Past
From the 1940s through the 1960s, over the protests of the local NAACP and neighborhood associations, car-oriented planning deprived local residents of the public health, cultural, and economic benefits of Druid Hill Park. Construction of the 1948 Druid Hill Expressway and 1963 Jones Falls Expressway resulted in the widening of Auchentoroly Terrace and Druid Park Lake Drive from two lane, park-front residential streets into dangerous five-to-nine-lane-wide highways.
Present
Excess lanes around Druid Hill Park encourage motorists to drive at high speeds that discourage pedestrians from entering the park due to concerns over personal safety. Druid Park Lake Drive and Auchentoroly Terrace lack safe intersections and crosswalks for residents to reach the park on foot. Sidewalks are not accessible to wheelchair riders. People who rely on bicycles and electric scooters do not have protected pathways serving all neighborhoods around the park.
Future
TAP Druid Hill envisions a future where residents of all ages and abilities are able to reach the recreational, public health, and cultural benefits of Druid Hill Park using safe and accessible “Complete Streets”. Complete Streets are streets designed and operated to be safe and accessible for all, including pedestrians, transit users, wheelchair riders, and people who rely on bicycles and e-scooters. Each complete street is different and based on the needs of the surrounding residents and neighborhood.
How?
TAP Druid Hill is bringing together diverse neighborhood groups to shape the future of transportation around and access to Druid Hill Park. By studying how people relate to our historic green space, engaging residents to redesign the highways as neighborhood-serving streets, and creating public art for pedestrian safety, we can begin making a positive impact now while planning long term, permanent park access improvements for the future.
PARK Study
The Druid Hill PARK survey will inform the DOT plan by looking at two neighborhoods that border the park and studying what it means for individuals in these communities to have access to Druid HIll Park. In addition, it will inform who in the community either uses or doesn’t use the park and provide individuals the opportunity to give feedback about the relationship between the park and the neighborhoods.
Public Art
In support of the Druid Park Lake Drive Complete Streets design effort, local resident, public artist, and TAP Druid Hill co-organizer Graham Coreil-Allen is facilitating community-led walking tours and collaborating with neighbors to create public art for pedestrian safety. Potential ideas include mural-filled crosswalks, creative signage, and light art showing motorists where pedestrians have the right-of-way.
Complete Streets
TAP Druid Hill is working with Baltimore City Department of Transportation to ensure that all residents have a chance to contribute to the forthcoming “Druid Park Lake Drive Complete Streets” design effort. The study will address park access around the entire park, including Druid Park Lake Drive, Auchentoroly Terrace, Reisterstown Road, and Druid Park Drive. The study could begin as soon as fall 2019.
Stakeholders & Supporters
The TAP Druid Hill campaign is powered by a diverse, growing group of local stakeholders and partners including residents, community organizations, city agencies, non-profits, and design groups.
Latest News
Druid Lake Vision Plan – Public Meeting #3
Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks (BCRP) has embarked on a Vision Planning effort to reimagine the future of Druid Lake. As part of this project, BCRP is soliciting input from the citizens of Baltimore to help shape the way visitors and residents use this space. BCRP will host an IN-PERSON MEETING at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at the Sundial Pavilion located in Druid Hill Park and a VIRTUAL MEETING at 5:30 PM on Thursday, September 30, 2021 using the Microsoft Teams platform.
Druid Lake Vision Plan – Public Meeting # 2
Register at dlvpmtg2.eventbrite.com to join Rec and Parks at their upcoming meeting on June 3, 2021, 5:30pm at the Sundial Pavilion to learn about the Druid Lake Vision Plan. This plan will guide the future growth and development of Druid Hill Park. We want our community ideas included in this vision so please register and plan to attend!
Share Community Input for the Druid Hill Park Complete Streets Study
After years of advocacy and agency coordination, the Druid Park Lake Drive Complete Street Design Effort is finally underway! Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) aims to identify areas where improvements are needed to make safer connections for pedestrians, wheelchair riders, transit users, and bicyclists. Learn more and share your thoughts...
Druid Park Lake Drive Pedestrian Safety & Petition
"Zion’s life was almost cut short today due to an irresponsible and reckless driver." TAP Druid Hill is sharing the moving testimony of Dave Pierre, whose son was nearly killed by a car while crossing Druid Park Lake Drive. Read Dave's story and sign the petition demanding immediate traffic calming.
TAP Druid Hill Auchentoroly / Mondawmin Report
TAP Druid Hill is excited to share our Auchentoroly / Mondawmin Report. This community-based report identifies the transportation safety and accessibility needs on the west side of Druid Hill Park. Read the executive summary and download the full report.
Druid Hill Sidewalk Ramps Completed
Nearly four years after Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks (BCRP) began work on the "Druid Hill Neighborhood Access Improvements" the improved ADA sidewalk ramps and traffic signals are finally complete! We are exited to have basic park access restored to the 2016 level.