Oregon Ridge Park Master Plan
Baltimore County, MD
The Oregon Ridge Park Master Plan (ORPMP) showcases L/KLA outreach and engagement strategies for a park master plan for an 1,100-acre park in northern rural Baltimore County, west of Towson, MD. Oregon Ridge Park provides visitors with a wide array of experiences, from active recreation at the softball fields to educational programming at the Nature Center, to concerts and other events in and around the Lodge. The park is blessed with an extensive trail system, significant woodlands, and extensive meadowlands.
Initially a contentious project, with well-connected advocates concerned
about potential changes to the site, the implementation of a robust engagement process brought trust to the process and allowed for a completed draft plan to be delivered on schedule. Using both formal and informal outreach measures, L/KLA participated in multiple virtual (recorded and later posted on the project website) and in-person public workshops and meetings. Walks in the park with concerned park users provided opportunities for one-on-one conversations to hear and address concerns.
Additional ‘in the park’ sessions, or pop-ups were held on multiple dates
in the park to catch every-day park users who might not be formally affiliated with an active recreation league or park facility. Several online survey tools were employed, including an online polling exercise during a virtual workshop, to capture public concerns and dreams. Additional outreach included bilingual rangers in the park (Spanish-speaking), a bilingual story hour at a fixed time and place during the summer, and an activator event held in conjunction with a master plan public workshop with activities, music, and outreach targeted to communities not normally found in the park.