Druid Lake
Druid Lake
Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD
Constructed in 1860, Druid Hill Park is one of the first large-scale public Parks in the US. The site’s early history began as gathering place for the Susquehannock, then as a plantation and site of enslaved labor, and most recently as Baltimore’s largest and most beloved urban park. The massive drinking water reservoir of Druid Lake was built on an historic stream valley where it has remained the City’s primary source of drinking water, as well as a popular regional destination for running, walking, biking, and large-scale cultural events.
With the advent of recent safety protocols that have buried the potable water in subterranean tanks on the western side of the lake, new opportunities arise for the transformation of the Lake from a sterile drinking water reservoir to a destination for recreational water access, aquatic ecology, and innovative stormwater management. New Gateways to the park which were severed decades earlier through the construction of Druid Park Lake Drive can now be restored, in conjunction with a separate ‘complete streets’ planning project (currently being undertaken Baltimore City Department of Transportation).
The Vision Plan evolved through a series of facilitated community and stakeholder workshops. Proposed program elements and their organization within the site grew in direct response to the requests and priorities of community members. Through the Vision Plan, landscapes around the Lake are transformed with new ecological and recreational opportunities --tying stormwater and springs into the basin, linking trails, paths, and loops into a welcoming and multifaceted experience for users. New amenities activate the shoreline including a boathouse, a protected cove for swimming, food and beverage programs, an outdoor education center, and a covered amphitheater.
Creative reuse of fill materials associated with the tanks construction and lakeshore grading are transformed to provide new lake islands – landforms which harken back to the Park’s original picturesque design to create new destinations for swimming, boating, birding, and leisure.
All told, the Vision Plan seeks to serve future generations with new programming and immersive natural experience while restoring much needed access and connectivity.
Additional design and public outreach for Druid Lake are expected to continue in early 2022.
Project timeline: 2020 -
Client: Baltimore City Recreation & Parks
Scope: Vision Plan
Project Type: Park | Urban | Waterfront | Culture
Size: 100 acres
Partners:
Assedo Consulting, Biohabitats, Toole Design, MK Consulting Engineers, LLC
