Demo work starts on Veterans Park renovations

A project discussed at a Dundalk meeting in January has begun.

Crews demolished the pavilion in Veterans Park, the first step in a renovation project at the park.

A vision for those renovations was provided by community members gathered in the Dundalk High School auditorium in January. Residents shared their thoughts on the Veterans Park renovation project at the meeting.

Leading the meeting was Bob Smith, director of the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks, and a Dundalk native.

Smith stressed the need for public input throughout the meeting, to give the department a better idea of what locals want for the historic park.

“Really, the input we get here will help drive how we develop this park going forward,” Smith said.

Among the improvements that residents want to see in the park are better lighting, more visibility for the Veterans Memorial and better landscaping.

So far, only two definite plans have been made for the park: a spring cleanup, and tearing down the concrete pavilion. Some attendees questioned why the pavilion needs to be torn down.

“That pavilion has kind of reached its useful life,” Smith said. “We wouldn’t build a pavilion that looks like that. I’m gonna be honest, it does not look good.”

Smith said a new pavilion could be built, if that’s what people want, but it would have better amenities. Other ideas for new park facilities included an outdoor theater space, concrete gaming tables, shuffleboard and pickleball courts.

Some were skeptical — for years, there have been issues with people leaving trash in the park, trespassing after dark, drinking and smoking, and other problems. But Smith insisted that the department didn’t want to lock up the parks after hours.

“It’s not been a good practice for us to put in an inviting amenity, and then put it behind chainlink,” Smith said. “It just doesn’t send the message that we want everybody in the park.”

For more information, or to give your input on the Veterans Park project, email capitalprojects-rp@baltimorecountygov.md or call the Department of Recreation and Parks at 410-887-3871.