County Parks and Facilities
The Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks manages more than 6,900 acres of land within more than 200 parks and leased recreation sites throughout the county, and also conducts programs at more than 160 school-recreation centers. These parks and recreation sites offer a diversity of recreation and leisure time amenities and activities for all ages and interests. Whether you seek athletic fields and ball diamonds, fishing or boating facilities, swimming beaches, nature centers, farms, playgrounds, historic sites or picnic areas, Baltimore County has a park for you, your friends and family.
Some Of Our Better Known Parks & Amenities
- Banneker Museum and Park | Cromwell Valley Park | Oregon Ridge Park | Marshy Point Nature Center | Robert E. Lee Park | Rocky Point Park
- Regional Parks
- Group Picnic Areas
- Playgrounds
Our Parks Feature Some Unique Facilities
- Waterfront Parks | Beaches | Dog Parks | Historic Sites | Skate Parks
- Baltimore County Center For Maryland Agriculture and Farm Park
- Loch Raven Fishing Center
- Lurman Woodland Theatre
- Holt Center For The Arts
- Helping To Protect The Environment
List of County Parks
View a list of county parks, their addresses (with MapQuest links), contact information and various amenities.
Oregon Ridge Park
At over 1,100 acres in size, Oregon Ridge Park is the largest park site owned and operated by the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks. This dynamic park offers a wide range of recreational opportunities, swimming in a spring fed quarry, to nature study, to special events including outdoor concerts. A variety of natural areas and recreational improvements are available, including a conference center/lodge, concert shell and area, dinner theater, picnic pavilions, playground, nature center, swimming, interpretive areas and hiking trails. Two recreational entities operate within the park, as follows:
- Oregon Ridge Conference Center and Beach
The Oregon Ridge Conference Center and Beach are operated by the Department of Recreation and Parks' Enterprise Section; thus there are use or admissions charges for many events and for the reservation of park facilities. The rustic park lodge serves as a conference center, with rooms which may be rented for meetings, parties, wedding receptions or other special functions. The park office is also situated within the lodge. Designated picnic pavilions and areas may be reserved (fee) for family or company picnics or other outings. The beach, which operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day, offers swimming in a spring fed quarry and a bath house. Numerous special events and concerts are held within the park, including festivals, walk-a-thons and runs, annual "Preakness Celebration" events, and a Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concert series with fireworks. All of the facilities and events, coupled with the beautiful setting, make Oregon Ridge Conference Center and Beach a popular Baltimore County attraction. - Oregon Ridge Nature Center
The Oregon Ridge Nature Center was created to promote a better appreciation for the environment by offering recreational and educational programs to the public. The Nature Center is run by full-time Naturalists and volunteers who team up to provide such activities as moonlight hikes, bird watching, bee keeping demonstrations, and maple syrup making, to name a few. Special events, including lectures on environmental issues, are offered throughout the year. The Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, call 410-887-1815 or e-mail ornaturecenter-rp@baltimorecountymd.gov.
Baltimore County Center for Maryland Agriculture and Farm Park
Baltimore County has developed an agricultural resource center and farm park on a 149-acre property located at 1114 Shawan Road, on the corner of Shawan and Cuba Roads.
The Center consolidates many of the support services for the agricultural community, promotes the future sustainability of the agricultural industry, serves as an educational resource center and field destination for school children and adults, and will provide open space benefits of walking and equestrian trail riding. The Center is designed to look and feel like a farm from the architectural design of the buildings to the presence of field and livestock operations.
Marshy Point Nature Center
Marshy Point Nature Center, located on Dundee and Saltpeter Creeks in eastern Baltimore County, is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna within the confines of the 490+ acre site. Boasting both wetland and forest areas, Marshy Point supports a vast array of wildlife and is in particular a bird watchers paradise. The Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, call 410-887-2817, or e-mail marshypt-rp@baltimorecountymd.gov.
Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum
Encompassing 138 acres and containing extensive nature trails, the primary focus of this park is the museum highlighting the contributions of Benjamin Banneker - the first African American man of science. This site includes a Visitors Center, featuring a collection of Banneker's works, community gallery, gift shop and patio garden. For information phone 410-887-1081 or e-mail bannekermuseum@baltimorecountymd.gov.
Cromwell Valley Park
Cromwell Valley Park is located less than three miles from the heart of Towson in northeast Baltimore County. This pastoral valley combines three working farms to preserve a mixture of woodlands, pastures, cultivated fields, meadows, historic structures, springs and streams. The park is designed for families and school groups to learn about productive, sustainable agriculture as well as nature programming throughout the year. Call the park office for more information at 410-887-2503.
Robert E. Lee Park
Robert E. Lee Park is a 415 acre park that surrounds Lake Roland. The park is a multi-faceted facility with multiple trails, nature and environmental programs, a dog park, pavilion and waterfront activities such as canoeing and kayaking for all to enjoy. It also offers the opportunity for users to enjoy the rare plant life that exists only in the serpentine barrens.
Towson Courthouse Garden
The Courthouse has been in existence for almost 150 years, but the “new” courthouse garden wasn't established until 1988. Previously, the courthouse garden consisted of an expansive flat lawn, a few trees, some shrubbery, which was trimmed up like large half spheres at the corners of the building and a nice wrought iron fence to neatly contain everything. Find out how the garden has changed.
Waterfront Parks
The Department is committed to providing the citizens of Baltimore County with ample opportunity to experience the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The County's waterfront parks , which protect well over ten miles of the County's shoreline, provide recreational amenities, including: boat ramps, fishing piers, walking paths and trails, picnic facilities, playgrounds, ballfields, sand volleyball courts, bathing beaches and horseshoe pits.
Beaches
On those hot steamy Maryland summer days you don't need to drive all the way to the ocean. Head to the cool waters of Rocky Point Park, Miami Beach or Oregon Ridge Beach. Admission is affordable and they're just minutes away.
Rocky Point Beach and Park
2200 Rocky Point Road (21221)
Map This Location.
Since 1969, the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks has owned and operated this 375-acre waterfront park. Located at the mouth of Back and Middle Rivers, Rocky Point Park boasts expansive views of the Chesapeake Bay, Hart-Miller Island, and Craighill Light.
The park features a 300' beach, a 20' x 30' beach front tent, a large and small pavilion, seven shaded picnic groves, fishing pier, two boat ramps, and a bathhouse with first aid station. The Baltimore County Sailing Center is also located at Rocky Point, and lessons are offered for individuals or groups.
Miami Beach Park
4001 Bay Drive (21220)
Map This Location
Nestled on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, Miami Beach Park features a 300' sandy beach, swimming, a pavilion, playground and nature trail. Swimming is allowed off the guarded beach Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the "Beach" season, the park is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Monday and closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Note that during the early and late beach season on those Fridays and Mondays when Baltimore County Schools are in session, the beach will be closed for swimming.
13555 Beaver Dam Road (21030)
Map This Location
Located in the scenic thousand-acre Oregon Ridge park, the beach area borders a spring-fed lake, and offers both shallow and deep water for swimming. Amenities at this beach include a concession stand, bathhouse, pavilion, sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits and a playground area. There is also a room available to rent for small group gatherings. Note that during the early and late beach season on those days when Baltimore County Schools are in session, the beach will be closed for swimming.
Loch Raven Fishing Center
The Loch Raven Fishing Center is operated by Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks in cooperation with the Baltimore City Bureau of Water Supply. This user-financed facility offers fishing, daily boat rentals and seasonal launch and docking permits. The Center's season runs from April through October, with the gates opening at 6 a.m. daily. Gasoline powered boats are prohibited.
Regional Parks and Recreation Centers
Among Baltimore County's newest recreation sites, are regional parks and facilities that have been constructed to help meet the booming recreational needs of the growing county population. These sites offer special large-scale facilities, with each intended to serve numerous neighborhoods and communities. The regional parks and facilities help the volunteer recreation and parks councils to serve their programs, and provide a wealth of recreational opportunities for Baltimore County citizens.
Southeast Regional Recreation Center | Eastern Regional Park | Northeast Regional Recreation Center | Honeygo Regional Park
Meadowood Regional Park | Northwest Regional Park | Randallstown Community Center | Reisterstown Regional Park
Skate Parks
The Department of Recreation and Parks is happy to announce the construction of four skate park "street course" facilities that will help meet growing demand for skateboarding and roller blading. The street course facilities, which have been spread geographically around the county, each feature a variety of ramps, jumps, and grinding rails, enclosed within a fenced court. The skate parks are supervised by Department of Recreation and Parks staff and have regular hours of operation that vary by season.
Lurman Woodland Theatre
One of the area's best-kept secrets, the beautiful Lurman Woodland Theatre is located at Bloomsbury Avenue and Hilltop Road in Catonsville, on the grounds of Catonsville High School Recreation Center. The site's amphitheater, which is surrounded and shaded by old growth trees, annually hosts a series of free outdoor concerts from June through August. This family-friendly park is handicap accessible and provides limited bench seating. Guests are welcome to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets to the concerts, or may opt to purchase snacks and refreshments from a small concession stand. A calendar of concerts will be available through the theatre's toll-free concert hotline at 1-877-278-0961.
The Lillian Holt Park and Center for the Arts
The Lillian Holt Park and Center for the Arts is located in the northeast region of the county in the Overlea-Fullerton community. The center offers a variety of art classes, music, poetry, holiday festivals and exhibits of contemporary visual arts in the art gallery. At Holt Park there are 13 acres of wooded trails, an arboretum, gardens, greenhouse, outdoor amphitheater with gazebo, lily pond and a labyrinth with a meditation garden path. For further information call 410-887-5307.
Historic Sites
Baltimore County boasts many parks that remind us of its rich history and the role it and its citizens have played in the formation of our nation.
Several of these include; Banneker Historical Park and Museum, Fort Howard Park, Battle Acre Park, Fort Garrison Park, Ballestone/Stansbury House, Perry Hall Mansion, Oregon Ridge Park, Cromwell Valley Park, and the Holt Park and Holt Center for the Arts.
Group Picnic Areas
Baltimore County is indeed quite fortunate to have thousands of acres of parkland and miles of beautiful shoreline on the Chesapeake Bay. Parks are the perfect location for your next family, company, church or other group picnic. Many of Baltimore County's parks feature picnic areas that may be reserved for your event.
Playgrounds
The Department of Recreation and Parks operates over 160 playgrounds countywide. During the past decade increasing attention has been given to playground safety and accessibility. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) have developed increasingly higher standards that enhance the safety of public playgrounds. In combination with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), new public playgrounds have become accessible to a far greater portion of the population. In response to these new standards, the Department initiated a comprehensive playground replacement program. A major component of this process is the solicitation of community input to ensure the selection of equipment which best serves neighborhood need. As of Spring, 2002 nearly 130 playgrounds have been replaced or constructed throughout Baltimore County at a cost of over four million dollars.
Visit our list of parks to see which park sites have playgrounds areas.
Baltimore County's Dog Parks
Baltimore County now has two dog parks. Paw Point at Robert E. Lee Park and B.A.R.C. Park at Hannah More Park. Registration is required to use either park and all dogs must be properly licensed. Remember, when your dog is not within the fenced in area of the the dog park, it must be leashed.
Paw Point at Robert E. Lee Park
The recently renovated Robert E. Lee Park features a 1.5 acre dog park, Paw Point. A highlight of Paw Point is the lake access area for dogs who enjoy swimming. Registration is required to use the park. Registration information is available on the Robert E. Lee Park Nature Council's website at http://relpnc.org/PawPoint .
B.A.R.C. Park at Hannah More Park
The Baltimore Animal Recreation Center (B.A.R.C.) Park at Hannah More Park features two areas for dogs to roam and socialize with other dogs without a leash. The larger area is 1.5 acres and the smaller area is .75 acres. Each areas also features a dog water fountain. Registration forms and material can be found at www.reisterstownrec.com/dog.htm .
Helping to Protect the Natural Environment
Did you know that Baltimore County ranks in the top ten of all jurisdictions in America for preserving farmland, and leads the state in overall land preservation? Part of the beauty of Baltimore County's parks system is the preservation of valuable natural spaces and environmentally sensitive areas. Many of the County's parks preserve vulnerable stream buffers and woodlands and/or feature tree-planting and forestation projects. Numerous parks offer nature trails that allow park visitors to experience and enjoy the natural environment first-hand. The natural and preserved areas within the parks help to support Baltimore County's important environmental initiatives. More than 2/3 of Baltimore County's land remains rural, and preservation of the rural character of our land - the farms, woods, and waterways- remains one of the cornerstones of planned growth and development.
More information on the County's land preservation and growth management programs and policies is available in Baltimore County Master Plan 2010 (PDF). Baltimore County ranks in the top ten of all jurisdictions in America for preserving farmland, and leads the state in overall land preservation (PDF).
Revised January 18, 2012
