Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Gwynns Falls Trail

Blocking the Interstate

By Don Morfe, May 21, 2017

1. Gwynns Falls Trail Marker

Inscription. Norman Reeves, a member of the Baltimore City Council, was an active opponent of the expressway. A Leaking Park trail is named in his memory.—Barbara Mikulski, an activist social worker and Fells Point resident, and later City Council member, was another leader in the city-wide coalition against the expressway named M.A.D.—Movement Against Destruction.

The abrupt end of Interstate 70 symbolizes a controversy that engaged Baltimoreans from the 1940s to the 1980s. Plans envisioning an East-West Expressway and the linking of three interstate highways stirred up fierce opposition. Citizens formed protest groups, such as Volunteers Opposing Leakin Park Expressway (VOLPE), spoke out at hearings, and joined together in a biracial coalition to protect their neighborhoods and preserve Leakin and Gwynns Falls parks. The city, nonetheless, started to buy and demolish properties along proposed routes. Eventually officials made substantial changes and withdrew the plan to extend I-70 through the two parks.

Must a city destroy parks, dwellings and businesses in order to accommodate the automobile? Baltimore Sun editorial, December 20, 1972.

(Inscriptions at the bottom right)
At a rally in 1947 (right), residents protest the plan for the expressway route to pass through East Baltimore. Citizens (below) express their

By Don Morfe, May 21, 2017

2. Gwynns Falls Trail Marker

opposition to the proposed expressway at a public meeting in 1972.

Erected by Gwynns Falls Trail Council/A Project of the Parks and People Foundation.

Location. 39° 18.124′ N, 76° 42.501′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. Marker is on I-70 Park and Ride off Security Blvd.. Touch for map. The marker is at the end of the I-70 Park and Ride. Marker is in this post office area: Baltimore MD 21229, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Gwynns Falls Trail (here, next to this marker); Franklintown's Historic Roots (approx. ¼ mile away); Caretaker House (approx. half a mile away); Crimea (approx. 0.6 miles away); Chapel (approx. 0.6 miles away); Crimea Mansion (approx. 0.6 miles away); Norman Van Allan Reeves (approx. 0.6 miles away); Leakin Park at the Crimea Estate (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.

Categories. • Education • Environment •

Gwynns Falls Trail-Main Trail Mile 10.75 image. Click for full size.

By Don Morfe, May 21, 2017

3. Gwynns Falls Trail-Main Trail Mile 10.75

Gwynns Falls Trail Marker-Directional sign image. Click for full size.

By Don Morfe, May 21, 2017

4. Gwynns Falls Trail Marker-Directional sign

Gwynns Falls Trail-Begin and End marks on the road image. Click for full size.

By Don Morfe, May 21, 2017

5. Gwynns Falls Trail-Begin and End marks on the road

Gwynns Falls Trailhead sign image. Click for full size.

By Don Morfe, May 21, 2017

6. Gwynns Falls Trailhead sign

Credits. This page was last revised on May 29, 2017. This page originally submitted on May 27, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 64 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 27, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.