Event aims to promote city’s open park space

‘Field day’ draws crowd for day of games and outdoor activities along waterfront

Even on a sunny summer weekend, Rash Field can seem empty.

While the beach volleyball courts are a popular draw, many passersby continue along the brick Inner Harbor promenade, or simply don’t make the trek from the shops at Harborplace or from South Baltimore neighborhoods.

But by noon Saturday, a small crowd gathered at the waterfront park on the south edge of the Inner Harbor for the first “Field Day” event organized by the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, the nonprofit that promotes and maintains the Inner Harbor.

“We want to see our city residents enjoying this park,” Sarah St. Clair, the Waterfront Partnership’s marketing manager, said between greeting participants who signed up for field day events. The “field day” theme included childhood games, such as wheelbarrow and potato sack races, “bubble ball soccer” for adults and corn hole. In between competitions, vendors offered dishes and cocktails.

The event is the latest effort by Waterfront Partnership to draw people to the city’s open spaces along the water. St. Clair said the Waterfront Partnership plans to make the event an annual one to get people to see other uses for the park.

The event comes as the nonprofit plans a $5 million renovation of Rash Field, to begin in fall of 2017.

Lauren Moloney, director of special projects for the Waterfront Partnership, said the park is one of the most “underutilized” spaces around the Inner Harbor.

Some residents believe it’s only for beach volleyball, while tourists might pass it completely while walking around the Inner Harbor, she said. One of the changes will be to remove berms that separate the park from the waterfront promenade.

The plans also include adding a grass field, which could be used for flag football and other field games, a new climbing wall, a skateboard park and more trees to provide shade.

Moloney said officials are also looking for ways to upgrade existing public bathrooms and make them more accessible. Currently, several portable toilets are stationed along the bleachers.

Tienne Walker, who attended Saturday’s event, said she supported a new field space and also would like to see more activities to draw her to Rash Field. She said she has attended several classes sponsored by the Waterfront Partnership at other locations.

“We’re into fitness and making lifestyle changes,” said Walker, who dressed to work out, wearing spandex leggings and a T-shirt.

She said she’s always looking for new opportunities to help her stay fit, and she thought the field day games Saturday might be a different way to exercise.

“It made me think about when I was a kid,” she said.

Walker’s friend Dorlisa Mullen-Mitchell and her son, Waylan Mitchell, joined her. Mullen-Mitchell said the event was a good opportunity to do something active outside, a change from her routine activities at home.

“There’s a difference” being out in the fresh air, she said. “The breeze feels good.”

Both women said they had hoped for more organized activities but said they want to see the event return.

They rode the subway from West Baltimore, and Walker said organizers should provide more information about parking and public transportation to the area. She said many might avoid Rash Field because of the lack of parking nearby.

Judie Knight, 70, who lives downtown, said she walked to Rash Field from her home. She had planned to walk the paved track around the field and happened upon the event.

She said she’s pleased to see others enjoying the park space and hopes it will continue.

Before walking her laps around the volleyball courts, Knight said Rash Field “is an important part of downtown living. What else could you ask for?”