Date post: | 03-Apr-2018 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | jason-m-boothe |
View: | 221 times |
Download: | 0 times |
of 23
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
1/23
Dundalk Parks Survey
Dundalk ParksSurvey
The Community of Dundalk
GEOG 417, Spring 2011
Dr. Morgan
March 1, 2011
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
2/23
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
Use Characteristics............................................................................................11
Maintenance......................................................................................................11
Fort Holabird Park......................................................................12
Ownership..........................................................................................................12
Type of Facility..................................................................................................12
Resources at Facility..........................................................................................12
Use Characteristics............................................................................................12
Maintenance......................................................................................................13
Fairway Keyway Park................................................................13
Ownership..........................................................................................................13
Type of Facility..................................................................................................13
Dundalk Parks Survey
2
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
3/23
Resources at Facility..........................................................................................13
Use Characteristics............................................................................................14
Maintenance......................................................................................................14
Dundalk Middle School................................................................15
Ownership..........................................................................................................15
Type of Facility..................................................................................................15
Resources at Facility..........................................................................................15
Use Characteristics............................................................................................16
Maintenance......................................................................................................16
Dundalk Elementary School.........................................................16
Ownership..........................................................................................................16
Type of Facility..................................................................................................16
Resources at Facility..........................................................................................17
Use Characteristics............................................................................................17
Maintenance......................................................................................................17
Heritage Park.............................................................................18
Ownership..........................................................................................................18
Type of Facility..................................................................................................18
Resources at Facility..........................................................................................18
Use Characteristics............................................................................................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
Resources at Facility..........................................................................................20
Use Characteristics............................................................................................20
Maintenance......................................................................................................21
Concrete Homes Park..................................................................21Ownership..........................................................................................................21
Type of Facility..................................................................................................21
Resources at Facility..........................................................................................21
Use Characteristics............................................................................................21
Dundalk Parks Survey
3
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
4/23
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
5/23
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
Dundalk Parks Survey
5
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
6/23
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
Dundalk Parks Survey
6
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
7/23
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.
Dundalk Parks Survey
7Image 2. St Helena Park
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
8/23
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.
Dundalk Parks Survey
8
Image 3. Site of American Legion
Post 38.
Image 4. Parking Regulations.
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
9/23
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
Resources at Facility
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
Dundalk Parks Survey
9
Image 5. Bench at Post 38Field
Image 6. St Helena Park
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
10/23
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.
Dundalk Parks Survey
10
Image 7. Blacktop and Basketball Courts at St Helena Park.
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
11/23
St Helena Playground
Ownership
Public City of Baltimore(Department of Recreation and Parks)
Type of Facility
Playground
Resources at Facility
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.
Dundalk Parks Survey
11
Image 8. St Helena Playground.
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
12/23
Fort Holabird Park
Ownership
Public City of Baltimore(Department of Recreation and Parks)
Type of Facility
Local Park
Resources at Facility
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
Dundalk Parks Survey
12
Image 9. Ft Holabird Park.
Image 10. Baseball Fields at Fort HolabirdPark.
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
13/23
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
Resources at Facility
The park sits in the
middle of a residential
neighborhood as an
oversized roadway
island. The onlyamenities of the park
are two benches.
Dundalk Parks Survey
13
Image 11. Fairway - Keyway Park.
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
14/23
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
Dundalk Parks Survey
14
Image 12. No Ball Playing Sign inFairway - Keyway Park.
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
15/23
Dundalk Middle School
Ownership
Public Baltimore County(Baltimore County Public Schools)
Type of Facility
Public School
Resources at Facility
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
Dundalk Parks Survey
15
Image 13. Dundalk Middle School.
Image 14. Rec Council Office
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
16/23
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
Dundalk Parks Survey
16
Image 15. Broken bench at DundalkMiddle School.
Image 16. Dundalk Elementary School.
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
17/23
Resources at Facility
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.
Dundalk Parks Survey
17
Image 17. Playground at DundalkElementary School
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
18/23
Heritage Park
Ownership
Public Baltimore County(Department of Recreation and Parks)
Type of Facility
Local Park
Resources at Facility
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
Dundalk Parks Survey
18
Image 18. Heritage Park.
Image 19. Heritage Park at dusk.
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
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
Public Baltimore County(Department of Recreation and Parks)
Type of Facility
Local Park
Resources at Facility
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.
Dundalk Parks Survey
19
Image 20. Cenotaph at Veterans Park
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
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
Public Baltimore County(Department of Recreation and Parks)
Type of Facility
Local Park
Resources at Facility
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
Dundalk Parks Survey
20
Image 21. Merritt Point Park
Image 22. The main pier at MerrittPoint Park.
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
21/23
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,
Dundalk Parks Survey
21
Image 23. Concrete Homes Park.
Image 24. Watersedge Community Center.
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
22/23
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.
Dundalk Parks Survey
22
7/28/2019 Dundalk, Maryland Parks Survey
23/23
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.
Dundalk Parks Survey
23