The Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park, Ltd., have formed a not-for-profit foundation to provide charitable gifts to assist Patapsco Valley State Park in its efforts to enhance the Park's environmental and educational qualities for public benefit.

160 Year Old Iron Worker's House History Center - Avalon Area

Patapsco Valley State Park is Maryland's oldest and one of its largest public open spaces. As part of the Year of the Parks 2000 celebration we have opened the Avalon Visitor's Center in the Old Stone Iron Worker's House located in the Avalon Area just up-river from Elkridge. The Visitor Center houses photos and exhibits of communities and industries that once inhabited the Patapsco River Valley during the industrial revolution. The Avalon Visitor Center is a place for visitors to get oriented to the park and learn about its resources and recreation opportunities.      The Friends would like to accomplish: Tree planting to restore riparian areas, Remove noxious/non-native plants, Provide a sheltered meeting area for educational programs, Purchase interpretive displays, and Establish a public archive of the history of Maryland's State Forests and Parks.      The Friends of Patapsco provides the Avalon Visitor's Center thanks to generous corporate donations, and construction services donated for the Visitor's Center renovation. The corporate leader in providing construction services has been Harkins Builders without whom we could not have accomplished the extensive rennovations. We hope to promote and expand the park's active program of volunteer activities to supplement the limited funds of Maryland DNR's State Forest and Park Service.

Back To Main Page