Patterson Park: Baltimore's grassy spot
All urban centers need a grassy relief, and Baltimore is no different. Patterson Park is a popular space for eastern Baltimore residents, whether as a place to cheer on Little League or to take your dog running alongside you. If your own yard doesn't let you or your kids run as freely as you'd hope, head out to the park for a morning or afternoon of leisurely play.
The park is located in Fells Point and Canton, spreading across 137 acres. It houses a swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, an ice-skating rink, soccer and baseball fields, running and biking paths. There's a lake with several species of birds and fish, and are a few monuments in the park, including the Pagoda with great views of the city, and the General Casimir Pulaski monument. Sledding by the Pagoda, if snow ever falls in Maryland, is a popular spot in winter. In summer, festivals take place as well as evening concerts, featuring local artists and inviting people to bring picnics.
After years of deterioration, the park has become a focus of urban renewal for the city of Baltimore. Today there are several sports leagues, includings softball, kickball, soccer, basketball and ice hockey available to the public. Like all parks, Patterson Park should be best avoided at night, but is still a popular place for the after-work crowd to go for an evening run or take in a friendly game. Kids love playing at the playground and in the fields, and it's a great place to take a jogging stroller out.
The boat lake, created in 1865, was developed for skating and boating. Today it is home to a number of birds and water fowls, as well as turtles, frogs and fish. The Marble Fountain, located near the Pagoda, was built in 1865 and restored in 2003 after years of neglect and vandalism. The park itself is a focus of the city's urban renewal interest, restoring and maintaining the park to be a family-friendly, safe place for all to enjoy.
Posted by Rin-rin Yu
