Robert E. Lee Park on Track to Reopen in September

Baltimore County officials expect more than 80,000 people a year to visit Robert E. Lee Park when it reopens later this fall.

Barry Williams, director of the county recreation and parks department, told the County Council that the park is slated to open in September.

Williams made his comments during a budget hearing for his department Tuesday.

The county took over the park from the city under a 2009 lease agreement.

Previously, the park averaged about 41,000 visitors annually.

It was scheduled to reopen this summer but weather and construction delays have moved that date to September.

The county is spending about $4.1 million, including $3 million in state money, on park improvements, including the replacement of a bridge, roadway and trail improvements, and erosion control along the Lake Roland shoreline.

The county also plans to add a dog park—a welcome addition given that the park was already an unofficial dog park to many area residents.

The proposed budget for recreation and parks, at $21.6 million, is about $1.3 million more than the current year.

The budget includes more than $350,000 in associated costs for the park, including six new positions, two trucks and a mower.

Another $835,000 comes from costs associated with transferring the operations of the Police Athletic League program into recreation and parks. About 94 percent of those increased costs are associated with 17 jobs that will be transferred into recreation and parks.

Ten other positions, totaling $462,000, were deleted from the recreation and parks under the proposed budget.