Recreation And Parks

The Under Armour logo painted on Federal Hill with the blessing of the city Recreation and Parks department apparently violated an ordinance prohibiting advertising in public open spaces, including parks. The logo, painted on the grass with water-based paint, appeared Thursday and was removed Sunday after complaints from residents about advertising on the prominent historic site. Under Armour, an athletic gear company headquartered in Tide Point, contacted Recreation and Parks spokeswoman Michelle Speaks-March about painting the logo on the hill to welcome participants in a volleyball tournament held at the Baltimore Convention Center.

An Under Armour logo painted on the hillside of Federal Hill Park is being removed just days after riling some residents, who found it to be a tacky, and possibly illegal, form of free advertising. On Sunday afternoon, the logo was covered up with a dark square and was expected to be completely removed today, said spokeswoman Diane Pelkey. The Baltimore-based sports apparel company will then plant grass seed on the spot. The logo, with company motto "Protect This House" stenciled underneath, was put up to welcome players in town for the Northeast Qualifier of the East Coast Volleyball tournament at the Baltimore Convention Center, Pelkey said.

An Under Armour logo painted on the hillside of Federal Hill Park is being removed just days after riling some residents, who found it to be a tacky, and possibly illegal, form of free advertising. On Sunday afternoon, the logo was covered up with a dark square and was expected to be completely removed Monday, said spokeswoman Diane Pelkey. The Baltimore-based sports apparel company will then plant grass seed on the spot. The logo, with company motto "Protect This House" stenciled underneath, was put up to welcome players in town for the Northeast Qualifier of the East Coast Volleyball tournament at the Baltimore Convention Center, Pelkey said.

Councilman Carl Stokes called Friday for the city's comptroller to audit the Department of Recreation and Parks and to report the findings to the City Council in 90 days to 120 days. Stokes was joined at the Ambrose Kennedy Pool and Playground, one of the city's pools set to close this summer, by Councilman James B. Kraft and Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke. Stokes said he is convinced that there is "hidden money" in the parks department that could allow some recreation centers and pools set to close remain open.

A Baltimore city councilman is calling for greater accountability in the Recreation and Parks Department amid complaints about the agency's use of capital funds. Councilman Carl Stokes plans a news conference at the Ambrose Kennedy playground in his East Baltimore district Friday morning to call for an audit of the department's spending. "We don't know what the [department's] economic situation is," Stokes said. "We don't know if there is a budget crisis or not." A 150-member volunteer transition team appointed by Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake reported a lack of transparency in the department's spending.

Baltimore County officials are asking for the community's opinions on plans for a park in Edgemere. A developer had hoped to build new houses on the 30-acre parcel near Back River, but when the sluggish housing market stalled his plans, the county purchased the land known to neighbors as Karll Trust last year for $1.5 million. Now it will be home to athletic fields, walking trails and open space. "We moved right in and bought the parcel for a park," said Robert Barrett, director of the county Department of Recreation and Parks.

Baltimore County will use $6 million in local and state funds to begin the first phase of improvements to Robert E. Lee Park in the Woodbrook area. The plan calls for restoring the 415-acre parcel into a regional facility to serve the county's central neighborhoods. The park will eventually include a nature center, dog park, hiking and biking trails, fountains, benches, restrooms and improved access to its most valuable asset, Lake Roland. The park, owned by Baltimore City but located within the county, remains closed.

Durden resigns as parks director The director of Baltimore's Department of Recreation and Parks, Wanda S. Durden, resigned Monday for "personal reasons," said Scott Peterson, a City Hall spokesman. She is being replaced on an interim basis by Dwayne B. Thomas, who has been with the agency since June. Peterson declined to comment on whether Mayor Sheila Dixon had asked for Durden's resignation from the $127,500 position that she held for 17 months. Durden also refused to comment. Durden oversaw the $31 million agency during a difficult time - declining tax revenues caused the mayor to slice $2.6 million from the parks and recreation budget this year, close pools, lay off workers and shorten recreation center hours.