Building an Inclusive Playground at the Reimagined Pikesville Armory Campus

The transformation of the historic Pikesville Armory into an intergenerational community hub will serve as a catalyst for making Pikesville a vibrant neighborhood, satisfying local needs and providing the people of Northwest Baltimore with opportunities to feel empowered and thrive. This encompasses a $100M+ phased capital redevelopment of a 17-acre property, only 600 yards from the Baltimore City line, at the nexus of several zip codes: 21208, 21117, 21153, 21209, 21215, 21207, 21244 and 21133. A growing population (200K+) where 67% are Black or other racial minorities, with an estimated 10% living in poverty, will benefit from this project.

There was a Governor’s Commission (2017-2019) and on-going ample community engagement to discuss the future of this decommissioned military campus. This project benefits from deep community support as a result of proactive, significant buy-in for almost a decade. Needs identified by State, County and community leadership include:
Shortage of playgrounds, recreational fields and green spaces
Lack of spaces for small business incubation and workforce development
Lack of community spaces
Lack of art and cultural venues
Growing infrastructure needs for the aging population at the local Senior Center
Need to preserve and adopt an adaptive reuse approach of a historic campus

The specific need that this request would be answering is the lack of an ADA-friendly playground in the area: there’s only one in Baltimore County (as of November 2025) -Angel Park, located in Perry Hall, almost 20 miles away from Pikesville. Recreation was a key element from day one as the community leaders, stakeholders and everyone that participated in the Governor’s Commission process recognized that “...there are no freestanding recreation facilities or regional parks located in Pikesville…”. Furthermore, according to a recent Baltimore County Public School (BCPS) Community School Needs Assessment Survey (in collaboration with The Y), communities of Millbrook and Bedford Elementary Schools and Pikesville Middle School think that their #1 need is “safe places to play and hang out outside”.

Our +1-acre ADA-friendly playground will be free and open to all, and will include multi-sensory and cross-generational elements to promote physical, cognitive, and social development while fostering community bonding across generations, faiths, races and abilities. This playground will allow children in Northwest Baltimore to enjoy their right to play, and have access to healthy lifestyles and a thriving and vibrant community.

The much anticipated playground will be located at the heart of the reimagined campus, in between athletic fields and a multipurpose event lawn, surrounded by an accessible walking path for the community to exercise, engage with nature, and improve their physical and mental health while connecting with others.

Becoming a donor and partner of the Pikesville Armory Foundation is an opportunity to join a journey of bringing people together, helping build relationships between a growing diverse population in Northwest Baltimore, empowering the community and setting the stage for a brighter and vibrant future in the area.

Gifts of $50K+ are currently being matched by a grant from the Harvey M. Meyerhoff Fund, doubling the impact of your generosity. Phasing and budget details can be provided upon request. We have naming opportunities available. We also offer private tours of our campus to fully grasp the scale and potential of this entire project.