Building Fun for the Today and Community for Tomorrow

Baltimore County’s Recreation & Parks system has long been the heart of community life—where kids discover passions, families come together, seniors stay active and neighbors build connections. But too much of the system is stuck in the past. Volunteers are stretched thin, facilities are aging and families still lack basics like public pools.

It’s time to modernize Recreation & Parks so it meets today’s needs and creates opportunities for the next generation.

Supporting Volunteers, Strengthening Councils

Our rec councils are powered by dedicated volunteers—the lifeblood of the system. But the demands placed on them have become overwhelming. Too often, it’s the same few parents doing everything—from coaching and organizing to fundraising and scheduling. One parent and coach put it plainly:

“Volunteers are only stretched thin because there are only a few who step up. Each rec council begs parents to help, but not everyone can—whether it’s time, confidence or comfort coaching their own child.”

We need to rebalance the partnership: giving volunteers modern tools and clear support while keeping the community voice that makes councils strong.

• Modern Tools: Introduce updated systems that make it easier for volunteers to organize, track, and prioritize their work.
• Fair Processes: Require every council to have clear, accessible bylaws so families know disputes will be handled consistently and locally.
• Accountability: Provide treasurer training, transparent annual financial summaries, and rotating audits so the community’s trust is never in doubt.
• Better Communication: Share monthly updates from the County and host open listening sessions so residents and volunteers always have a seat at the table.

Smarter Partnerships with Our Schools

Too often, our kids lose out because school facilities are tangled in red tape or unevenly maintained. We can fix this by building stronger partnerships with BCPS that put community use first.

• Community Access First: Before rec councils contribute money, there must be agreements guaranteeing community use.
• Clear Maintenance Rules: Right now, elementary school fields are maintained by Parks, while middle school fields fall to BCPS—leaving many unusable. We’ll transfer responsibility to Parks so fields are ready when families need them most.

Making the Most of Our Facilities

We finally have a full inventory of every park and recreation site in the county — now it’s time to turn that data into action. In concert with our efforts to streamline permitting and project implementation with the Dream and Deliver Framework, we will:

• Annual Facility Reviews: Evaluate each site for quality, accessibility, and usefulness, then develop community-by-community plans for upgrades and new investments especially multi-use facilities.
• Community Surveys: Regularly ask residents what programs, sports, and amenities they want most, ensuring that our investments reflect real community demand.
• Modernized Information Systems: Feedback only works when residents have accurate information. Too often, parents find the county’s Rec & Parks listings outdated — with some programs no longer offered and others missing entirely. We’ll modernize the website and data systems so families can easily access clear, up-to-date details on every program available countywide.

Bringing Recreation into the 21st Century

Baltimore County deserves a system that embraces technology and national best practices.

• Easy Reporting: Create an online portal where residents can report issues and track repairs.
• Smarter Promotion: Use Rec & Parks’ social media platforms—Instagram, TikTok, Facebook—to showcase every sport and program across the county, from the most popular to the lesser-known, like youth wrestling and hockey. Every child should know what opportunities exist in their community.
• National Standards: Maintain CAPRA accreditation, tying funding and grants to best-in-class standards.
• Continuous Improvement: Establish an internal task force to make sure processes don’t just keep up—but lead.

Reclaiming Public Pools

Baltimore County is one of the only major jurisdictions in Maryland without public pools. The last ones were closed in the 1960s rather than be integrated—a historic injustice never corrected. Today, families must rely on fee-based YMCA pools, which is unfair and exclusionary.

We will invest in a countywide public pool system that provides free access for all residents, ensuring equity, safety, and community health.

Building the Next Chapter

Recreation & Parks is not just about fields and gyms—it’s about who we are as a community. With the right investments, we can support our volunteers, modernize our facilities and expand opportunities for every generation.

Together, we’ll build a system that reflects the best of Baltimore County: connected, active and strong.