Interlocking Concrete Pavement Magazine May 2000 1

Federal Hill ParkA Key

Place 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 Capital
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 m
2
) 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 Key
Place for Concrete Pavers
P
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 the
view 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 to
the 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 m
2
) of
concrete pavers leads visitors at
Federal Hill Park to a stunning
view 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.
Interlocking Concrete Pavement Magazine May 2000 2