Centennial Park, located in Ellicott City, is a Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks public park. The 337-acre park surrounds Centennial Lake and features a 2.6-mile paved loop trail.
The park hosts well-attended concerts and sporting events throughout the year. These activities worry park officials and prompt complaints from nearby residents. Learn more by clicking here.
It’s a great place for a picnic
If you enjoy picnicking in a scenic location, Centennial Park is the place to go. There are several pavilions, and you can reserve them in advance to ensure that you have a spot. You can also take a stroll on the paved loop trail. There are plenty of activities to occupy your time in the park, including baseball fields and a skateboarding area.
The park’s namesake lake is a popular destination for anglers, who can fish for trout, bass, and tiger muskies. The lake is also stocked with channel catfish, which provide excellent action for anglers. In addition, the park offers a good sunfish fishery, with quality size bluegill, pumpkinseed, and redear sunfish in lily pads.
The park’s West Area is located in Howard County, while the South Area lies in Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties. The park’s entrance is near the intersection of MD 108 and Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City. It is open from 7:00 a.m. until dusk.
It’s a great place to walk
If you enjoy walking, this park is a great place to visit. The path around the lake is paved and shaded (except for the stretch on the southeast side, which can be a bit toasty on a hot day). There are also many areas to picnic and have a snack.
There are many other things to do in Ellicott City, from shopping at the charming town’s historic district, known as Old Ellicott City, to touring the country’s oldest surviving railroad station. The charming town is a small business-friendly community, which means it’s a good place to find unique restaurants and antique stores.
Another family-friendly attraction is Clark’s Elioak Farm, which offers a petting zoo and fresh local produce. The farm is also home to a pine tree maze dotted with items relocated from the Enchanted Forrest Storybook Theme Park, which closed in the 1990s. Other attractions in the area include Font Hill Wetland Park, which features a diverse wetland ecosystem and 104 species of birds. More about Baltimore here.
It’s a great place to bike
The park features a paved trail that surrounds Centennial Lake, which is stocked with fish. The park is open from 7:00 am to dusk.
It is also a great place for a picnic. It has many places to sit and rest, including a large pavilion. There is a lot to see in this park, from beautiful trees to the lily pads on the lake. The park is well-maintained and has plenty of parking.
The park is a Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks public facility that encompasses 337 acres around Centennial Lake. Its varied habitats, from the lakes’ mown edges to scrubby islands and deciduous woodlands to streams and two ponds, attract a wide variety of wildlife year-round.
The 2.6-mile paved path encircles the lake, and there are an additional 7.3 miles of interconnecting paved paths that include links to neighborhood trails. The path system is accessible for wheelchairs, but some areas are more steep (South Area) or gravel (West Area). A portion of the lake is a designated Wildlife Area and off-limits to fishing.
It’s a great place to run
Centennial Park, operated by the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, is centered around a beautiful 54-acre man-made lake. The lake is stocked with fish and provides year-round fishing opportunities. A 2.6-mile paved path encircles the lake and there are 7.3 miles of interconnecting paved pathways. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, foxes, and beavers. It also supports winter waterfowl such as American Wigeon, Canvasback, and Ring-Necked Duck.
The park is also a great place to run. The paths are very well maintained and most of the trail is shaded by tall trees. There are plenty of benches scattered throughout the park, making it easy to rest. A large pavilion is located in the center of the park, and it has real bathrooms instead of a porta-potty like most other pavilions. This is a busy park, especially on weekends, so you may need to look for a place to rest if you want to get away from the crowds. Continue reading about Southwest Area Park.
Driving directions from Superior Soft Wash to Centennial Park
Driving directions from Centennial Park to Southwest Area Park
