Downtown | Greater Baltimore
The Canton Waterfront Park is a simple quiet green space located right of off Boston Street alongside the seawall in Canton. This park is an excellent location for picnics and for letting children run freely while watching the sailboats, freighters, and tug boats move smoothly by.
Situated just south of the Inner Harbor between Warren Avenue and Key Highway, Federal Hill Park was once a well-known lookout during the Civil War and the War of 1812; now from the top of the park is a spectacular view of Baltimore’s cityscape and harbor—a popular vantage point for photographs. On top of “the hill” is a gated grassy area with a playground and swing set, and outside the gates benches line the edge of the park overlooking the city. The park is also home to the Federal Hill Kids neighborhood LISTSERV’s annual Easter egg hunt and the city’s PeeWee Preakness.
2400 E. Fort Avenue, 21230 ; 410-962-4290
Fort McHenry is a historical site located just southeast of the Inner Harbor and acknowledged for its significant role in the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Local residents often visit the fort year-round to take walks along its seawall or take the baby for a run in the jogging stroller. During the summer months when park hours are extended, the fort is full of families picnicking, dog owners with their dogs, and children riding scooters and playing Frisbee across the fort’s open green space, which is surrounded by water on three sides. The Fort McHenry grounds are open daily, and from the end of May until early September the hours are extended.
Located alongside E. Fort Avenue and Andre Street in Locust Point, Latrobe Park offers local residents a largely shaded and well-groomed open green space (with tulip-lined pathways in the spring), benches, a small pavilion, and a large gated playground housing swings, slides, and climbing apparatus. The park also houses tennis courts, basketball courts, a volleyball court, and a large athletic field used for team sports. In the early fall, the park is also home to Locust Point’s annual Star Spangled Festival.
Surrounded by the row house community of Riverside, just south of the Inner Harbor and bordering Federal Hill, Riverside Park offers local residents a large and open green space with benches and a gazebo perfect for a picnic lunch. The park houses a very busy and conveniently shaded playground full of neighborhood children and parents alike, in addition to as a well-kept and very popular public swimming pool. Riverside Park is located near Thomas Johnson Elementary School and bounded by Johnson Street, E. Randall Street, and Covington Street.
1800 Covington Street, 21230; 410-396-8059
The Riverside pool opens at the end of June and closes in early September. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday noon to 4 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. and Sundays and holidays 1–6 p.m. A wading pool is available for the little ones, and the one-hour designated Mommy & Me swim time begins at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. Mommy & Me swim sessions are available for $5.00 per two-week session, and general pool admission is $1.50 per person. Season passes are also available.
Opened in 2006, the Mount Vernon Children’s Park, located at Calvert and Madison streets, was a community-led effort that has resulted in a beloved neighborhood playground designed for children 10 years old and under. The park features a child-activated water spray, original play equipment, a large sandbox, hedge maze, and an impressive pavilion. Families may also view the park’s bulletin board, which highlights local family events. The Children’s Park is open seven days a week during daylight hours and is locked every evening.
Based on the London residential squares of the Georgian period, Mount Vernon Place is comprised of four elegant park blocks surrounding the Washington Monument, which also neighbors the Peabody Institute, Walters Art Museum, grand homes from the Antebellum Era, and local restaurants and boutiques. The parks’ water fountains, magnificent architecture, and well-groomed gardens provide a relaxing atmosphere for city dwellers and represent the utmost in urban sophistication. During the summer, the parks also host events, such as the First Thursday summer concert series, as well as a summer movie series.The parks are located at Charles and Monument streets.
Patterson Park is the oldest and most extensively used large park in Baltimore City. At 155 acres, the park is relied on for open space by its surrounding row house neighborhoods and is frequented by area schools, churches, and sporting leagues for its athletic fields. While the park was characteristic of a romantic landscape with walking paths surrounded by trees, fountains, and pavilions in the 19th century, organized athletics quickly took priority at Patterson Park during the 20th century, while maintaining much of its original charm. The park now houses a baseball and softball diamond, soccer and football field, tennis courts, an ice-skating rink, a swimming pool, and two playgrounds. The newest playground opened in 2005, after three years in the making, and incorporates charming elements that represent an “Old Baltimore” theme. The park also has many picnic areas, pavilions, and a boat lake. A perfect venue for gatherings and entertainment, Patterson Park is home to many social and cultural festivals and events, such as the annual WYPR Music in the Park Series, the DBFA egg hunt, Latino Fest, and Fest Africa. Patterson Park is situated alongside Eastern Avenue, S. Patterson Park Avenue, E. Baltimore Street, and S. Linwood Avenue.
200 S. Linwood Avenue, 21224; 410-396-9392
See Sports > Sports Programming > Dominic “Mimi” DiPietro Family Skating Center
Eastern and Milton Avenues, 21224; 410-396-9392
The Patterson Park Boat Lake was renovated in 2003 and now serves as an open water and wetland habitat for fish, waterfowl, and many species of birds year-round.
148 S. Linwood Avenue, 21224; 443-677-2618
The Patterson Park pool is an outdoor pool that is open daily from mid-June until the last Sunday in August.
2601 E. Baltimore Street, 21224; 410-396-9156
See Recreation > Recreation Centers > Virginia Baker Recreation Center