Herring Run Master Plan

Master Plan Events

Meet the new Director of Parks and Recreation

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 6:30 PM

Meet at Hall Springs - be prepared to walk

Welcome Ms. Durden to Baltimore and Herring Run Park.

We have been advocating on the communities behalf for a comprehensive planning process including the “public works” elements, the stream and transportation elements. We have asked for planning that is based on community visioning and facts; conducted in a way that does not pit neighborhood against neighborhood. We hope you will come to meet Ms. Durden and bring your ideas, insights and advocacy. Please show your support for a comprehensive process by telling Ms. Durden that you support a comprehensive plan for Herring Run Park. These are some of our areas of concern with the process so far:

• Lack of meaningful community input – most of the meetings were presenting information or listening to complaints about maintenance and actively discouraged comments on the stream, the forest, and issues around the roads and bridges
• Topics that deserve discussion but have been discouraged
• Pollution
• Stream erosion and mitigation
• Trails, routes, trail surface, bridges and intersections
• Park programming
• Forest condition and reforesting
• Differences within the communities concerning the purpose and use of the park
• Conflicts between large groups using the park and the communities
• Issues around linking area facilities – Clifton, Lake Montebello and Morgan University
• Developing rational plan for the numbers and types and locations of facilities available

We believe we can have a park that achieves balance between active recreation and nature. A park that provides community recreation and natural retreats, one with opportunties for all people to participate in activies and recreation. We believe we can have a clean stream that is safe for recreation use. We believe that multiple city agencies can be involved in planning and focus on the best possible outcomes for Herring Run Park.

48 gas leaks!?!

July 1 the Friends of Herring Run Park reported a strong natural gas smell along the path on Father Hooper’s field near the Harford Road Bridge. It took until July 17th (and Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke sending an email regarding “controlling potential explosions—thank you Mary Pat!) that BGE thoroughly investigated. That week BGE found and repaired 48 different gas leaks. Sometimes it’s good to have non-explosive news!

Maintenance Meeting Results

About 40 people participated at the meeting at New Life Methodist Church. We broke up into small groups to list and discuss maintenance needs. Each group did a presentation of items listed by the group to the whole meeting. Below is a summary of maintenance issues listed in the order in which the attendees indicated their priority.

• Need more ranger patrols. Park rules and permits need enforcement
• Daily Trash Pickups; not enough cans for routine use
• Weekly Stream Cleaning
• Discussion of dog park - both forand against
• Location signs for 311 calls
• Enforce Leash laws
• Trash cans and daily pickup at basketball half court
• Water Quality
• Improve lighting around the park
• Herbicides applied in place of using weed wackers discussed - need warnings
• Illegal dumping needs to be stopped
• Dirtbikes need to be discouraged
• Infrastructure, buildings and bridges in poor condition throughout park, need water fountains and bathrooms, not more port-a-pots
• Playground repairs and maintenance
• Trash cans on Eastwood Road
• Signs to discourage litter
• Mowing - areas are being lost because of tree limb and soil dumping
• Eastwood field needs more trash cans
• Quarterly Meetings of this type with Recreation and Parks
• Coordinate location signs with 311 (again), have more locations designated
• Recycling can at Eastwood fields
• No amplified music in hall springs
• Fix the spring in hall springs
• Clear stream blockage at Belair Road Bridge
• Regular schedule for trimming trails
• Focus on trash at bus stops, not enough cans, not emptied enough - special attention to Belair Road
• Stop mowing over and using weed wackers near small trees
• Prohibt spray painting trees and paths by sports team
• Cut low hanging branches in pathways
• Dog bags need to be supplied
• Discussion of impervious surfaces for bike path
• Debris from clearing weeds needs to be picked up
• Pollution signs at stream - children are swimming in the Run
• Remove downed trees across trails promptly

Date

Location

Description

Sinclair Lane and Shannon Drive

Explore the lower portion of Herring Run Park. A cross between an urban apocolypse landscape with a wildlife paradise. A stream crossing and dirt trails are expected. About 3 miles.

Corner of Parkside Drive and Sinclair Lane

Hike the North side of the river towards Hall Springs and return on the south side of the river. About 3 miles.

Hikes are free but please register by email parkrangerlady@gmail.com or by telephoning Molly Gallant at (410)448-5663 ext. 128.

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To have your activity or event listed in the news, please email the information to redherring@herringrunparks.org.
Articles and feedback always welcome.

Have ocean fishing gear?

If you own ocean fishing gear that we could use for a day, we'd like to talk to you!

As part of a park cleanup, we'd like to run a "fishing for trash" event. Please email redherring@herringrunparks.org if you can help with use of the gear. Grappling hooks also appreciated.