You know how people come into Baltimore and are absolutely astounded that we have nice things here. We actually have a lot of them and just got one more. If you haven’t yet been to the newly renovated Rash Field Park, with its urban beach, pickleball courts, nature walk and volleyball, you should get there.

It’s gorgeous. Let make sure it remains that way, shall we?

“This is perfect,” said Kayla Stokes of Baltimore, taking a walk with husband James and pushing their young children in a stroller near the pickleballers on a recent perfect afternoon. “I hope it stays looking like this so that my kids can enjoy it.”

Look, I don’t mean to be Debbie Downer, and assume that the worst is going to happen. But I always get a little nervous when something as shiny as the park’s $35 million refresh premieres because I don’t have enough faith in humanity to believe someone’s not going to mess it up.

Advertise with us

And I’m not just talking about wear and tear, but deliberate acts of ridiculousness, especially those done by people who come into neighborhoods they don’t live in and therefore don’t care how they leave it. I have friends who live in Fells Point who don’t put out pumpkins on their stoops for Halloween anymore because they got tired of drunks walking from the bars and destroying them. And the big park I live near often looks like a garbage truck exploded on its green grass after festivals.

I imagine some of those people don’t even live in the city, which makes me even madder. I love it here. I care about this place. There’s been so much invested in it, and I want it to stay lovely.

Nirav Babu, who lives nearby, has come to the park every day since its opening with his 6-year-old son and fellow pickleball enthusiast Kymani. He said he likes the idea of the lights staying on at night as a deterrent for shenanigans.

“It’s made such a great initial impression,” Babu said. “Everything starts out nice, but then you get graffiti on the chairs.” Well, hopefully not. I was pleased to find out that the chairs get put inside a structure in the park every night and are brought back out each morning. This is intentional protection of your good stuff. I like it.

Tim Heath, president of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association, actually thinks that the current spiffiness of the park will help keep it that way.

Advertise with us

“I think I see where the concern would lie, but one thing that goes a long way in keeping public spaces maintained and looking great is being as developed out as this park is, the impression that it has on people,” said Heath, who comes through on daily walks with his dog. “The cleanliness of it itself serves as a deterrent.”

He points to how great the first phase of the park, including the skate park, still looks, and the generally well-kept surrounding area around the harbor. He gives credit to the city and the Waterfront Partnership. “It’s good seeing something so nice at the doorsteps of the city,” he said.

Honestly, I felt better about the whole thing just talking to him. I am so excited about a permanent fixture that will not only bring people downtown, but that those who live nearby can enjoy. We deserve it.

“I like that it allows the community to come together,” said Tamaya Collins, literally dancing in the shadow of the skatepark with best friend Armontay Hardison. “But a lot of nice things can be get ruined by people in the community who don’t care.”

Please don’t let that happen. Heath hopes that humanity will prove me wrong. “I think the thing that can get lost in things like that is when there is graffiti or minor destruction, [it’s done] by such a small percentage of the people who use and appreciate the park,” he said. “As a society, it’s hard to completely root that out, but the reality is that for every one bad actor, there are thousands of people who are coming through and really enjoy it.”

From your lips to God’s ear, man. I just hope that every one gets to visit this remarkable place and takes care of it. Don’t be the reason we can’t have nice things.