Downs Park in Pasadena was a farm until 1913 when tobacco importer Baltimore’s H.R. Mayo Thom bought the land as a summer estate, called Rocky Beach Farm, for his family. The land changed hands again in 1977 when Anne Arundel County purchased 236 acres to be used as a park.
Address: 8311 John Downs Loop, Pasadena
Website: aacounty.org
Admission: $6/car
Hours: Open daily 7am-Dusk
Pets: Dogs are welcome on a leash.
Note: Stroller accessible. Restrooms available at the Visitor Center
Now the park offers something for everyone. Paved trails through the woods are great for beginning bike riders, strollers, and dog walking. A huge playground with a climbing tower will keep older kids busy, while smaller structures and swings will keep preschoolers entertained. There is a large outdoor amphitheater adjacent to the playground for concerts and other entertainment.
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Downs Park makes good use of its shoreline on the Chesapeake Bay, with benches along the overlook for casual relaxation, a car-top boat launch, fishing pier and dog beach that provide the public with various water activities and access points. Basketball courts, a youth camping area, bee hives, and a wedding garden are additional amenities.
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Don’t miss the Visitors Center which overlooks the bay. Inside you will find displays of native animals that roam the park. There are also models of working ships that sailed the bay. And kids can test their knowledge of local critters with the Wise Owl Quiz Board.
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Looking for more fun parks to explore? See our collection of Park Spotlights for great places to experience nature.