ESSEX, MD—The all new Essex Field at Renaissance Park in Baltimore County is now open. The $2.3 million upgrades are part of a partnership between Baltimore County, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, the American Rescue Plan Act, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce.

The synthetic turf field is able to be used both during the day and evening, and will be open to students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, which is located nearby.

“Athletic fields like the new Essex Field at Renaissance Park provides residents of all ages the opportunity to stay active, have fun, and build new connections with their neighbors,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “We continue to be fully committed to the revitalization of Essex and grateful to our partners in this exciting project for their investment in the youth and families of Eastern Baltimore County.”

The field is also equipped with permanent spectator stands, a scoreboard, and expanded sidewalk connections, and will be a great place for children to play and run in the Essex area.

“Investing in our community’s recreational facilities is crucial for fostering a healthy and vibrant environment for our residents,” said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger. “This is another critical community project made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act have which is helping reimagine and strengthen our neighborhoods. I commend County Executive Johnny Olszewski, the Ripken Foundation, and all those who made this project possible for their dedication and partnership to create safe and engaging places for our children and families to thrive.”

More in the video below.

Check out the new Essex Field at Renaissance Park!

With a new synthetic turf field, an energy efficient LED lighting system, permanent seating stands, scoreboard, and more, we're connecting residents with more opportunities to spend time outdoors and get active ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rWwJmCHNfy

— Baltimore County (@BaltCoGov) July 8, 2024

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.