makes a beautiful location for a picnic. I’ve seen many families taking photos here as well, especially on occasions like Easter. Although the famed tulips are out in the spring, I’d recommend a visit to Sherwood Gardens any time of year.

Wyman Park Dell, on the southwest end of Hopkins’ Homewood campus, is a popular dog park due to its bowl-like shape. The rest of Wyman Park is surprisingly large and forested considering it’s in between so many populated areas of town.

Round Falls: This isn’t really a park, but this part of the Jones Falls is so serene and striking. It is accessible only via foot—the hill between street and the Falls is very steep—at the Jones Falls Trail where it crosses Falls Road, by 29^th Street (see Water Feature #4 on the Baltimore Green Map). 

Federal Hill: The hill, as many know, offers spectacular views of the Inner Harbor and downtown Baltimore. It’s a great spot to take photos, picnic (specifically, eat snoballs) before or after a trip to AVAM, watch free movies on Thursday nights during the summer, and watch the Fourth of July fireworks.

I would be remiss not to mention the other historic parks such as Herring Run and Clifton Park in Northeast Baltimore, Riverside Park and Latrobe Park in South Baltimore, Cylburn Arboretum, and the countless neighborhood parks that can be found in many communities. Two parks on my to-do list for the summer are the brand-new Pierce’s Park in the Inner Harbor and Robert E. Lee Park, which I’ve only seen from the Light Rail! What are your favorite parks in Baltimore?
If you’re interested in learning more about parks and green spaces in Baltimore, check out:

• Baltimore Green Map
• Baltimore Bike Map
• Friends of Maryland’s Olmsted Parks and Landscapes (full disclosure: I do freelance work for this group)
• Parks and People Foundation
• Friends Groups for almost every park

And don't forget, this Friday, May 18th, is Bike to Work Day!


Robert E. Lee Park and Lake Roland, as viewed from the Light Rail on a snowy day