Cromwell Valley Park

Diverse Habitat

This 380 acre park was acquired by Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks starting in 1993. The park is a stream valley park comprised of pasture, open fields, woods, hedgerows, cultivated fields and floodplain. This diverse habitat makes it an excellent area for wildlife. There are many species of raptors such as the Red-tailed Hawk, Kestrel, and Great Horned Owl, which prey on a healthy population of small mammals such as rabbits, deer mice, and meadow voles. Deer and fox are also plentiful. Song birds which can be seen in the park include the Baltimore Oriole, Bobolink, Meadowlark, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Bluebird, and many others. The Belted Kingfisher and Great Blue Heron are often seen around the stream.

Loads of History

Located in the Minebank Run stream valley, the area has been settled since the early 1700's and used primarily for farming. Some iron ore mining took place in the stream valley with the largest of at least four mines located at the stream's starting point -- hence the name Minebank Run. This valley became a production area for building whitewash, and agricultural lime due to an easily quarried supply of Cockeysville marble, which readily turned into lime when cooked. Marble was dumped into the top of the kiln and burned using wood as fuel. The burned marble, now lime powder, was then collected and bagged at the base of the furnace. The lime kilns in the valley operated until the 1920's and were owned by the Jenifer and Shanklin families. The remnants of several of these lime kilns are still visible today in the park.

Three Farms - One Park

Today's park was acquired from three property owners from March 1993 to December 1994, primarily with Program Open Space funds from the State. The eastern 220 acres, the Willow Grove Area, were purchased from the heirs of Robert Merrick, a prominent Baltimore banker. On this farm stands a house built in the mid 1800's by A.W. Shanklin. The center 102 acres, the Sherwood Estate, were purchased from the heirs of Mrs. Frances Wellington Sherwood. On this property sits the gorgeous Sherwood House. Dating from 1935, this house was designed by the Baltimore architectural firm of Palmer and Lamdin. Run as a gentleman's farm, the Sherwoods operated apple and peach orchards, sold eggs and chickens to the public, and raised farm animals for the family's own kitchen. The third property, the Good Fellowship Area, was purchased from Mr. Franklin Eck, who operated a Christmas tree farm.

Special Events Throughout the Year

• Children's Theatre Production
• Art in the Park
• Holiday Open House
• Fall Harvest Festival
• Easter Egg Hunt

Revised September 16, 2008