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Parks pitches $3 million Inner Harbor railings upgrade, inclusive playground and festival planning for 2027
Summary
Parks unveiled plans to standardize and replace Inner Harbor waterfront railings, add accessible sidewalks and an inclusive playground, and seek bonds to create a permittable event space the city can use if Clinton Square is unavailable in 2027; funding mixes and capacity estimates were discussed but exact capacity and some cost details were not specified in session.
Saisha Burr, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, presented a package of Inner Harbor and Progress Park items to the council that together aim to improve safety, accessibility and festival capacity.
Key elements: an 80%‑reimbursable TIP sidewalk project on Van Rensselaer and West Kirkpatrick; a progress‑park bond for $500,000 to support trailside recreational improvements; a proposal to amend ordinances and authorize a $3 million bond ordinance to comprehensively replace and standardize waterfront railings at the Inner Harbor so piers and event spaces can be permitted for large festivals. Parks staff also described a proposed inclusive playground (adaptive equipment, ADA‑compliant pathways) using a semi‑permanent converted shipping‑container structure to store and rent inclusive equipment.
Burr said current Inner Harbor piers have inadequate railings (wires rather than code‑compliant barriers), preventing festival permitting and creating safety hazards; the work would replace rotted wood decking and implement a seaworthy waterfront railing consistent with modern codes. Parks staff said the Inner Harbor is the only city site large enough to host multiple major festivals if Clinton Square is not available in 2027, citing past attendance (for example, 27,000 at Pride) to explain the need for a permittable large‑capacity space.
Councilors asked about projected capacity, construction timing, and code compliance; Parks said some capacity figures are available from recent events but did not provide a formal engineered capacity during the study session. Staff stressed the work would create accessible routes and allow the city to continue accommodating major annual events.
Next steps: Parks will circulate detailed scope, capacity numbers and procurement/bond timing; related waiver items and bond ordinances will return for formal action.
