Carroll Park

Carroll Park, located in the historic Washington Village-Pigtown neighborhood of southwestern Baltimore, Maryland, is a sprawling 117-acre public park and Baltimore's third-oldest urban park. The park occupies land that was once part of the Mount Clare estate, a plantation owned by Charles Carroll, Barrister, in the mid-18th century. Its centerpiece is the Mount Clare Mansion, a Georgian mansion built in the 1760s, which is now a National Historic Landmark and part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The park's historical significance also includes its time as Camp Carroll, a Union army encampment during the Civil War.

Acquired by the city in 1890, the park was designed by the Olmsted Brothers between 1904 and 1915. The design reflects their hallmark curvilinear paths and a mix of active and passive recreational areas, with sloping terrain and large trees complementing the historic mansion. Carroll Park includes both wooded areas and open fields, offering a variety of uses for visitors.

Carroll Park is rich in recreational amenities. It features a nine-hole golf course, which gained historic importance as one of the first racially integrated golf courses in the country in 1951. The park also includes a variety of sports facilities, such as multiple baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, and a skate and bike facility. A large playground with sections tailored to toddlers and older kids is available, along with open flat fields suitable for soccer, football, and lacrosse. The Gwynns Falls Trail, a scenic multi-use pathway, runs along the park's edge, connecting it to the broader network of Baltimore green spaces.

The park is a hub for the community, balancing its historical significance with modern recreational needs. Its location near downtown Baltimore and landmarks such as Camden Yards and the B&O Railroad Museum makes Carroll Park a treasured urban oasis that combines historic preservation with expansive public-use spaces.