New Park Inches Toward Reality In Baltimore County

PERRY HALL, MD — A proposed park took another step toward reality in Perry Hall, a lawmaker announced last week.

Money for design and engineering at the potential Gerst Road Park was included in this year's budget proposal.

The $400,000 to advance the project was included in Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski's (D) budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025. The County Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed budget on May 23.

“This funding will hopefully advance the park toward construction in 2026 or 2027,” County Council Member David Marks (R-District 5) said in an April 29 press release announcing the news. “When that happens, Perry Hall will have [its] fifth new operational park since 2010, and an additional 22 acres will be preserved from development.”

The park would be located on the former Bierman Farm.

Marks said there have been two community meetings for residents and stakeholders to comment.

Most commenters “supported less intense uses at the park,” Marks said. This would offer a more passive alternative to the concentration of ball fields in the area.

“We are happy this new park is advancing in one of the densest parts of Perry Hall and White Marsh,” White Marsh Recreation Council President Salim Barrouk said in the release.

Baltimore County in 2021 bought the parcel at the northeast corner of Gerst Road and New Gerst Lane for $3.07 million. The money came from a grant through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Program Open Space.

Invasive species were cleared from the land in 2022.

Plans in 2023 called for asbestos abatement, demolition of structures, backfilling and grading throughout.

“This park will be a terrific addition to our community,” Perry Hall Improvement Association President Pat Keller said in last week's release.

This map shows the area where the park would be located.