A new green space has opened at Solo Gibbs Park in the footprint of the recently-demolished Sharp-Leadenhall Elementary School. This new open space clears the way for Phase 1 of the Solo Gibbs Park Master Plan, which is scheduled to begin construction in Fall 2025.
The Solo Gibbs Master Plan was completed in 2020 by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP) with architecture firm Mahan Rykiel Associates. This was done after several years of meetings with the community.
The first improvements took place in 2021 as one tennis court was resurfaced and one was removed to create additional green space. A playground on the northern section of the park was additionally rebuilt.
The demolition of Sharp-Leadenhall Elementary School was a project by the Maryland Stadium Authority. After demolishing the school, the land was seeded to make the green space.
The demolition of the school expands the footprint at Solo Gibbs Park adjacent to the baseball field. In Phase 1, the field will transition from a baseball field to a field aligned for football and soccer. It will also double as an area for gatherings and festivals.
A portion of the former Sharp-Leadenhall Elementary School space will also be the location of a new recreation center that will front W. West St. This will come in a later phase of the master plan and has not yet been funded. The recreation center will have a gymnasium, fitness areas, and multipurpose rooms. BCRP estimates in 2022 stated the building could cost $7.2 million.
The existing recreation center at Solo Gibbs Park will stay until the new recreation center is open.
Phase 1 improvements will include the new multipurpose field; rebuilding the basketball courts and moving them a bit east to make more room for the Sharp Street Promenade of the Gwynns Falls Trail; expanding the playground; building a new splash pad; creating a new “Hamburg Street Gateway” to enter the park on Hamburg St.; the creation of the “Cross Street Plaza” at Cross St. and Leadenhall St.; and the construction of a pavilion next to the tennis court.
BCRP has completed 60 percent of the construction documents for Phase 1 and expects to advertise the project for bid (Phase 1) this upcoming summer.
The work is expected to cost around $5 million. It will be funded by a mix of city capital, state grants, and Local Impact Grants from South Baltimore Gateway Partnership.
Work is also underway to construct a Washington Capitals street hockey court at a former basketball court that is underneath I-395 and adjacent to the M&T Bank Stadium parking lots. The court will also have basketball hoops and lines. The approximately $150,000 project is funded by the Washington Capitals. Commercial playground equipment manufacturer Kompman is overseeing the project.
The walls and hoops have been installed on this project, but it still needs to be resurfaced. That project is expected to be completed before Spring 2025.
Master plan renderings also show the existing tennis court with new lines for expanded pickleball options.
Solo Gibbs Park was built in the 1979. This portion of Sharp Leadenhall, which was previously comprised of rowhomes, was demolished to make way for the construction of I-395. The area was deemed “blighted” in order to buy and clear out the homes. Solo Gibbs Park was built on land that wasn’t needed for I-395.
The park also borders the Otterbein and South Baltimore neighborhoods.
Archeological digs have taken place at the site and artifacts from this could be showcased at the new recreation center to highlight this historically African-American community. Found artifacts include ceramics and foundations from former homes.
Screenshot courtesy of Google Maps
Rendering courtesy of Baltimore City Recreation & Parks and Mahan Rykiel
