0522HarfordSpring22 - Flipbook - Page 38
in which they’re located.
Burley said that even she didn’t fully
appreciate the parks’ importance until the
pandemic invaded Maryland.
“People were so grateful that they could
get outdoors and have a safe place where they
could let their children run,” she said.
“These kids weren’t going to school. The
indoor gyms were shut down. At one point,
our outdoor facilities were the only game in
town for people who wanted to get exercise.”
“I was floored to see older individuals
bringing their lawn chairs to the parks, sitting
6 to 12 feet apart, and having conversations,”
Burley said.
“These people wanted to meet up with their
loved ones and they did not feel safe doing it
anywhere else. That sight really made it hit
home how important and absolutely necessary
the parks are.”
Harford County parks range from massive
38 | SPRING 2022 | harfordmagazine.com
structures resembling medieval castles to
feature-filled miniatures that could fit inside
a modest backyard. Below are five parks with
distinct personalities that illustrate the range
of offerings.
It’s worth noting that two unique green
spaces are not on this list: the underconstruction Bear Legacy Adventure Trail,
which is closed until August, and the Ma &
Pa Heritage Trail, located on portions of the
former Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad
corridor. Now, the trail is in two sections
separated by about a mile and a half of
wetlands. In the next few years, a connector
segment will join both ends into one, 8-mile
trail running from Fallston to Forest Hill.
“The Ma & Pa Trail is by far the most
consistently-used park in Harford County,”
Burley said. “Unlike a ball field, everyone
can find a way to enjoy it: dog walkers,
grandparents, toddlers and people on bikes.”
Annie's Playground at Edgeley Grove Park
in Fallston is a playground built in 2005 in
memory of Annie Cumpston, a 6-year-old
who was killed by a hit-and-run driver.