New Park In Perry Hall Could Soon Be Finished: See Plans

PERRY HALL, MD — A new park in Perry Hall is one step closer to reality.

The proposed Baltimore County budget includes $4 million to finish the 22-acre park on Gerst Road. District 5 County Council Member David Marks announced the news on Friday after County Executive Kathy Klausmeier unveiled her budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, which starts this July 1. The budget still needs approval from the County Council, so the Gerst Road Park funding is not yet finalized.

"I thank County Executive Klausmeier for supporting this request, which will help us finish the fifth new park in Perry Hall's Honeygo area since 2010," Marks said in a press release.

Initial ideas for the park included a multi-purpose field, a 90-foot baseball diamond and four pickleball courts. Active recreation no longer seems to be the preferred route.

"At this time, plans call for a largely passive park. We will share any additional news with the community," Marks said.

The Gerst Farm was an agricultural hub for four generations, spanning roughly 150 years, but development has been a hot topic recently.

In 2021, developers proposed building 317 homes on Gerst Farm directly across the street from what's now planned for the park. The heavy development met community pushback, but the Elm Street construction company still lists the neighborhood as "coming soon."

The forthcoming parkland, located on the Bierman property, was also suggested for residential development before the county purchased the site. The land was once a farm and a community hall.

"Make no mistake—if this property had not been secured for a park, it would have been developed into dozens of homes," Marks said.

Baltimore County in 2021 bought the parcel at 9421 Gerst Road for $3.07 million. The land is located at the northeast corner of Gerst Road and New Gerst Lane. 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 the property. A house located on the site has since been torn down.

The park received $400,000 for design and engineering in the fiscal year 2025 budget proposal.

"We thank Councilman Marks and County Executive Klausmeier for their support," Perry Hall Improvement Association President Pat Keller said in last week's press release. "The White Marsh Recreation Council worked with Councilman Marks to secure this property, and we look forward to it becoming a reality."

Marks said the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal also includes:

• $375 million for sewer and water projects in eastern Baltimore County.
• $3 million to design parking lot improvements at Joppa View Elementary School.
• $1.8 million to air condition the cafeteria and auditorium at Perry Hall Elementary School.
• $2.9 million to design and construct improvements at the park being created at the former C.P. Crane plant in Middle River.

More information on Gerst Road Park is available here.

This map shows where Gerst Road Park would be located.