Howard County residents soon will have three new places to romp as recently built parks open for the summer.
Ellicott City?s new Meadowbrook Park was built to compete with Columbia?s Centennial Park.
“Centennial Park can use the relief ? I can tell you that,” said Gary Arthur, director of the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. The park causes traffic congestion on Route 108 and lacks adequate parking.
On 87 acres at the intersection of Routes 100 and 29, Meadowbrook is wedged among the communities of Columbia Hills, Brampton Hills and Meadow Ridge.
In addition to many sport courts and fields, the park offers a 2 1/2-mile paved path that winds through wetlands.
It also boasts the largest playground in the county, which is wheelchair-accessible and offers swings, a climbing wall and more.
Western Regional Park also is nearing completion of its first phase of construction.
The park is on 160 acres off Route 97 at the intersection of Carrs Mill Road.
So far, it has baseball diamonds, athletic fields, a basketball court and a playground.
The next construction phase will include additional playgrounds, athletic fields, a picnic pavilion, tennis courts and a covered roller hockey pavilion.
High Ridge Park, a seven-acre neighborhood park on Superior Avenue in North Laurel, has a picnic pavilion, field, tennis courts, basketball courts, a playground and a half-mile walking path.
Ribbon cuttings
» Western Regional Park: 10 a.m. June 3 on Carrs Mill Road
» Meadowbrook Park: 1 p.m. June 3 at the intersection of Routes 100 and 29
» High Ridge Park: 9:30 a.m. June 24 on Superior Avenue
