Art at Festivals

Juried arts and crafts, entertainment and food are featured at annual festivals sponsored by the Department of Recreation and Parks (410-313-4620). Enjoy Wine in the Woods (May). Shop for handcrafted gifts and holiday decorations at Holiday Mart (December).

Art Gallery

Howard Community College offers an intimate art gallery with a history of presenting select local and regional visual artists. Technical assistance and publicity are provided. Call 410-772-4512 for more information.

Arts Grants

The Howard County Arts Council (410-313-2787) administers grants to arts groups for projects throughout the community and in the public schools.

Borrow Discs, Tapes

To borrow audio cassettes, compact discs or video tapes, contact your local branch library.

Classes in The Arts

Boat Rental

Rowboats, canoes and paddle boats may be rented May-August at Centennial Park. Call Recreation and Parks (410-313-7303) for details.

Boating at Lake

Call Recreation and Parks (410-313-7303) for information about park boating permits required for Centennial Lake. Boats 16' or less with electric motors, rowboats, canoes, rafts with three separate air chambers, and sailboats under 14' are permitted. A life jacket is required for each occupant.

Community Parks

Call Recreation and Parks (410-313-4700 for information about your community or neighborhood park.

Fishing

At Centennial Lake, anglers may fish from shore or from a boat. A Maryland Freshwater Fishing License is required for those age 16-up. State fishing regulations are in effect, and game fish are part of a management program to maintain a balanced population. Call Recreation and Parks (410-313-7303) for details.

General Store

Forget something for your picnic? Fishing licenses, boating permits, bait and tackle, ice, charcoal, paper products and more are sold at Centennial Park's General Store. Call Recreation and Parks (410-313-7303) for hours.

Open Space

If you live next to county designated open space, call Recreation and (410-313-4724) for a brochure describing what the county code says you may not do on the open space land.

Park Food Services

Call the Recreation and Parks' concessionaire (410-313-7271) for hours and menus at Centennial and Rockburn Branch parks.

Park Rules

Call Recreation and (410-313-4644) about park regulations in addition to the following:

• Alcoholic beverages are allowed only in the pavilions by permit.
• Personal grills and hibachis are not permitted.
• Hunting and firearms are prohibited.
• Leashed pets are allowed, but not in picnic or sports areas. Howard County law requires owners to clean up after their pets.
• Swimming, sailboarding, wind surfing and inner tubing are prohibited.

Paths and Trails

Sixty miles of paved pathways form a network through the county for walking and biking. Many miles of natural surface hiking and equestrian trails are available in county parks. Call Recreation and Parks (410-313-4700) for details or to request a pathway map, A Path Runs Through It, for $2.

Pavilion Rental

County residents age 21 or older can apply to rent a pavilion at Alpha Ridge, Cedar Lane, Centennial, Guilford, Hammond, Savage and Waterloo parks. Fees vary; call Recreation and Parks for details. Catering service is available for pavilion users; call Recreation and Parks (410-313-4682) for costs and available menus.

Regional Parks

There is no fee for general use of county parks. Recreation and Parks (410-313-4700) maintains five regional parks with varied facilities:

Cedar Lane Park

• 100 acres
• Both entrances: parking, benches, drinking fountains, natural area, pathways, pavilions, pay telephones, picnic tables and grills, playgrounds and rest rooms
• East area (Rt. 108): basketball courts, horseshoe pits, multi-purpose fields, racquetball/handball courts, tennis courts, grass volleyball court
• West area (Cedar La.): community recreation center, lighted baseball/ softball fields with bleachers, lighted multi-purpose fields with bleachers, pavilion and volleyball courts

Centennial Park

• 325 acres
• Throughout the park: benches, drinking fountains, trails, natural area, parking, pay telephones, playgrounds and rest rooms
• North area (Old Annapolis Rd.): baseball/softball fields, basketball courts, racquetball courts, tennis courts
• South area (Rt. 108): boat launching ramp, boat rental dock, concession stand, general store, 2.4 mile lake loop path, pavilions, picnic areas and volleyball courts
• East area (Woodland Rd.): baseball/softball fields, basketball court, horseshoe pits, pavilion, tennis courts and volleyball court
• West area (Centennial La.): lighted baseball/softball fields, basketball courts, concession stand, lighted multi-purpose fields, pavilion, tennis courts and volleyball court

Rockburn Branch Park

• 390 acres
• Both entrances: baseball/softball fields, benches, hiking trails, natural area, parking, pay telephones and playgrounds
• North area (Landing Rd.): concession stand, drinking fountain, lighted multi-purpose fields, picnic tables and grills, rest rooms
• South area (Montgomery Rd.): lighted baseball/softball fields, basketball courts, multi-purpose fields, natural amphitheatre and tennis courts

Savage Park

• 100 acres
• baseball/softball fields, basketball courts, benches, drinking fountain, 7 miles of inter-connecting trails, horseshoe pits, mini-soccer field, multi-purpose field, natural area, parking, pavilion, pay telephone, picnic tables and grills, playground, rest rooms, lighted tennis courts, tot lot and volleyball courts

Schooley Mill Park

• 192 acres
• baseball/softball fields, basketball courts, benches, bluebird boxes, butterfly garden, drinking fountain, equestrian ring, historical house, multi-purpose fields, multi-purpose room, natural area, parking, pay telephone, picnic tables and grills, rest rooms, tennis courts, trails (4.5 miles)

Biking

Bicycles are allowed on paved paths. Stop by the Recreation and Parks main office (410-313-4700) to get your pathway map, A Path Runs Through It ($2) with safety tips and pathway regulations.

Discount Tickets

Each summer, Recreation and Parks (410-313-7275) sells discount tickets to amusement parks to benefit the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association.

Equestrian Activities

Riders can enjoy the 300' x 150' equestrian ring at Schooley Mill Park and horse trails in Rockburn Branch, Savage and Schooley Mill parks. The ring at Schooley Mill may be rented; horse trailer parking is available. For details, call the Department of Recreation and Parks (410-313-7275).

Golf

The county's new Timbers at Troy public golf course in Elkridge (410-313-GOLF) features an 18-hole, par 72, premier course with a tee to green bent grass surface. The facility has a fully lighted, 40-station driving range, clubhouse, grill and pro shop. Recreation and Parks supervises the operation.

Leisure Programs

Sports Field Use

The Department of Recreation and Parks issues field use permits for county sports leagues and community groups to use park softball/baseball and multi-purpose fields. Call 410-313-1694 for fees and reservation information.

Sports Training

Recreation and Parks sponsors training for youth coaches and sports officials, instructional programs, leagues and tournaments for children through senior adults in a variety of sports. User fees cover associated costs. Call 410-313-7275 for details.

Swimming

The aero-entry outdoor pool at the Roger Carter Recreation Center in Ellicott City offers swimming lessons for all ages. Lockers and showers are available. Call 410-313-2764 for details.

Cable Program Grants

The Cable Advisory Committee (410-313-3318) advertises television programming grants from the Public Service Communications Fund in local papers, reviews applications and makes recommendations to the County Executive for awards each spring and fall.

Campfire Rings

For information about reserving a campfire ring, call Recreation and Parks (410-313-4682).

Discussions for Adults

For information about reading and discussion programs for adults, contact any public library branch.

Events and Attractions

The Howard County Tourism Council provides information about events, attractions and facilities in the county. Whether you're planning a weekend of fun or a professional meeting, call Tourism at 410-313-1900 for information.

Extension Programs

Cooperative (410-313-2707) offers programs in many areas of interest from crop and animal production, fruits and vegetables to family resources, business and home management, food, nutrition and health.

Garden Plots

Recreation and Parks maintains three community garden plots where space may be rented. Call the Columbia Gardeners (410-997-2925) for details.

Gardening Information

Cooperative Extension is a link to the research results from the University of Maryland and Department of Agriculture. For information on taking care of your lawn, flowers, trees and shrubs, and growing fruits and vegetables, call the Home and Garden Information Center (1-800-342-2507). Soil testing and classes are also available.

Liquor Licenses

To obtain a liquor license for your special event, call Inspections, Licenses and Permits (410-313-2008).

Master Gardener Program

Master Gardeners are a diverse group of trained volunteers, interested in horticulture and the environment, who are eager to educate the community. The objective of all Master Gardener educational activities is to promote a safer environment through the use of appropriate gardening practices. Call Cooperative Extension (410-313-1913) about training and programs.

Nursing Home Visits

Pets on Wheels (410-313-7461) recruits and trains volunteers with or without pets to visit residents in nursing homes for friendship and letter writing, and holds story times for small children, weekly at nursing homes and adult day care centers.

Plant Clinics

Cooperative Extension (410-313-1913) conducts plant clinics at community facilities to diagnose plant problems and teach appropriate horticultural practices.

Special Event Permits

Is your civic association planning a special event? Permits are required to coordinate public safety issues such as traffic and crowd control. There is no charge. Call Police, Traffic Enforcement (410-313-4750), for an application.