Baltimore County officials recently broke ground at Rockdale Park in Windsor Mill for the first phase of a project to expand recreation options, improve accessibility and address drainage issues.
Situated off North Rolling Road between Windsor Mill and Liberty roads, the 21-acre park offers acres of green space and trees and features a play area, sports courts, and a therapeutic community garden. But improvements are needed to elevate the grounds.
The March 6 groundbreaking ceremony included County Executive Katherine Klausmeier, other county officials, and council members, and marked the start of work to be done at park. It was a welcome sight for community members like Christopher and Cora Brown and represented a culmination of meetings and commitments to improve the area.
“We’re glad to see some attention being focused in the area,” said Cora Brown, who lives in the Orchard Glen neighborhood with her husband Christopher. The Browns stop by the park to tend to their plot of vegetables in the community garden, take their grandkids to the playground, and occasionally rent the pavilion for family get togethers.
Prior to staking shovels in the ground, county officials delivered remarks to the small gathering that turned out. “Rockdale Park is a resource in the Milford Mill community and those in western Baltimore County,” said Klausmeier.“These improvements will strengthen connections between neighbors and make this park more accessible for everyone.”
Acting Director of Recreation and Parks Bryan Sheppard said, “Parks are community hubs and an essential part of what makes Baltimore County a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Over the next year, you’ll see a transformation that will bring some of the most-requested amenities in Baltimore County to Rockdale Park.”
Council members Julian Jones, in whose district the park lies, Izzy Patoka and Pat Young also praised the county’s efforts and community support.
The first phase will include three accessible pickleball courts and an accessible basketball court, improved drainage to mitigate water that puddles in the community garden, and a variety of trees, shrubs and plantings. Leveraging work being done to construct sidewalks on the busy Rolling Road, the park project will also incorporate an accessible walkway connecting the park’s amenities to neighboring communities, along with new benches, walkways, bike racks, a drinking fountain, and receptacles for trash and recycling.
Existing park features, including the pavilion, playground, and community garden, will be preserved, and the current ball field will be replaced with new basketball and pickleball courts.
They lament how outsiders misuse the park for “nefarious activities,” and are hopeful the upgrades will deter them.
The need for alleviate ponding in the popular community garden is what initiated plans to revitalize Rockdale Park, said Michelle Washington, a community supervisor who works with communities in the Liberty Road area. The recreation and parks department first gathered community input on the project over a year ago, Washington said. The volunteer-based Liberty Road Recreation Council oversees the garden and is managing a waiting list of residents looking to be allocated one of the plots that are always in demand.
Michelle Watts, a 35-year resident of Randallstown who owns property in Rockdale, said the improvements will greatly benefit gardeners. Watts plants collard greens and multiple varieties of tomatoes, peppers and lettuce greens in her garden plot, and looks forward to the county’s efforts to alleviate the ponding that can damage the crops.
The Browns are hopeful that the upgrades will discourage misuse of the park. Christopher Brown said he would like to see a dusk-to-dawn gate to deter trespassers who sometimes use the park to engage in “nefarious activities,” and barriers to keep vehicles from parking on the grass. “What are people doing there 2 a.m. in the morning?” he asked.
County officials say the longer-term plan for Rockdale Park is to construct three additional accessible pickleball courts, a new and expanded parking area, and structures to provide shade. Also in the plans are a pedestrian crossing to the Mayfield community, an asphalt path and wood chip trails, and a new park entrance sign, fencing and gates, and improvements to the entry drive.
“We’re pleased that our voices have been heard and they’ve recognized our concerns,” Cora Brown said.
The $3 million first phase is funded through a grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure program.
Recreation and Parks is seeking community input. Residents can complete a survey at baltcorec.info/survey to share ideas and provide feedback on county parks and recreation programs. Construction is expected to be complete in 2027.
The first phase will include assessible pickleball courts and a basketball court, improved drainage for the community garden, and a variety of plantings. (Rendering: Baltimore County)