Black Residents Created their own Opportunities for Recreation During Segregation-
White neighbors fought the establishment of the Morgan Park neighborhood
As the City Beautiful reform movement of the early 1900s encouraged the creation of more recreational spaces, Baltimore used reports from the renowned Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm to expand and develop its park system, including Herring Run. The park was established for the benefit of its citizens in 1908, but just three years later, the city began racial zoning ordinances that discriminated against its Black residents. Private housing covenants extended the restrictions. Not surprisingly, there was tension between Black and White neighborhoods over access to, and use of, many local parks.
In 1917, Morgan College purchased 70 acres of land from the Ivy Mill estate as part of its relocation from West Baltimore, thanks to funding from Andrew Carnegie. A small section of those 70 acres was set aside for faculty and administrator housing. Designed and built by African Americans who were unable to purchase housing in Baltimore’s widely known segregated neighborhoods, the area of bungalows and four squares became known as Morgan Park. Originally the neighborhood was created to house administrators and faculty of Morgan College (later Morgan State College, now Morgan State University), founded to train Black ministers and later Black teachers. The neighborhood came under attack upon its creation in 1917 and exemplified the degree of White hostility toward Black neighbors. While racially restrictive zoning ordinances had been ruled unconstitutional that same year, culturally many White people did not accept neighbors of color.
In the 1920s and 30s, more families moved into the growing Morgan Park, and residents established social groups and clubs. The formation of the Morgan Park Improvement Association also spurred communal feeling as all residents were encouraged to sit on one of its many committees from the finance and political action committees to homes and gardens. Parents organized the Junior Partners Club to engage their children in recreational opportunities in the neighborhood and in Herring Run, and there was a committee to support it!
Herring Run Park served as an important draw to the neighborhood throughout the 20th century as it offered beautiful views from those houses on Cold Spring Lane and recreational opportunities to families of color.
In 1940, the Baltimore City Department of Public Recreation was established, with segregated park and recreation facilities and a Colored Division. Black residents had 40% less recreation areas than White residents. This system of exclusion continued until 1955.
Sources:
Roland C. McConnell, The History of Morgan Park: A Baltimore Neighborhood, 1917-1999, (Baltimore, Morgan Park Improvement Association, (2000), 48, 55.
Eric L. Holcomb, The City as Suburb: A History of Northeast Baltimore Since 1660. Chicago: The Center for American Places, (2008), 45-48.
White neighbors fought the establishment of the Morgan Park neighborhood
As the City Beautiful reform movement of the early 1900s encouraged the creation of more recreational spaces, Baltimore used reports from the renowned Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm to expand and develop its park system, including Herring Run. The park was established for the benefit of its citizens in 1908, but just three years later, the city began racial zoning ordinances that discriminated against its Black residents. Private housing covenants extended the restrictions. Not surprisingly, there was tension between Black and White neighborhoods over access to, and use of, many local parks.
In 1917, Morgan College purchased 70 acres of land from the Ivy Mill estate as part of its relocation from West Baltimore, thanks to funding from Andrew Carnegie. A small section of those 70 acres was set aside for faculty and administrator housing. Designed and built by African Americans who were unable to purchase housing in Baltimore’s widely known segregated neighborhoods, the area of bungalows and four squares became known as Morgan Park. Originally the neighborhood was created to house administrators and faculty of Morgan College (later Morgan State College, now Morgan State University), founded to train Black ministers and later Black teachers. The neighborhood came under attack upon its creation in 1917 and exemplified the degree of White hostility toward Black neighbors. While racially restrictive zoning ordinances had been ruled unconstitutional that same year, culturally many White people did not accept neighbors of color.
In the 1920s and 30s, more families moved into the growing Morgan Park, and residents established social groups and clubs. The formation of the Morgan Park Improvement Association also spurred communal feeling as all residents were encouraged to sit on one of its many committees from the finance and political action committees to homes and gardens. Parents organized the Junior Partners Club to engage their children in recreational opportunities in the neighborhood and in Herring Run, and there was a committee to support it!
Herring Run Park served as an important draw to the neighborhood throughout the 20th century as it offered beautiful views from those houses on Cold Spring Lane and recreational opportunities to families of color.
In 1940, the Baltimore City Department of Public Recreation was established, with segregated park and recreation facilities and a Colored Division. Black residents had 40% less recreation areas than White residents. This system of exclusion continued until 1955.
Sources:
Roland C. McConnell, The History of Morgan Park: A Baltimore Neighborhood, 1917-1999, (Baltimore, Morgan Park Improvement Association, (2000), 48, 55.
Eric L. Holcomb, The City as Suburb: A History of Northeast Baltimore Since 1660. Chicago: The Center for American Places, (2008), 45-48.
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