Radebaugh signs contract, park plan moving forward
Rendering of park courtesy of Green Towson Alliance
Rendering of park courtesy of Green Towson Alliance
Local officials said today that the Radebaugh family has signed a contract to sell a portion of its property off Aigburth Avenue to the county. The county would then build a park on the property.
Radebaugh is not closing; this is excess land — located on the other side of Burke Avenue from their shop — that they are selling.
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz announced in June 2015 that the county would purchase the 2.5-acre property for $1.1 million to create a park. Since then, the project had stalled.
“An environmental study still needs to be done to determine if there is contamination; once that is back, and hopefully any issues resolved, the contract will be sent to the County Council for approval. The General Assembly provided funding to help with demolition and improvements to the property,” according to a statement from Sen. Jim Brochin, Del. Steve Lafferty, and Councilman David Marks.
“I am very pleased that the Radebaughs have reached an agreement with the county to sell some its land to create a much-needed park in Towson,” Lafferty said. “I was glad to help obtain state funds to make this idea a reality. The Radebaughs will be able to continue its core business in Towson while the community will have more open space. This deal will benefit all.”
Marks said it had been “an excruciatingly tedious process, but we are finally near the end.”
“I would like to thank everyone who has helped, but particularly the Radebaugh family,” Marks said. “Thanks to their patience, this will be the new first public park in Towson in two decades.”
[pullquote]Easily accessible green space improves mental health, increases general happiness, and provides a direct connection with nature – which helps us make healthier decisions in our lives.[/pullquote]
“Adults long to get their daily aerobic activity without having to walk along busy roads; students want to sit under trees and read books; families crave the park space to connect with others; many people just want to escape pavement, cars, and busy-ness. Easily accessible green space improves mental health, increases general happiness, and provides a direct connection with nature – which helps us make healthier decisions in our lives,” she said.“From an environmental perspective, removing the existing greenhouses and other impervious surfaces which cover most of this site and replacing them with trees, lawn areas and rain gardens will help meet State Stormwater Management goals. The eastern border of the property is located a few feet from the Herring Run, which has been responsible for considerable flooding, environmental degradation and loss of property downstream. Planting native canopy trees will help clean the air and provide shade to reduce the heat island effect of our rapidly developing downtown,” Miller said.
This park is not needed. For those of us that live in the neighborhoods surrounding the park, I envision nothing but an increase in traffic, litter, crime, noise, and unruly behavior. What a terrible idea. Most of those that are “in favor” of this park don’t live close enough to the property to care about these issues. All they see are the words “green space” and jump on the bandwagon to make it happen without any thought as to how immediate neighbors will be impacted.
It is interesting reading these words about a park! I can understand, but not necessarily agree, when folks are upset about a new prison, a firehouse, police station, or a drug treatment center. But complaining about a park??? How about they sell the property to a developer and let’s see who your new neighbors are then!
Green space like this will only help your property values. I very much doubt that all the people around the proposed park are against it — and if they are, they’re shortsighted.
If a passive park with native canopy trees alarms you there are other pressing community needs. The county executive needs to find a place to move the salt dome. Recreation and parks needs more ball fields. Our county executive could declare it surplus and sell it to a developer friend. What will you support?
This is great news.