Recreation
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Recreational activities in Gywnns Falls/Leakin Park

Recreational and athletic opportunities have been developed in both sections of Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park. Athletic Activities -
Playing fields for baseball, football, and soccer are located in Leakin Park along Windsor Mill Road and in the Gwynns Falls Park section at Leon Day Park on Franklintown Road.

Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound Center -
The headquarters of the Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound program are located at 1901 Eagle Drive. The organization provides leadership training through outdoor experiences on the park grounds and in different regions of the state of Maryland. See their website for programming opportunities and a schedule of events.

Birdwatching - Image
Periodic bird walks are led by a member of the Baltimore Bird Club in the Windsor Hills neighborhood. Meet at the parking lot off Windsor Mill Road. For information, check with the Baltimore Bird Club.

Community Gardening - Image
Garden plots, 10 X15 feet, are available for rental for the season through Baltimore City's Department of Recreation and Parks. These gardens are very popular. For information, call 410-396-0180.

Concerts in the Park - Image
FOGFLP initiated a new series of concerts in the park in 2009. The outdoor concerns are performed in the oval great in front of the Orianda House. Concerts are planned for the summer of 2011 and will be announced on this website. Bring a chair or a blanket; picnicking and/or snacks are allowed before and during the performance.

Hiker/Biker Trail - Image
The Gwynns Falls Trail, a 14-mile hiker/biker route, provides opportunities for access to the Dead Run and Gwynns Falls valley sections of the park as well as a connecting link to the Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore. It can be accessed from trailhead parking lots at the I-70 terminus Park and Ride, Winans Meadow, Windsor Mill Road, Leon Day Park, and Frederick Avenue. For more information and a map of the trail sites and amenities go to the Gwynns Falls Trail website.

Hiking - Image
Miles of maintained, color-blazed, walking/hiking trails are available in the forested areas of the park. Principal access points for the trails are Winans Meadow (at the parking lot on Franklintown Road), the upland section of Leakin Park at Eagle Drive (parking is provided at the entrance, off Windsor Mill Road), and the Windsor Mill Road Trailhead (at the Gwynns Falls Trail parking lot). View and downolad our trail map.

The Windsor Hills Conservation Trail provides a quiet woodland area for hiking, birding, and nature study. Its trailhead is across Windsor Mill Road from the Gwynns Falls Trail parking lot.

An experienced guide directs a gentle hike through the park at 10:00 a.m. on Thursdays, with particular emphasis on historic features and nature observations. Check the activity calendar on this site for additional information.

Miniature Trains - Image
The Chesapeake and Allegheny Steam Preservation Society has operated working model miniature trains in Leakin Park since 1983. The organization offers free rides for children and adults from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m on the second Sunday of the months from April through November (weather permitting). Parking is available near the Eagle Drive entrance to the park, off of Windsor Mill Road. For details, see the group's web site.

Nature Center - Image
The Carrie Murray Nature Center is an educational resource with exhibits of live birds, reptiles, fish, and insects. Demonstrations and other special event opportunities are scheduled monthly. A day camp is programmed during the summer months. Initially established with a gift from Baltimore Orioles great Eddie Murray, in honor of his mother, the center provides a unique nature-oriented experience for children of all ages. Open Monday-Saturday; for more information and the calendar of events see the listing on the Baltimore City web site.

Orianda House - Image
Located within Leakin Park, this nineteenth-century country home is open for viewing. Built by railroad man Thomas Winans for his family in the 1850s, it now houses memorabilia about the family and estate. It also provides housing for Outward Bound staff at certain times of the year. For more information about the mansion or to arrange a visit, contact the Friends of Orianda House.

Picnicking - Image
Outdoor tables are available near Orianda House and the children's playground, along the park's Eagle Drive access road off Windsor Mill Road. Picnickers may drive their car around the circle to unload their picnic supplies, but should park in the entrance parking lot. These facilities are available daily until dark. Group reservations must be made at the Permit Office of the Department of Recreation and Parks (410-396-7070).

Tennis - Image
Four tennis courts are available on a first-come-first-serve basis for daylight tennis. Pick-up doubles matches are played almost every evening about 5:00 p.m. during the summer. Parking is adjacent to the courts at the Eagle Drive entrance to the park, just off Windsor Mill Road.