A City proposal to expand the number of parking spaces in Patterson Park has resulted in spirited discussion among residents all around the park as many deeply oppose this new proposal. To address the controversy, the City has planned a number of meetings for the community to discuss this issue further.
As reported in The Baltimore Brew, the main argument many of the citizens who oppose more spaces is that the majority of the people who use the park live within walking distance, so there is no need to reduce the green of the park to make way for more pavement. Also, the parking situation at the park has always been a torrid affair and opponents believe that the addition of 96 new parking spaces will only make it worse. Many members of the community believe no good can come from the additional parking spaces and as a result there has been a strong response to stop this project before it’s too late. At the first meeting on this issue, City officials responded with a claim that many who use the park and the rec center therein, including seniors and parents, deem the park insufficiently safe or easy to walk to at certain times.
Council President Young and Councilman Kraft are calling for everyone who has an interest in the future of the park to attend these meetings and voice their opinion. There was already a meeting on October 1st and another on October 6th, where it was estimated that 500 people showed up to voice their opinion, the majority of whom were strongly opposed to the proposal.
The remaining meetings are:
Tuesday, October 9th
7 PM to 8:30 PM
St. Andrew’s Church
2028 E. Lombard Street
Thursday, October 11th
7:30 PM to 9 PM
Breath of God Lutheran Church
141 S. Clinton Street
For more information, please contact Councilman Kraft at 410-396-4821 or james.kraft@baltimorecity.gov.
