After a six-month renovation, Baltimore County officially unveiled new amenities and enhancements at the historic Gwynn Oak Park in Woodlawn during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 17. (See photos here.)
Dozens of community members, elected officials and county staff gathered to celebrate the completion of the 96-acre park’s $3.4 million renovation. Acting Director Bryan Sheppard, County Executive Kathy Klausmeier and others provided remarks and accepted citations.
The 96-acre park’s transformation is evident soon after visitors enter the park. Near the main entrance on Gwynn Oak Avenue is a double-sided mosaic art piece, created by local artist Herb Massie. The sign replicates the original Gwynn Oak sign and pays homage to the park’s role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
A historical marker, originally installed in 2013 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the park’s desegregation, has been relocated to a more prominent location near the main entrance on Gwynn Oak Avenue.
For families, the brightly colored orange-and-purple destination playground is visible from the roadway. The area features a roller-coaster-inspired climbing element, playhouse, swings and seating.
Community members mingled after the program, took photographs, reminisced about family outings, and riding the carousel and Wild Mouse as children in the 1960s when Gwynn Oak Park operated as an amusement park.
Taking stock of the grounds, they liked what they saw.
Timera Tillery attended the ribbon cutting with five children ranging in age from 20 months to 5 years old. The Gwynn Oak resident said she frequently brings the children to the park as part of her preschool program.
“We are a preschool and we take our kids to the park often,” Tillery said as she watched two boys shoot basketballs into a portal hoop. “The kids were very excited to come see this new park. They talk about it every time we drive by. I think the changes add a lot of value to the community.”
Nearby, a family ate a traditional Filipino dish of fried fish dipped in tomatoes at a picnic table. Sisters Daisy and Bernadette, who live in Catonsville and Glen Burnie, respectively, came with their children and mother, who was visiting from the Philippines.
“I love this part of the park,” said Daisy, referring to the grassy area that faces the pond. “I love the quiet.”
More Space to Play and Gather
The renovation, which began in February and was completed in August, addresses several longstanding needs while adding new spaces for recreation and community activities.
Among the upgrades are:
- Expanded parking: The parking lot now has 99 spaces, up from 25. The limited parking previously forced some visitors to park along nearby streets and in residential areas.
- Landscaping and seating: New plantings, streetscape improvements and additional seating enhance the park’s appearance and offer more gathering areas.
- Restrooms: A new comfort area provides restroom facilities for visitors.
- Picnic pavilions: Two new pavilions provide space for family gatherings and community events. One is a 40-by-52-foot structure with a stage, while the other is a 40-foot octagon-topped pavilion featuring a carousel horse as a weathervane.
- Grills and gathering spaces: Several grills and designated gathering areas have been added throughout the park.
- Volleyball court: The park’s volleyball net and court have been refreshed and updated.
- Repaved walkways: Improved walkways connect the parking lot with the pavilion areas, volleyball court and lake, where geese can often be seen swimming.
A Park With a Long History
Gwynn Oak Park’s history stretches back more than 130 years. It first opened in 1893 as a privately owned amusement park with a whites-only policy. Following multiple demonstrations and protests, and negotiations with Baltimore County, the park finally admitted Black visitors on Aug. 28, 1963, the same day as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C.
After years of decline, torrential rains from Hurricane Agnes in 1972 caused major damage, and the park closed permanently the following year. Over the years, however, the park remained a convenient location for picnics, special events and leisurely walks. Community members will be able to rent the pavilions in the near future.
Acting Director of Recreation and Parks Bryan Sheppard and County Executive Katharine Klausmeier give remarks before they cut the ribbon.