Blandair Park Closed to Vehicles at Oakland Mills Entrance

COLUMBIA, MD — The entrance to Blandair Park from Oakland Mills Road closed this week to vehicular traffic. Cars are not allowed to access the park until Feb. 2, according to the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, as work is underway in the area.

In the meantime, bicycle and pedestrian traffic may come in through adjacent pathways.

When Blandair Park reopens to cars in February, vehicles can access it from MD 175 between Tamar Drive and Thunder Hill Road.

From Parks and Rec officials: "Blandair Park is being constructed in phases. Phase I opened in 2012 and included a 25-acre parcel in the south area on the west side of Oakland Mills Road that featured three lighted synthetic turf multi-purpose fields, a playground, shelter, restroom and parking lot. Phase II is a 31.4-acre parcel on the south east side of Oakland Mills Road. Currently underway, Phase II includes the installation of two lighted synthetic turf baseball fields with bleachers, a playground, shelter, lighted tennis courts, restroom, paved paths and a parking lot. Construction on Phase II is scheduled to be completed this year. Phase III is projected to begin this year and will include a maintenance building, a Play-For-All playground, bocce ball court, croquet courts, horseshoe pits, shelter, restrooms and parking lot."

Image of great horned owl spotted at Blandair Park this week. Photo by Jim Wilkinson via Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks.