Baker Park is a neighborhood in the City of Frederick that is outside of the Historic District, but has many charming historic homes. The architecture of the homes ranges from Victorian, Colonial, Arts and Crafts and Cape Cod's, to a few modern homes. The majority of the homes in this early planned community were built between 1905 and 1940. The neighborhood is quiet and walkable, and near to the downtown area.
The neighborhood surrounds Frederick's largest city park, Baker Park, extending from Interstate 15 to N. Bentz Street. Carroll Creek flows through the length of the Park, through the heart of the Historic District to the east side of the city to Gas House Pike. East of Bentz Street, the Creek is surrounded by Carroll Creek Linear Park. Beautiful Carroll Creek Linear Park opened in August 2006, after years of planning. The creek is a lovely centerpiece to Baker Park, surrounded by weeping willows and flanked by walking paths. A historic covered bridge over the creek makes a great photo opportunity.
Frederick's 35-acre linear park has a public swimming pool, several baseball fields, tennis courts and playgrounds for children. People of all ages can find activities in Baker Park. The park has an amphitheater, where live music and plays are featured during the summer months. Picnic areas are located throughout the Park. Culler Lake with its fountain is a beautiful, reflective spot to feed the ducks.
The park provides a nice vantage point to view the clustered spires, a phrase first used in the "Ballad of Barbara Fritchie", by John Greenleaf Whittier. The Historic District is home to several historic churches, whose spires make a beautiful scene which has been the inspiration for much artwork and several local logos.
The most charming feature of Baker Park is the Joseph Dill Baker Memorial Carillon, located at the east end of the park. The Joseph D. Baker Bell Tower, one of two bell towers in Maryland, and one of 140 in the United States, was erected in 1941 with 14 bells. Over the years bells were added periodically to equal the present 49 bells.
The Baker Bell Tower, dedicated to the founder of Baker Park, is the largest musical instrument in Maryland; it weighs 6000 pounds. The carillon, on top of the 70-foot granite tower, is played automatically on most occasions, with guest performances periodically on special occasions. A weekly recital is played each Sunday at noon for half an hour, and can be heard from anywhere near the park. The Sunday concert concludes with "The Star Spangled Banner" in honor of Francis Scott Key, the author, who practiced law in Frederick. Guest carillonneurs can be seen playing with fists and feet in the tower. For instance, the Groningen Carillon Duo from the Netherlands played after the July 4, 2009 fireworks.
Frederick's 4th, an Independence Day celebration is one of the largest festivals in Frederick, attracting over 70,000 people. For 27 years, Baker Park has been the site of fabulous fireworks on the 4th of July, with music, food, fun and children's activities all day long.
Joseph Baker founded the park in 1926, with the help of Lloyd C. Culler, two Frederick citizens. When the old Zentz Mill on Bentz Street burned to the ground on the morning of June 24, 1926, Joseph Baker started planning a city park that would serve the citizens of Frederick for years to come. His generous donation of land made the park possible.
Culler Lake, formerly named Kidwiler Pond, was transformed by the WPA and dedicated in 1940, renamed for the former Frederick Mayor Lloyd C. Culler. It was the site of skating in the winter and fishing in the summer.
Find out more from "Friends of Baker Park, Inc.", a non-profit, volunteer-staffed community service organization dedicated to fostering community involvement with the Frederick City Government in the preservation, restoration, use and maintenance of Baker Park.
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