Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey

7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey

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Dundalk Parks Survey

Dundalk ParksSurvey

The Community of Dundalk

GEOG 417, Spring 2011

Dr. Morgan

March 1, 2011


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Table of Contents

Dundalk Parks Survey...................................................................4The Community of Dundalk .................................................................4Introduction......................................................................................................... 4

Information Gathering......................................................................................... 4

Recreation Sites...........................................................................5

General Observations.......................................................................................... 7

American Legion Post 38...............................................................8

Ownership............................................................................................................8

Type of Facility....................................................................................................8

Resources at Facility............................................................................................8

Use Characteristics..............................................................................................8

Maintenance........................................................................................................ 9

St Helena Park..............................................................................9

Ownership............................................................................................................9

Type of Facility....................................................................................................9

Resources at Facility............................................................................................9

Use Characteristics............................................................................................10

Maintenance......................................................................................................10

St Helena Playground..................................................................11

Ownership..........................................................................................................11Type of Facility..................................................................................................11

Resources at Facility..........................................................................................11


Maintenance......................................................................................................11

Fort Holabird Park......................................................................12

Ownership..........................................................................................................12

Type of Facility..................................................................................................12



Maintenance......................................................................................................13

Fairway Keyway Park................................................................13

Ownership..........................................................................................................13

Type of Facility..................................................................................................13


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Maintenance......................................................................................................14

Dundalk Middle School................................................................15

Ownership..........................................................................................................15

Type of Facility..................................................................................................15



Maintenance......................................................................................................16

Dundalk Elementary School.........................................................16

Ownership..........................................................................................................16

Type of Facility..................................................................................................16



Maintenance......................................................................................................17

Heritage Park.............................................................................18

Ownership..........................................................................................................18

Type of Facility..................................................................................................18



Maintenance......................................................................................................19

Veterans Park.............................................................................19

Ownership..........................................................................................................19

Type of Facility..................................................................................................19

Resources at Facility..........................................................................................19Use Characteristics............................................................................................20

Maintenance......................................................................................................20

Merritt Point Park.......................................................................20

Ownership..........................................................................................................20

Type of Facility..................................................................................................20



Maintenance......................................................................................................21

Concrete Homes Park..................................................................21Ownership..........................................................................................................21

Type of Facility..................................................................................................21




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Recreation Sites

Image 1. Google Earth Map of one-mile radius and recreation sites within.

Name Type OwnershipA American Legion

Post 38Field Private

B St Helena Park Park Public County

C St HelenaPlayground

Playground

Public City

D Fort Holabird Park Park Public CityE Fairway-Keyway Park Park Public

CountyF Dundalk Middle School Public

County


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G Dundalk Elementary School Public County

H Heritage Park Park Public County

I Veterans Park Park Public

CountyJ Merritt Point Park Park Public

CountyK Concrete Homes

ParkPark Public

County


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General Observations

All of the facilities with the exception of one are publicly owned. During

the observation, possibly due to the time of year, there was little to no

activity noted at all of the sites. What activity that was observed was

restricted to small groups or individuals. Also due to the time of year, it

would not be feasible todetermine grounds keeping measures such as grass

cutting. Most sites had trash receptacles, all had shown use, and none were

overflowing. For the most part general maintenance was not seen to be a

major issue, with some exceptions like wooden baseball benches and

restroom facilities. In general for the most part most of the sites seemed to

be well maintained, however usage of the sites was not able to be accurately

determined.


7Image 2. St Helena Park


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American Legion Post 38

Ownership

Private, American Legion

Type of Facility

Post Hall and Field

Resources at Facility

The field includes a backstop for

baseball/softball, however the diamond isovergrown and shows that usage has been extremely limited over the past

several years. Two goal posts for soccer are fixed into the ground, however

the pitch area would be deemed unplayable due to pockmarks and debris

(rocks?) on the pitch. The hall is a typical hall for rent, used for such events

as bull roasts and/or wedding receptions. Ample parking is at the site as well

as parking for handicapped persons, however handicap facilities seemed to

be oriented to the hall facilities and not the field.

Use Characteristics

Condition of the field leads one to believe that it hashad a limited to no use as an athletics field for the

past several years. In previous years (personal

observation) the field had been used for club soccer

games in the afternoon, running from the spring into

the fall. Carnivals occasionally use the field as well.

The hall is rented out to private parties on a regular

basis, however to the extent that these are

traditional recreation activities is undetermined but

believed to be limited.


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Image 3. Site of American Legion

Post 38.

Image 4. Parking Regulations.


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Maintenance

The maintenance and upkeep of the athletic fields

would be observed to be poor. In its current form, it

would be unwise to engage in any organized, or

unorganized, athletic endeavor on the fields without the

risk of injury from the playing conditions. Support

facility conditions were undetermined; access to the hall

is limited to post members or their guests. The one

singular bench on the field was in a poor condition.

St Helena Park

Ownership

Public Baltimore County(Department of Recreation and Parks)

Type of Facility

Local Park


St Helena Park includes a large lower field with

two baseball/softball diamonds, the field is large

enough support other athletic events such as

soccer or lacrosse. The upper part of the park

includes a partially fenced in blacktop a portion of

which is set up for basketball. Also included are a

swing-set and a jungle gym. Around the upperportion of the park are several tables and park

benches, as well as two grills. There are the remains of a tennis court, which

currently is being used as a construction storage lot of for an offsite county

project. A restroom/storage building is located on site, however access was


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Image 5. Bench at Post 38Field

Image 6. St Helena Park


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unavailable at the time of observation. Parking is limited to a small lot, with

some handicap parking available, curb cuts do provide some access but

there is no handicap access to the lower athletic fields.

Use Characteristics

This was one of the few

sites that were in use

during the field observation.

The users were young kids

being supervised by their

parents playing on the

swings and jungle gym. In

discussion with the parents,

they stated that lower fields

were used for little leaguebaseball and rec league

soccer in the summer. They

also bemoaned the

condition of the rest

facilities at the park, which

were closed at the time.

Maintenance

With the exception of the restroom building and the tennis courts, the overall

maintenance of the facility could be considered good. Several of theamenities, jungle gym, blacktop & tables, looked to have been installed or

extensively repaired in only the last couple of years. The Restroom building

showed extensive wear from the outside, an observation of the inside was

not possible.


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Image 7. Blacktop and Basketball Courts at St Helena Park.


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St Helena Playground

Ownership

Public City of Baltimore(Department of Recreation and Parks)

Type of Facility

Playground


A blacktop basketball court, jungle gym and

swing set on a rubberize surface, three

metal benches.

Use Characteristics

This small playground/pocket park sits at an intersection between a

residential and industrial area. The use is geared to neighborhood kids and

athletes. There is no lighting, besides streetlights and little signage.

Maintenance

The part is in relatively good condition, looking to have been recentlyrenovated in the past several years. The only sign of wear were rips in the

rubberized surface. The were also some minor signs of graffiti in several

locations.


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Image 8. St Helena Playground.


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Fort Holabird Park

Ownership

Public City of Baltimore(Department of Recreation and Parks)

Type of Facility

Local Park


Fort Holabird Park is located in a small

but detached area of the Fort Holabird

Business Park. The park contains two

completely fenced in baseball/softball

diamonds, a basketball court that is

unusable, and a community garden area. The baseball fields are nearly

encircled by a concrete/asphalt pathway. A

small building is also located on site, but no

signage pointed to the use of the structure,

however it may be a restroom or storage

building. There is ample on site parking,though designated handicap spots were

observed. Due to the configuration of the

site, elevation changes, and lack ramps, the

majority of the site may be considered as

inaccessible for handicap patrons.

Use Characteristics

Based upon the conditions of the site, and

the facilities present, the site is oriented to

activities on the baseball/softball diamond

and community gardening. According to

information obtained from the social

geolocation service foursquare, the park is


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Image 9. Ft Holabird Park.

Image 10. Baseball Fields at Fort HolabirdPark.


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one of the sites used by the Baltimore Sports and Social Club, a private

Baltimore City based recreation league. During the site visit a patron was

observed walking his dogs on the park grounds.

Maintenance

With the exception of the basketball courts, which were in an unusable

condition as the courts lacked backboards or hoops, the site seemed to be

well maintained. Both of the athletic fields showed signs of use in previous

seasons. The community garden, even though it was the off-season, looked

to be well and frequently maintained. The one structure on the site was in

good condition as well based on outside observations, but the interior

conditions could not be determined. The only other maintenance issues were

standing water in areas along the walkway and deep tread marks left in

grassy areas, possibly from maintenance vehicles.

Fairway Keyway Park

Ownership

Public BaltimoreCounty(Department ofRecreation and Parks)

Type of Facility

Pocket/Community

Park


The park sits in the

middle of a residential

neighborhood as an

oversized roadway

island. The onlyamenities of the park

are two benches.


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Image 11. Fairway - Keyway Park.


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Use Characteristics

It could be surmised that the residents in the

immediate area of the park, are the primary

users of the park, as there is little in the park

to draw a substantial amount of users from

other locations. As for what the park could be

used for is anyones guess based on the

limited amount of provisions provided by the

park. The park has no amenities besides the

two benches, which are located near each

other on the same side of the park. There are

no paved paths threw or around the park, with

the exception of sidewalks on the other side ofthe roads that surround the park. Activity in

the park is limited, to the point that there is a

sign stating that no ball playing is allowed in

the park. The park receives its name from the two streets that surround it.

Maintenance

Maintenance is a minor issue with this park. One of the benches and some of

the signage looked to have been recently replaced. Outside of that,

maintenance seems to be landscaping issues only, tree and grass trimming,

which at this time of year are not overly important. It was observed thatthere were a number of downed branches, perhaps from recent storms


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Image 12. No Ball Playing Sign inFairway - Keyway Park.


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Dundalk Middle School

Ownership

Public Baltimore County(Baltimore County Public Schools)

Type of Facility

Public School


Dundalk Middle School hosts the local

offices for the Dundalk Eastfield

Recreation Council. As such the rec

council runs most of the non-school related recreational and athletic

activities at the Middle School. Facilities in the school building that are

available to the rec council for include a gymnasium, three activity rooms,

and locker room facilities for both men and women. Outdoor facilities are

available to both the rec council and the

general public. These include outdoor fields

are separated into two areas, an upper and

lower field, with the lower field being the oneclosest to the school building, separated by a

rail line but connected by a bridge. The lower

filed includes three tennis courts, a cinder

running track, two ballfields, and a high

jump/long jump pit. The upper field contains

only ballfields, four in total, but is used by the

local high school as a practice field for junior

and varsity lacrosse teams. Parking is limited

to the school parking facility, which are not

convenient too much of the athletic fields, or

on street parking, which is the only

reasonable parking for the upper field.

Restroom facilities would be in the school but are not usually accessible by


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Image 13. Dundalk Middle School.

Image 14. Rec Council Office


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patrons. Handicap facilities are limited to parking only, with significant

barriers to the athletic fields, less so for the facilities in the school building.

Use Characteristics

The primary user of these facilities is the

school, which uses the various facilities for

physical education. The local rec council does

make the fields and indoors facilities available

for rec council sponsored groups and leagues.

The outdoor fields are also generally available

for public use as well, and its not uncommon

in the summer, when no leagues are playing,

to see pickup games of softball on the upper

field.

Maintenance

The maintenance level of these facilities varies.

As I was unable to see the indoor facilities in

the current condition, I cannot report on their

conditions. As for the outdoors facilities, on the

lower field, the tennis courts looked to have

been recently upgraded, with new blacktop, poles, and nets. The track was in

fair condition, however the two ballfields would require improvements to the

diamonds and benches, which were broken, to be functional. In the upper

field, all of the ballfields with the exception of on were in usable condition.

Dundalk Elementary School

Ownership

Public Baltimore County(Baltimore County Public Schools)

Type of Facility

Public School


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Image 15. Broken bench at DundalkMiddle School.

Image 16. Dundalk Elementary School.


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Facilities at Dundalk Elementary School are concentrated on the grounds

around the periphery of the school building, which, based on my observation,

has no recreation facilities available to the public. The grounds include, four

tennis courts, two basketball courts (one enclosed the other open), three

ballfields, and two playground areas with jungle gyms. Besides being used

for baseball/softball, the ballfields show use for soccer, from the observation

of portable soccer goals. There is one concession area in a separate building

from the school; there were no observable restroom facilities. Parking is

limited to two small lots on the school grounds (include handicap parking),

and street parking. Besides the provisions for parking, their seemed to be no

additional provisions for handicap access to the activity sites.

Use Characteristics

Besides the usage for school related activities,the facilities at the Elementary school seem to

get extensive use in the summer time for little

league baseball/softball and rec league juniors

soccer. The community also extensively uses

the facilities at the elementary school as well,

and during the time that the facilities were

observed, both basketball courts were in use,

also people were walking their animals on the

open field. The site also serves as part of the

ground for the annual Heritage Fair around the

time of the fourth of July.

Maintenance

Of all of the sites with athletic facilities, this site was perhaps the best

maintained, perhaps because of its use and its connection with the

Elementary school. Several of the facilities looked to have been recently

overhauled within the past several years. The only site that looked to have

had maintenance deficiency was the unenclosed basketball court, but its

issues only seemed to be cosmetic.


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Image 17. Playground at DundalkElementary School


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Heritage Park

Ownership


Type of Facility

Local Park


Heritage Park could be though of as a

town square park as opposed to most of

the other parks that have been surveyed,

which were more situated towards

athletics. The park has no dedicated athletic facilities, however one site has

become such a facility for one group. It is not uncommon to observer

skateboarders in the park, particularly in the

area surrounding the bandstand, where they

use the walls and steps of and surrounding the

bandstand as points for practice of their tricks.

The park has a number of curving pathsthrough it, lined with light poles, and benches.

Also along these paths are water fountains,

though none were functional at this time

(seasonal?). The central part of the park

includes a bandstand, with additional benches

around it. Forward of the bandstand and

towards the village center, is an ornamental arch with the parks name as

well as a memorial for those involved in the Greater Dundalk Womens Club,

a sponsor of the park.

Use Characteristics

As the park supports no athletic facilities and contains a number of paths, its

primary function is that of a pedestrian gateway from the village center to


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Image 18. Heritage Park.

Image 19. Heritage Park at dusk.


19/23

the surrounding community. One use that has come about in the park was

neither planed for and is generally frowned upon by the County is

skateboarding in the park. Skateboarders have taken it upon themselves to

use the bandstand as sort of skateboard park, to my knowledge there are no

dedicate public skateboard facilities in the Dundalk area. These activities

however are not the most import use of the park. It could be said that the

most important use of the park is during several days in beginning of July,

when the park becomes the site of the annual Heritage Fair.

Maintenance

In general the park is well maintained the only maintenance issues observed

were in and around the bandstand, where lose and missing bricks were

observed. This could be a consequence of skateboarding activity.

Veterans Park

Ownership


Type of Facility

Local Park


Much like Heritage Park, Veterans Park

should be considered a town square

park; it has no facilities to support

athletics. While smaller then Heritage

Park, is contains many of the same

amenities, such as light walking paths and benches along those paths. It has

less in the way water fountains but it does have bike racks on site. Instead of

a bandstand, it does covered space, though its use was undetermined. It

should be noted that the park is divided into two sections by the local post

office. As a veterans park it does contain memorials to local citizens who fell

in defense of their country, including a cenotaph listing those persons and

the conflicts they fought in.


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Image 20. Cenotaph at Veterans Park


20/23

Use Characteristics

Veterans Park serves the much the same function as does Heritage Park, a

frontage park serving as a gateway into the village center. Besides this use,

in the summer its not uncommon to see small festivals take place in the

park. It also serves as the site of the annual farmers market.

Maintenance

Maintenance issues are currently being addressed in this park, as new

signage and amenities have or are being installed. The only real

maintenance issue is perhaps blowing trash, coming in from other sites, and

yard waste.

Merritt Point ParkOwnership


Type of Facility

Local Park


The Park includes two lighted ballfields, aboat launch, two piers, several cook out

sites, a jungle gym, a covered event area,

and restroom facilities. While the park sits on the water, it is located on a

peninsula, swimming in the surrounding waters is prohibited. Parking is

available at two sections, one near the ballfields and cook out area, and a

second one near the piers. While handicap parking is provided and there is

limited accessibility to some of the facilities at the site, not all of the site

could be considered as handicap accessible due to lack of hardening for

ground access.

Use Characteristics

Of all of the parks covered, Merritt Point Park

has the most varied uses and attracts a


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Image 21. Merritt Point Park

Image 22. The main pier at MerrittPoint Park.


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varied user base. Besides places for athletics, like the ballfields, the park

provides for family gatherings and cookouts. It is not uncommon for

birthdays to be celebrated at the park. The park also provides facilities, the

boat launch, for the recreational boater. On the piers it not uncommon to

daily see persons fishing or crabbing.

Maintenance

Generally like many of the other parks, the condition of Merritt Point Park

seemed to be good. The only issues that could be observed would pertain to

minor landscaping issues, such as reseeding some areas of the park

grounds.

Concrete Homes ParkOwnership

Public Baltimore County(Department of Recreation andParks)

Type of Facility

Local Park

Resources at FacilityThe park contains only two

amenities, it is the site of the

Watersedge Community Center

(which includes a gymnasium and

activity rooms for the local rec council), located on the southern end of the

park, and it has a pier, which is located on the northern end of the park. The

park gets its name from the surrounding community. Only the community

center is handicap accessible.

Use CharacteristicsThe rec council (Watersedge) gets

most of the use out of this park

from their community center,


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Image 23. Concrete Homes Park.

Image 24. Watersedge Community Center.


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which attracts residents from across Dundalk for various activates. The pier

gets limited usage, due to its seclusion; most users are from the

neighborhood.

Maintenance

No maintenance issues, pier has been progressively repaired over the years,

and the community center is about five years old.


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OverviewIt could be easily said that the Dundalk community is well served by a

variety of parks providing a number of different recreational uses. Besides

the parks and recreation areas listed there are many more that serve the

Dundalk community. It was observed that for the most part, all of these

parks seem to be in a useable and functional condition. And while there were

maintenance issues at some of the parks, signs point to past issues being

address with the addition of new equipment and the replacement of old

equipment. The only area that I see that is lacking in regards to recreational

opportunities in the Dundalk community is the lack of dedicated skateboard

areas that. I would propose that such an area should be considered for

construction, perhaps in an existing facility on an area that is underutilized.


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Documents

Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey