By Griffin Bass
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Through snow flurries on Earth Day 2021, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones announced plans for a $7 million park and science center in Randallstown.
The project is part of several Baltimore County environmental-conscious plans that Olszewski has announced during Earth Week 2021.
“Public parks build a stronger sense of community, expose us to new learning experiences, and promote healthy living for all ages,” 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.”
The Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) center will provide hands-on and creative activities for young people in the area in addition to outdoor learning spaces for environmental education on top of traditional park amenities.
“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,” said Roslyn Johnson, the county’s director of parks and recreation. . “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 park is located at 8800 Greens Lane next to the Randallstown Community Center complex. The plan is for a pedestrian bridge to connect the two facilities. The project will be funded with local and state money.
Olszewski said that the public was most passionate in having “additional parks, open and green spaces, and recreational facilities” provided by the county.
Johnson said that the hope is to break ground in January 2022. She said the department still has to design the park as well as soil test the area.
Watch the full press conference on Facebook here.