Roland Park Community Foundation Secures Future of Hillside Park with $9 Million Purchase

The Roland Park Community Foundation has successfully completed the $9 million purchase of Hillside Park, a 20-acre wooded hillside previously owned by the Baltimore Country Club. This acquisition concludes 25 years of dedicated planning and fundraising by the foundation, aiming to transform the area into a public civic amenity. The park, located along Falls Road opposite Poly and Western high schools, represents the first new park of its scale in Baltimore since Patterson Park was established in 1860.

Unlike traditional city parks, Hillside Park will be owned and maintained by the Roland Park Community Foundation, a private non-profit entity, ensuring no financial burden on the city's budget. The foundation has announced that the park will be open to the public immediately, adhering to city park standards with access from dawn to dusk. A dedicated website, https://www.hillsideparkmd.org, has been launched to promote the park and gather community support.

The sale includes the majority of the hillside, while the Baltimore Country Club retains its clubhouse and approximately 12 acres at the hill's summit. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for October 10 to celebrate this landmark achievement. The creation of Hillside Park underscores the importance of community-led initiatives in preserving green spaces and enhancing urban livability, setting a precedent for future conservation efforts in Baltimore and beyond.