Park Coming Soon Across From Festival At Bel Air

BEL AIR, MD — Work on a new park is underway near The Festival at Bel Air. There will be a grand opening for the park this spring, according to Harford County Executive Barry Glassman.

The property is located south of The Festival, off Wheel Road and bounded by routes MD 924 and MD 24. Construction started in July on what will become a passive park with a loop trail system, Glassman said. There will also be a pavilion and 75-car parking lot on-site.

Called Emily Bayless Graham Park, it will be named in honor of the land donor. The site spans 69 acres.

Graham transferred the deed for the property, which had been used for farming, to Harford County in 2015; since then, crews have demolished structures that were dilapidated and not of historical value.

A walking trail system is planned throughout the park, which may also be used for community gardens and conservation areas, according to Harford County's Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation Paul Magness.

"What you're seeing from [Route] 924 today...is essentially what it's going to look like," Magness said while briefing the public about the project at a community meeting in 2017.

Focused on natural space, the park will reflect minimal changes from its current state, he said, in accordance with Graham's wishes.

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