County Executive James T. Smith Jr.
400 Washington Avenue
Old Courthouse Mezzanine
Towson, Maryland 21204
410-887-2450
E-mail Address: jimsmith@baltimorecountymd.gov
Dear Friends of Baltimore County,
As we begin the summer of 2007, I want to encourage everyone to take advantage of the many recreational opportunities available right here in Baltimore County.
The Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks offers an extremely diverse array of outdoor activities for people of all ages to enjoy. From fishing and boating at the Loch Raven Fishing Center or along our 175 miles of pristine waterfront along the Chesapeake Bay, to a fun-filled day at the beach or a family picnic at the Rocky Point Beach and Park to organizing a game of basketball or baseball at any of our six regional parks, everyone, young and old, is sure to find something of interest at our wonderful parks. A list of our County park facilities and the activities that are available at each of them is available on the Baltimore County web site.
You will also find many acres of open spaces and even small neighborhood parks across the County that preserve the beauty of our natural environment. We are able to enjoy these great open spaces and parks because generations of Baltimore County residents understood the importance of our environment to our quality of life, and they acted to preserve the natural world around us. These open spaces are all across the County in places as diverse as our regional parks to pocket parks in the middle of some of our oldest communities.
For a more urban experience, remember that Baltimore County is also home to twelve historic neighborhood downtowns. These commercial centers, and their local businesses that have been a part of our communities for years are Baltimore County’s hometowns.
As the County has grown, our neighborhood downtowns have changed a little, but they still have that small-town feel, and every one of them, from Catonsville to Essex to our County seat, Towson, offers experiences that you won’t find anywhere else. I urge you to explore them this summer. You will find unique shopping opportunities at small, locally owned businesses and a wide variety of eating establishments, ranging from snowball stands to fine dining.
While you’re shopping for food, don’t forget to check out the farmer’s markets located in neighborhoods throughout the County. Every week throughout the summer months, farmer’s markets sell healthy, fresh, local produce in the friendly outdoor settings of historic neighborhoods all across Baltimore County. A list of the farmer’s markets in Baltimore County this summer is available at the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s web site.
Enterntainment in music and the arts is also readily available in Baltimore County. Our local colleges offer a wide range of summer arts performances, from a tribute to Elvis at Towson University to modern dance performances at UMBC to the Cockpit in the Court Summer Theatre at Essex Community College.
You can find full schedules of performing arts events on college web sites. In Catonsville, you’ll find the Lurman Theatre, a beautiful outdoor venue located on the grounds of Catonsville High School Recreation Center. The site's amphitheater, which is surrounded and shaded by old growth trees, hosts a series of free outdoor concerts from June through August.
Baltimore County has a rich history, and summer is a great time to visit some of our historic sites. In Oella, the Benjamin Banneker Historical Site and Park offers an important look back into the life and times of one of Baltimore County’s most famous citizens. Cromwell Valley Park in Parkville is home to a rich past.
It currently has a marked trail system and three historical programs which guide visitors through varied habitats and past historic structures, which include lime kilns, a log cabin, and two slave cemeteries. A list of Baltimore County’s historical sites is available on the Baltimore County web site.
Finally, one of my personal favorite summer activities is catching up on my reading. Head to your local library and borrow that classic that you’ve always meant to read, find an old favorite to re-read, or reserve the latest best seller in time for your vacation.
There’s a new Harry Potter book coming out this summer, so don’t forget to sign the kids up for the Sneaks summer reading program, and while you’re at it, sign up yourself—adults are now eligible for this longtime summer library favorite. A list of locations for Baltimore County’s public library branches is available on the Baltimore County Public Library’s web site.
Summer in Baltimore County is just waiting for you to take advantage of it. As the weather gets warmer, I hope to see you this summer taking part in all that Baltimore County has to offer.
James T. Smith, Jr.
Baltimore County Executive
Revised June 6, 2007
Courthouse 