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Federal Hill ParkA KeyPlace for Concrete Pavers

ressing ever outward, suburban development

continues to fatten the geographic waistline of

major cities throughout North American cities.

Then there are the historic inner city neighbor-

hoods, small jewels in the attic persisting for

centuries through good times and bad. There are

hundreds of these across the continent covered with

the dust of neglect. Some are discovered and the

dust gets blown off. This process requires years of

private revitalization of houses and stores, and pub-

lic investment in streets, walks, and parks. Web sites

directing resident and tourist alike to the best neigh-borhood restaurants, microbreweries, lodging, and

entertainment epitomize their successful transfor-

mation.

A common thread in many urban revitalization

projects is renewed pavement through the use of

interlocking concrete pavers. This magazine has

reported on several of these and Federal Hill in

Baltimore, Maryland holds another example of the

role of concrete pavers in the bigger picture of

urban revitalization. It is difficult to imagine them

not being a part of most public and private historic

redevelopment projects.

Long before concrete pavers, Federal Hill was

discovered by Captain John Smith on his first

exploration of the Chesapeake Bay. The hill gets its

name from a day in 1788 when thousands of

Baltimoreans congregated there to celebrate ratifi-

cation by the Maryland General Assembly of the

United States Constitution. The knoll that overlooks

the harbor quickly became the stage for other civic

celebrations.

During the Civil War, federal troops occupied the

strategic hill and aimed cannon at the city whose

residents had a mixed disposition toward maintain-

ing the Union. In 1875, the City of Baltimore creat-ed the park in a neighborhood of brick row houses

many just 14 feet (4 m) wide. The neighborhood is

recognized by the United States government on the

National Trust for Historic Places register. Homes

currently sell between $100,000 and $500,000

depending on their location which is a likely bar-

gain considering the neighborhoods close proximi-

ty to downtown, Baltimores famous Inner Harbor

and public rail transportation.

In the early 1960s, Baltimore did not escape

urban renewal (removal) brought by highways.

However, one proposed road project did slip into

oblivion. It threatened what eventually was devel-oped into the Inner Harbor, the exemplar Rouse

Corporation festival market place that contains the

world-class Baltimore Aquarium. When the Inner

Harbor was just a run down waterfront in the mid-

1960s, residents of Federal Hill joined forces with

those across the river in the harbor area and defeat-

ed the proposed highway. The completion of

Rouses Inner Harbor in the early 1980s rarefied

investment and quickened the pace of revitalization

in nearby Federal Hill.

Mr. Gennady Schwartz, Chief of Capita

Development of Recreation and Parks with the City

of Baltimore, managed the rennovation design of

the park in 1994. He said that the neighborhood

wanted a better pavement than the existing gravel to

accommodate carriages and the occasional heavy

service trucks. An important consideration was

selecting a material that would not draw attention to

itself. Clay brick would draw too much attention.

The concrete pavers were reminiscent of

Baltimores many the cobblestone streets without

their high costs. Concrete pavers were discussed

and approved by the community. Since the use of

concrete pavers in the park, they have spread to sev-

eral blocks of sidewalks within the neighborhood.In 1995, the 18,000 sf (1,800 m2) of 3 1/8 in. (80 mm)

Dedicated in 1875, the parks centerpiece is a statue of George

Armistead, defender of Ft. McHenry and hero of the War of 1812.

Federal Hill ParkA KeyPlace for Concrete Pavers

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thick concrete pavers were supplied and installed

by companies that are now members

Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute. The

pavers were placed over 1 in. (25 mm) of bed-

ding sand on 12 in. (300 mm) of compacted

aggregate base. The base thickness is excessive

even as support for occasional heavy service

trucks. The City, however, was not interested in

rutting in a area traveled by many residents and

tourists who stop and visit in busloads to see theview of the city. Indeed, the dramatic view of

downtown from the park makes it a prime place

for photographers and film makers.

The park includes the company of Colonel

George Armisteads statue. The Colonel was a

major player in the war of 1812. He was in

charge of the defense of Fort McHenry that pro-

tected Baltimore during the second attempt by

the British to reclaim the colonies. Colonel

Armistead installed a 42 x 30 ft (14 x 10 m) U.S.

flag so large that the British would have no dif-

ficulty in seeing it from a distance. That flag

inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words tothe National Anthem during the forts bombard-

ment. In contrast to remembering the noise of

the battle, the quiet park and its low key pave-

ment allow visitors to recall the significance of

those events.

Above: 18,000 sf (1,800 m2) of

concrete pavers leads visitors at

Federal Hill Park to a stunningview of downtown Baltimore.

Right:Concrete pavers were

chosen as an economical reminder

of Baltimores many old cobble-

stone streets. Concrete pavers lead

residents into the fenced,off-limits-

to-dogs, park interior which

includes a playground.

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