Lake Roland Park

Key Highlights

• ✓Explicitly **stroller-friendly** with extensive fully paved paths, accommodating wide strollers through gates.
• ✓Features a **small dedicated toddler park**, perfect for young children.
• ✓**Clearly marked trails** offering a variety of 'adventures' from predominantly flat walks to slightly uphill sections.
• ✓Opportunities for **picnics, fishing, and hiking** all in one location.
• ✓Presence of a **nature center** for educational exploration.
• ✓Beautiful **lake and dam views** throughout the park.

Standout Features

• ⭐**Stroller Accessibility**: Fully paved paths and wide gates suitable for strollers, ensuring ease of navigation for parents with young children.
• ⭐**Toddler Park**: A dedicated small park area for toddlers.
• ⭐**Diverse Trail Network**: A multitude of clearly marked paths ranging from predominantly flat to slightly inclined, catering to various energy levels.
• ⭐**Picnic and Rest Areas**: Plenty of benches available for picnics and resting along the trails.
• ⭐**Nature Center**: An educational facility offering additional engagement opportunities.
• ⭐**Fishing & Views**: Opportunities for fishing and picturesque views of the lake and dam.

Perfect For

Ideal For

🛡️Safety Policy

• • A safe, secure, nurturing, and civil environment is promoted, free of disruptive, demeaning, divisive, intimidating, threatening, bigoted, or aggressive behaviors.
• • Patrons must observe, obey, and respect all park rules and park signage, including temporary maintenance signage. Entering active work areas with heavy equipment may result in significant injury or death.
• • In emergencies, contact Baltimore County Park Staff immediately. For imminent peril, call 9-1-1. Park Staff can be contacted via police radio.
• • Volatile, hostile, or aggressive actions and words from park patrons are not tolerated and may lead to penalties up to, and including, criminal prosecution.
• • Park staff and volunteers will treat others with respect and expect the same in return; they will not conduct business with those who use obscenities or speak in a demanding, loud, insulting, or threatening manner.
• • Dogs must be leashed, except for current Paw Point Dog Park members within the dog park boundaries. Off-leash dogs outside Paw Point will result in an Animal at Large citation (no warnings). Failure to provide ID to park staff will result in Baltimore County Police being summoned.
• • PFDs (life jackets) are always required for kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding on Lake Roland.
• • Smoking, vaping, and tobacco use are prohibited within the general boundary of outdoor Recreation and Parks facilities, including playgrounds and tot lots, dog parks, organized games or events at athletic fields sponsored by the Department of Recreation and Parks or a local recreation council, and within 30 feet of a Recreation and Parks building.
• • Smoking cannabis in a 'public place' (anywhere a reasonable person knows or should know their act will be open to observation) is a civil offense. First offense fine: up to $250. Second offense fine: up to $500 (effective July 1, 2023).
• • Employees, staff, or volunteers of Non-Profit organizations who exercise authority, supervision, or control over children are subject to criminal background checks.
• • All attendees (guests, employees, staff, board members) of Non-Profit organizations or For-Profit/Non-Profit partners must execute a liability waiver form and a Covid-19 form provided by park staff on the requested date.

📅Booking Policy

• • Groups of 12 or more require a Gathering Permit. Failure to obtain a permit may require the group to leave the park.
• • Gathering Permits require two-weeks' notice for proper processing.
• • If a group requires use of a rented pavilion or other facility, the gathering permit requirement is waived as it's included with the rental.
• • For-Profit businesses are not permitted to utilize the park for For-Profit activities without a Special Permit approved by the Director of Recreation and Parks under RECREATION AND PARKS DIRECTIVE A-13.
• • Non-Profit organizations require an Access Permit to utilize the park, regardless of group size.
• • Non-Profit organizations providing services (educational, organizational, therapeutic, fee-based or funded) must provide: Proof of Non-Profit Status, comprehensive general liability insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate, naming Baltimore County and Lake Roland Nature Council as additional insured), a narrative detailing the activity/justification, criminal background checks for staff overseeing children, execution of liability waiver and Covid-19 forms by all attendees. Requests require 3 weeks advance notification and are reviewed case-by-case.
• • Non-Profit organizations utilizing the park for enjoyment (not providing services) must provide: a narrative detailing the activity/justification, execution of liability waiver and Covid-19 forms by all attendees. Requests require 3 weeks advance notification and are reviewed case-by-case.
• • For-Profit and Non-Profit organizations partnering with Lake Roland Nature Council for research or park improvement projects must ensure all attendees execute liability waiver and Covid-19 forms; coverage period may be extended for multiple visits.
• • Professional photography sessions require a permit (Baltimore County Recreation & Parks Directive A-13). Requests are reviewed by the Director or designee, requiring a letter detailing activity, justification, and projected income statement. Commercial vendors must provide comprehensive general liability insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate, naming Baltimore County and Lake Roland Nature Council as additional insured). A copy of the insurance certificate must be sent to the Lake Roland Nature Center (1000 Lakeside Drive, Baltimore, MD 21210) or via email to lakerolnaturecenter@baltimorecountymd.gov and lakerol-rp@baltimorecountymd.gov.

🚗Parking Information

• • Main entrance at 1000 Lakeside Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21210.
• • Access from the Falls Road MTA light rail station via the boardwalk located at the rear of the light rail parking lot.
• • Expanded parking facilities spanning three parking lots, including the MTA Light Rail parking lot.
• • Canoe and kayak launch area is adjacent to the Lakeside Drive parking lot.