Patterson Park: Who Needs a Backyard?

Baltimore residents are fortunate to have a variety of great urban parks at their doorstep (or at least close to home).  Dubbed "Baltimore's Best Backyard," the beloved 137-acre Patterson Park offers beautiful, quiet walking paths ...

Popular sports fields, where the Baltimore Sports and Social Club hosts many of its flag football and softball games ...

The Boat Lake (with the photogenic Greek Orthodox Church in the background) ...

And great views of the city skyline.

Formally established as a park in 1853, Patterson Park has many beautiful features, such as this fountain located at one of the entrances to the park from Butcher's Hill.

The park is always busy with organized sports.  In addition to the Baltimore Sports and Social Club, the Kickball League of Baltimore, Baltimore Road Runners Club, Ecuadoran Volleyball, Latino Baseball League, and the Maryland Major Soccer League all make good use of the park's athletic facilities.  Children can take advantage of soccer and tennis clinics, a swim team, and basketball, and the ice skating rink is a special treat.

Of course, people often take advantage of the park's many paths for running, bicycling, walking, and skateboarding.

Despite the park's popularity, it is still very easy to find solitude.  This woman is having a quiet lunch within the children's play area.

From the iconic Patterson Park Pagoda, one can see all the way to the Key Bridge.

A very popular spot for dogs and the people who love them, Patterson Park has a dog park and is a fitting setting for BARCstoberfest, an annual event that benefits homeless animals.  Barcstoberfest features doggie talent and costume contests, a 5K, vendors selling everything your dog could possibly need, and displays from the many admirable organizations that take care of and protect all different types of pooches.

A good friend of mine took this photo of her boys enjoying the boat lake and is letting me share it with you (thanks Diana!)  Stay tuned for her special Celebrity Blog Post on Patterson Park for Kids.  I hope she will mention the Great Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival, one of Baltimore's most anticipated annual events which took place last night.  Unfortunately, I had other plans and couldn't attend, so I don't have any pictures of it.  Trust me, it is a beautiful spectacle.

I am sure these Patterson Park neighbors enjoyed the parade from the comfort of their front porch overlooking the park.

For more on Patterson Park, visit the Friends of Patterson Park.