County Executive Olszewski, Speaker Jones Announce $7 Million Investment for Proposed STEAM–Themed Greens Lane Park in Randallstown

TOWSON, MD— Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Maryland Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones today announced plans to utilize $7 million in state and local funds to support the creation of a new park which could feature Baltimore County’s first recreational Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) Center at the recently acquired Greens Lane Park in Randallstown.

“Creating more parks and recreational opportunities is critical in our ongoing work to improve the quality of life for all residents, and I thank Speaker Jones for her leadership to help support the residents of this and all areas of Baltimore County,” Olszewski said. “As we continue our efforts to revitalize the Liberty Road Corridor, this exciting, first of its kind project ensures we are installing a vibrant, educational space for all our residents to enjoy.”

 “Public parks build a stronger sense of community, expose us to new learning experiences, and promote healthy living for all ages,” Speaker Jones said. “Equitable access to park spaces should be a guarantee for every community and I’m excited to support Baltimore County’s new efforts to create a state-of-the-art site in Randallstown that will serve our community for generations to come.”  

Last October, Olszewski announced the acquisition of a 7.7-acre parcel of land at 8800 Greens Lane, adjacent to the Randallstown Community Center the Liberty Senior Center and the Liberty Family Resource Center.

The 8800 Greens Lane site is surrounded by residential neighborhoods that do not currently have access to a nearby neighborhood park. In the Liberty Road Study initiated by the Olszewski Administration, “providing additional parks, open/green spaces, and recreational facilities” were among the most frequently voiced recommendations from the study’s public input process.

Through a combination of state and County Baltimore County will be putting a total of $7 million in combined funds towards the development of this recently-acquired site.

 "I am excited about this new,  much needed park, in our community," Council Chairman Julian Jones said. "This project is a wonderful addition to the quality of life of the residents who will use this neighborhood park." 
 
The proposed Department of Recreation and Parks project would feature Baltimore County’s first Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) Center and would provide hands-on, interactive, creative, and inclusive activities and programs that can serve County’s young people. The project would also feature outdoor learning spaces, including those focusing upon environmental education, and areas for conducting experimentation in an outdoor environment as well as traditional park amenities for public use.

“We recognize that learning also happens outside of the classroom and that we have a responsibility to provide fulfilling, educational, and fun spaces for our residents," Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks Director Roslyn Johnson said. "This new center will play a pivotal role in providing an important foundation for lifelong learning that could help spark future careers for our young people in the increasingly important fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and math.” 

The new park, located next to the Randallstown Community Center complex, will also include a pedestrian bridge to allow residents to easily walk between the facilities.

To ensure this project best meets the needs of the surrounding community, County officials will host a community input meeting next month to seek feedback on the proposal. Additional details for the community input meeting will be announced in the coming days.