Ridgely’s Delight Park Renovated with the Help of Casino Impact Funds

A pocket park at Melvin Dr. and Penn St. in Ridgely’s Delight recently underwent renovations and was rededicated earlier this month. The project was a partnership between The Ridgely’s Delight Association (RDA), the Casino Local Development Council (LDC), Parks and People Foundation, and Baltimore City Recreation and Parks.

The total cost of the project was $126,000. $70,000 was contributed to the project from the LDC which manages impact funds from Horseshoe Casino Baltimore. “The LDC was looking for a shovel ready project, and we happened to have a shovel ready project,” said RDA president Sharon Reutter. Grants have also been given to other communities near the casino in the South Baltimore Gateway Master Plan.

Baltimore City Recreation and Parks contributed $12,000 to the project, Parks and People contributed $37,000, and RDA contributed $7,000.

The pocket park has been in existence since the early 1980s and has a playground for kids which was redone by the City in 2007. But, it became rundown and pretty under utilized for the last 10 years, according to Reutter. Former RDA president Chris Conlon got the ball rolling on the project in 2012.

Along with the playground the rebuilt park now has new concrete, reconfigured planters, new trees and shrubs, new exercise equipment, a reconfigured wall, new picnic tables, new lighting, and a new water source. RDA contributed a ping pong table and bike rack to the project.

“The neighborhood is very excited,” said Reutter “It’s great not only for kids but for community get togethers, and we see some students using the picnic tables on nice days.”

About the Author: Kevin Lynch

Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.