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The Dripby Fern Shen8:00 amJun 3, 20210

Bid for 20-acre tract submitted; Roland Park awaits word

Seeking to buy land from the Baltimore Country Club for a park, the Roland Park Community Foundation continues to raise funds

Above: The conceptual plan for “Hillside Park” in Roland Park. (rolandpark.org)

Efforts in Roland Park to purchase former golf course land for a public park have moved ahead, with news that a nonprofit group has turned in its bid for the parcel.

“We submitted our bid on May 13 at 4:30 p.m.,” Mary Page Michel, president of the Roland Park Community Foundation, said last night, addressing the monthly meeting of the Roland Park Civic League.

That was the deadline date set by the owner, the Baltimore Country Club, which is selling a 20-acre portion of its hilly, wooded land between its clubhouse at 4712 Club Road and Falls Road.

• Bids are due this week for Roland Park tract where community wants to create a park (5/10/21)

Amid development pressure – plans were recently unveiled for a 350-unit apartment building across the street at Cross Keys – the foundation has been leading a drive to purchase the land for a recreational green space.

The proposal for “Hillside Park” has the support of nearby Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Western High School, which would like its students to be able to use the park, as well as a variety of community and environmental organizations such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Baltimore Bird Club.

Michel did not disclose the bid amount, although she did say “we are still actively fundraising. . . and continuing to meet with people.”

The foundation has set a goal of raising “$4 million to $6 million” for land acquisition, and another “$1 million to $2 million” to make improvements and build an endowment for maintenance if it’s the successful bidder. Earlier, officials told The Brew they had raised 75%-80% of their goal.

Last night, Michel said BCC is reviewing the foundation’s bid and that she did not know when the club might make a decision.

“Do we think we’re still in the room at this point?” asked Civic League President Claudia Diamond during the virtual meeting.

Michel’s answer: “We’re definitely still in the room.”

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