Baltimore’s Patterson Park offers a taste of history and family recreation

By Brian Butler Jr.
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer

It’s hard to blame visitors of Patterson Park if they feel like they’ve taken a trip back in time.

The oldest park in Baltimore, the 137-acre landmark at 27 S. Patterson Park Ave. features hiking trails, a boat launch, a pavilion and monuments to those who served in some of America’s most critical military conflicts.

The site played a role in both the War of 1812 and the Civil War.

During the War of 1812, American soldiers occupied Hampstead Hill to protect the city from a British invasion. During the Civil War, the park served as an Army hospital called Camp Patterson Park and a camp for Union soldiers called Camp Washburn.

The Patterson Park Observatory (commonly referred to as the pagoda) currently occupies the site where Hampstead Hill was located.

The pavilion, known as The Patterson Park Observatory , located at Patterson Park Avenue and Pratt Street, was designed in 1890 by Charles H. Latrobe, the then-superintendent of Baltimore City Parks.

The observatory has been called “the pagoda” because of its Asian architectural appearance, but the design was made to reflect popular Victorian tastes at the time.

The Friends of Patterson Park organization is trying to move away from the pagoda nickname. While it has been closed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, the pavilion is a great destination if only for walking.

Near the park’s entrance, Gen. Casimir Pulaski greets you as he commands the troops behind him. The Pulaski Monument honors the Polish native, who is known as the “Father of the American Calvary” and helped the U.S. during the Revolutionary War.

The monument, created by Hans Schuler and architect A.C. Radziszewski, depicts Pulaski and Capt. Paul Bentalou, a Baltimore merchant, leading the Calvary on Oct. 9, 1779.

While Patterson Park does showcase historic people, buildings and events, it also brings families and friends together in areas such as the Dominic “Mimi” DiPietro Family Skating Center, at 200 S. Linwood Ave.

Families and friends enjoy public ice skating sessions, while youth and amateur teams play ice hockey, broomball, and sled hockey from October to late March. It is also equipped with a warm-up room, a fireplace, concession stand, and skate shop. At this time, the facilities are closed, but check dates for reopening at 410-396-9392 or follow them on Facebook.

Another area that brings family and friends together is the Living Classrooms Foundation’s Park House Community Center.

Located next to the ice rink, the center includes a multi-purpose turf field called Utz Field, an educational building, and a community garden. The center hosts free community fitness classes, local school and community-wide field days, sports practices and games, and other community meetings and events.

After school and summer programming is provided to local middle school youth as well. For more information, you can call the center at 410-878-0563.

As you leave the park, don’t be surprised if the landmark makes you curious to know more. Whether you are into history or ice skating, or you just want to have fun with your family and friends, Patterson Park is worth the trip.