Rockburn Branch Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rockburn Branch Park |
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| Type | County |
| Location | Elkridge, Maryland |
| Area | 450-acre (1.8 km2) |
| Created | 1996 |
| Operated by | Howard County |
| Status | Open |
Rockburn Branch Park is a cool local park in Elkridge, Maryland. It's built along the Rockburn Branch, which is a small stream that flows into the Patapsco River. This park is huge, with lots of space for outdoor fun!
You can find 7.4 miles of trails for walking or biking, plus many sports fields. There are 10 baseball fields, 2 turf fields, and 4 smaller fields. You can also play tennis or basketball on their courts. The park is also home to some interesting historical spots like the Pfeiffers Corner Schoolhouse and the Clover Hill Historic House. Rockburn Elementary School is also nearby.
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Park History: How It Started
Rockburn Branch Park officially opened in 1975. The first piece of land for the park was "sold" to Howard County for just $5! The person who owned the land wanted to make sure it would always be used for outdoor fun and open space. They even put a special rule in the deed (the official paper for the land) saying it couldn't be changed to another use without special permission.
Later, in 1979, Howard County bought more land right next to the first part. This new land helped connect the park to the big Patapsco Valley State Park.
Historic Buildings in the Park
In September 2004, the Pfeiffers Corner Schoolhouse was moved to the park. This old schoolhouse was built way back in 1883! It's now located on Rockburn Branch Park Road, right across from the elementary school. Today, it's used for community meetings and to teach people about local history.
The Clover Hill Historic House is another old building in the park. There are plans to fix it up and turn it into a place where people can hold events, like other historic spots in the county such as Blandair and Belmont Estate.
Sports and Community Fun
The many fields at Rockburn Branch Park are super popular for local sports teams. Groups like the Elkridge Youth Organization and the Elkridge Hurricanes youth football league use the park for their games and practices. It's a busy spot for young athletes!
What's Next for the Park?
Sometimes, there are discussions about how the park land might be used in the future. For example, in 2017, some people suggested building a new high school in the park. However, the County Executive, Allan H. Kittleman, and a member of the Howard County Council said they didn't think that was a good idea. They wanted the park to stay as a park!
