Gunpowder Falls Golf Course may close
County officials eye land for new park
By Linda Garman Weimer
Posted 8/22/08
A 200-acre park may be in the works for Raphel Road near Kingsville.
The new park would be formed from three parcels of land, including the Baltimore County Revenue Authority’s money-losing Gunpowder Falls Golf Course.
“The upside for the community is fantastic — to have 200 acres all locked up for open space and recreation,” said Don Mohler, a spokesman for County Executive Jim Smith.
County staff is in talks with the independent revenue authority to close the Gunpowder Falls Golf Course, which covers 112 acres.
The course is one of six operated by the authority.
George Hale, chief executive of the authority, confirmed Aug. 21 that talks are under way but said that no decision has been made by the five-member authority board.
Other, smaller parcels of land that could be in the park are 28 acres of the Schmidt property, purchased for open space by the county last year and a parcel of 66 acres now for sale, Mohler said.
Both Mohler and the director of recreation and parks, Robert Barrett, said the Kingsville-White Marsh area needs more land for organized recreation such as soccer, baseball, lacrosse and tennis.
Volunteer recreation councils in the northeast “are badly in need of more fields,” Mohler said.
Barrett said he was “very, very excited” at the prospect of what could be one of the largest of eight regional parks in the county.
If the anticipated 200 acres are assembled, it would be larger than Honeygo Regional Park, on Honeygo Boulevard in Perry Hall, he said.
“I understand it has a nice clubhouse that could be renovated for community meetings. And the paved paths (for golf carts) could become walking trails,” Barrett said.
Hale spoke sympathetically of the White Marsh area’s need for youth-oriented recreational facilities.
The Gunpowder Falls course is not profitable, Hale said, “but the primary push is the evaluation of what options they (parks officials) have to meet the recreational needs of children and youth in the area.”
The area’s councilman, T. Bryan McIntire, said he initially supported the idea but now questions whether the Kingsville community wants such a large sports facility.
“When I reflect on how hard I worked to get the revenue authority to acquire the golf course (in 2004), I’m not sure it shouldn’t remain a golf course,” the councilman said Aug. 22.
“The vast majority want Kingsville to remain a quiet country town,” McIntire said.
While ball fields might please youngsters, golfers at Gunpowder Falls are generally seniors who could not replace the course’s compact size, said one such user, Bud Herb of Fullerton.
“The importance of this course is that it’s only 3,300 yards compared to an average of 7,000 yards at the county’s other courses. We can play 18 holes in just three hours, but most people just play nine holes,” Herb said.
The course is “relaxing and enjoyable” for both seniors and families teaching golf to their children, he said.
Discussion of the golf course issue is on the agenda for the authority’s Aug. 28 meeting, but there will be no formal document on which to vote, Hale said.
The legal technicalities of a transfer from the authority’s management to the Department of Recreation and Parks are being studied by Fred Homan, county administrative officer, Hale said.
The course would need about 20 percent more golfers than the present 33,000 rounds per year to be profitable, according to Hale.
Word of the possible closing had reached staff of the golf course.
Kyle Harrer, a co-manager at Gunpowder Falls, said, “I’ve heard rumors. I wish I knew more about it myself.”
The new park would be formed from three parcels of land, including the Baltimore County Revenue Authority’s money-losing Gunpowder Falls Golf Course.
“The upside for the community is fantastic — to have 200 acres all locked up for open space and recreation,” said Don Mohler, a spokesman for County Executive Jim Smith.
County staff is in talks with the independent revenue authority to close the Gunpowder Falls Golf Course, which covers 112 acres.
The course is one of six operated by the authority.
George Hale, chief executive of the authority, confirmed Aug. 21 that talks are under way but said that no decision has been made by the five-member authority board.
Other, smaller parcels of land that could be in the park are 28 acres of the Schmidt property, purchased for open space by the county last year and a parcel of 66 acres now for sale, Mohler said.
Both Mohler and the director of recreation and parks, Robert Barrett, said the Kingsville-White Marsh area needs more land for organized recreation such as soccer, baseball, lacrosse and tennis.
Volunteer recreation councils in the northeast “are badly in need of more fields,” Mohler said.
Barrett said he was “very, very excited” at the prospect of what could be one of the largest of eight regional parks in the county.
If the anticipated 200 acres are assembled, it would be larger than Honeygo Regional Park, on Honeygo Boulevard in Perry Hall, he said.
“I understand it has a nice clubhouse that could be renovated for community meetings. And the paved paths (for golf carts) could become walking trails,” Barrett said.
Hale spoke sympathetically of the White Marsh area’s need for youth-oriented recreational facilities.
The Gunpowder Falls course is not profitable, Hale said, “but the primary push is the evaluation of what options they (parks officials) have to meet the recreational needs of children and youth in the area.”
The area’s councilman, T. Bryan McIntire, said he initially supported the idea but now questions whether the Kingsville community wants such a large sports facility.
“When I reflect on how hard I worked to get the revenue authority to acquire the golf course (in 2004), I’m not sure it shouldn’t remain a golf course,” the councilman said Aug. 22.
“The vast majority want Kingsville to remain a quiet country town,” McIntire said.
While ball fields might please youngsters, golfers at Gunpowder Falls are generally seniors who could not replace the course’s compact size, said one such user, Bud Herb of Fullerton.
“The importance of this course is that it’s only 3,300 yards compared to an average of 7,000 yards at the county’s other courses. We can play 18 holes in just three hours, but most people just play nine holes,” Herb said.
The course is “relaxing and enjoyable” for both seniors and families teaching golf to their children, he said.
Discussion of the golf course issue is on the agenda for the authority’s Aug. 28 meeting, but there will be no formal document on which to vote, Hale said.
The legal technicalities of a transfer from the authority’s management to the Department of Recreation and Parks are being studied by Fred Homan, county administrative officer, Hale said.
The course would need about 20 percent more golfers than the present 33,000 rounds per year to be profitable, according to Hale.
Word of the possible closing had reached staff of the golf course.
Kyle Harrer, a co-manager at Gunpowder Falls, said, “I’ve heard rumors. I wish I knew more about it myself.”
user comments (1)
user davidmarks1 says...
Is this a potential site for a new northeastern high school?
It's biggest obstacle is that it's not connected to public water...but it is geographically at the right location.
Can the Kingsville community support this?
Posted 9:17 PM, 08.23.08
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