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 looked 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 informs who in the community either uses or doesn’t use the park and provided 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 organized community-led walks and is collaborating with neighbors to create public art for pedestrian safety. Public artworks include mural-filled crosswalks, and light art, and a community walking parade connecting Reservoir Hill with Druid Hill Park.
Complete Streets
TAP Druid Hill has worked with Baltimore City Department of Transportation to ensure that all residents have had a chance to contribute to the forthcoming “Druid Park Lake Drive Complete Streets” design effort. The study addresses park access around the entire park, including Druid Park Lake Drive, Auchentoroly Terrace, Reisterstown Road, and Druid Park Drive.
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
Community Creates the Druid Hill Canopy Crosswalk
On April 3rd and 4th, 2022, the Auchentoroly Terrace and Greater Mondawmin community came together to create the Druid Hill Canopy Crosswalk. This project has been years in the making. The Druid Hill Canopy Crosswalk celebrates green space access while joyfully enhancing street-crossing safety for West Baltimoreans walking to Druid Hill Park. Community members previously nominated their favorite park trees to be represented in the artwork and later co-created the project during a community paint day.
Comment on Druid Park Lake Drive Report Through 4/15
BCDOT and WSP released the Druid Park Lake Drive Complete Streets Design Effort Study Report. View the full report on BCDOT's website and submit any additional comments by April 15, 2022.
Share Feedback on Druid Hill Complete Streets Design Concepts
Baltimore City Department of Transportation has shared three preliminary design concepts for complete streets improving access to Druid Hill Park for local residents. View the design options and share your feedback by December 17, 2021.
Druid Hill Park Complete Streets Public Meeting Oct 7
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) is undergoing a Complete Streets planning and concept design process for the two-mile section of Druid Park Lake Drive from the I-83 ramp (Mt. Royal Terrace) to the north entrance of Greenspring Avenue. As the study nears completion, the design team is eager to share their ideas with the community and project stakeholders. Please join us for an online presentation, Thursday, October 7 at 6:30 pm. During that time the design team will share several scenarios and listen to your comments.
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!