"Paths for People"
All photos by Adam Paul
"Paths for People"
All photos by Adam Paul
Imagine your suprise as you drive up Liberty Heights Avenue, peering ahead and seeing the sign "Granada Path" with the intention of making the turn, when you stop to see that this is not a street at all but rather a sidewalk! Such is the case in many areas within outer Baltimore Neighborhoods dating from the early 20th Century. Before the onslaught of the automobile, it was popular to create pathways used by pedestrians to reach different areas of the neighborhood. As a result, the paths tended to make the neighborhoods more livable.
Paths of Roland Park No place in Baltimore has more pathways than Roland Park. Designer Olmstead placed a number of paths across the hilly development, particularly the Nothwest end, and all have survived to the present day. These paths, once designated but unmarked, have since been given wooden placards denoting their name as part of a 1991 Centennial Celebration of the Roland Park development. Most of these signs thankfully survive intact with no vandalism.
Locally, the paths are popular retreats among those exercising, as well as those who simply need a shortcut between streets, as they were intended for anyway. Following is a map of the Roland Park Paths:
PATHS OF ROLAND PARK: A - Shipton
B - Climbing
C - Tintern
D - Litchfield
E - Laurel
F - Squirrel
G - Hilltop
H - Briar
I - Tulip
J - Long Lane
K - Sunset
L - Lookout
M - Upland Road
N - Hepburn
O - Rye
P - Vanbiber
Q - Kittery Lane
(not shown, just Northwest of "E") - St. MargaretsPhotos:
CLICK ON ANY OUTLINED PHOTO FOR A LARGER ONE...
Briar Path, spanning Longwood and Beechdale Roads is among the longest of the Roland Park Paths. The overhanging foliage provides a pleasant retreat on a hot day.
Some of the Roland Park Paths would certainly not pass ADA guidelines if constructed today. Such is the case with Hilltop Path, a "T" shaped thorofare connecting Beecdale and St Johns Roads with Indian Lane.
"L" shaped Laurel Path is the Northernmost of a three path segment in West Roland Park that constantly mounts and drops hills.
Short but scenic is Litchfield Path connecting Deepdene Road and Blackberry Lane, with its abundant flowering foliage and ferns.
For a short stretch, Long Lane becomes a path as it crosses Club Road, then resumes its alley width.
Rye Path bridges Somerset Road and University Parkway, East of Keswick Road, and is a mix of Downhills and stairways.
Another steep path is Shipton, which connects steep Merrymount Road with Tintern Path below.
Even without steps, the grades of many of the paths can still be a challenge, such as Squirrel Path, shown here.
Rather unspectacular is St. Margaret's Path, connecting Englewood Road and Springhouse Path (actually a Street). Were it not for the sign, this would easily be mistaken for a driveway.
Sunset Path, which connects the intersection of Goodwood and Club Roads with Hillside Road below, while passing between the Baltimore Country Club and the Rusty Rocks Garden, boasts an impressive stone surface.
Aside from it's steps at either end, Tulip Path is actually passable by autos.
Signs for the Roland Park Paths consist of Brass letters placed on a wooded signboard mounted from a wooden staff.
WEST ARLINGTON PATHS:
Though not as elaborate as the paths of Roland Park, two paths were also constructed in the West Arlington area of the City, just West of Liberty Heights Avenue. These paths each run for three blocks, and both bisect the same long block along Liberty Heights North of Granada.
Overgrown with tree clippings is lonely Granada Path in West Arlington
And others.........................................
Some paths were once streets that have since been converted to pathways. Such is case with narrow Poplin Avenue in Mount Washington, which once led across the Western Run to a small community.Other paths do exist, and will be documented as time permits!
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