Swann Park’s Future in the Baltimore Peninsula Development Still to Be Determined

The original master plan for the Port Covington development, which now goes by Baltimore Peninsula, showed Swann Park being replaced with new blocks and the athletic fields being relocated to an expanded West Covington Park, which is also known as South Point. However, new master plan renderings for the development show the park staying put.

MaryAnne Gilmartin of MAG Partners, one of the partners in the Baltimore Peninsula development team, confirmed to SouthBMore.com that the future of the park has not yet been determined.

“What I like about the master plan is that it is inherently flexible,” said Gilmartin. “It’s nice when you can move ideas around. Swann Park could ultimately be a park forever. It could also be used for waterfront entertainment venues.”

Gilmartin said they have “a couple of working ideas” for the land and, if those ideas come to fruition, the fields could be relocated by South Point.

“Right now there are no firm plans to do anything in particular with it. We are just keeping it in our flexible planning,” she said.

Swann Park is owned by the City of Baltimore and managed by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks. South Point is owned by Baltimore Peninsula development team partner Sagamore Ventures.

Gilmartin said the current focus is on the east side of the development where Chapter 1B is wrapping up, but said they will eventually move their focus to the western section of the development.

Swann Park is the home to Al Kaline Field, named after the late Baseball Hall of Famer. Kaline grew up in the nearby South Baltimore neighborhood of Westport and played high school baseball at Southern High School in Federal Hill.

A monument was installed at Swann Park in 2019 to honor the former Mayor, Governor, and Congressman Thomas Swann, who is the namesake for Swann Park, as well as the history of the 19u amateur baseball team that played at the park. This notable team had more than 175 future professional baseball players take the field. This monument was spearheaded by local baseball enthusiasts who wanted to make sure the history of baseball at the park was commemorated before any major changes were made. The plaque was designed so that it can be moved if the park is relocated.

Swann Park was closed in 2007 after it was found to be contaminated with arsenic. It later reopened in 2010 after remediation and a renovation was completed.

Early Port Covington Master Plan renderings 

Current Baltimore Peninsula Master Plan renderings courtesy of the Baltimore Peninsula development team

Google Maps screenshot

SouthBMore.com photos from 2019

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.