Greenspring Avenue
Encyclopedia
Greenspring Avenue is a road in Baltimore, Maryland and its northwestern suburbs. At one time, Greenspring Avenue was Maryland Route 519 from Worthington Road
to Dover Road, but the road has since been decommissioned and no longer has any numerical designation.
Greenspring Avenue begins inside of Druid Hill Park, near the Maryland Zoo. The first section, which is approximately 1.9 miles (3.1 km) long, is mostly lined with high-rise and garden apartments. This section ends at Northern Parkway, at Sinai Hospital, and across from Cylburn Park. From here, a left and then a right two blocks later is required to continue along Greenspring.
The next section of Greenspring Avenue starts off of Northern Parkway about one block west of Sinai Hospital, and continues for about 3/4 of a mile to a five-way intersection consisting of Cross Country Boulevard and Pimlico Road, in an area known as Cheswolde
. A right turn is required here to continue along Greenspring.
The third and longest section of Greenspring Avenue continues from this intersection for about 10 miles (16.1 km) until the end of the name Greenspring Avenue for the road. However, the road physically continues beyond this point and is known as Worthington Avenue for the next mile and a half. It finally continues into Butler Road (Maryland Route 128
) before it reaches Hanover Pike (Maryland Route 30
), at which point going straight will lead to I-795. This section of the road can be accessed from the Baltimore Beltway at exit 22.
as a turnpike
.
and Smith Avenue.
In 2005, a rock-breaking ceremony was held.
In 2006 and 2007, some commercial properties on the premises opened, including medical office space of Lifebridge Health, Walgreens
, and The Fresh Market.
The development also features 83 single-family homes and 500 condos.
The center of the development features is 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) lake, which is 500 feet (152.4 m) deep, one of the deepest lakes in the state of Maryland.
, is available on or near parts of Greenspring Avenue.
Maryland Route 128
Maryland Route 128, better known locally as Butler Road, is a road in Baltimore County, Maryland.-Route description:The road starts at the end of a spur of I-795 known as Maryland Route 795, where it intersects with Maryland Route 30 , and then passes to the east through historic Glyndon...
to Dover Road, but the road has since been decommissioned and no longer has any numerical designation.
Sections
Greenspring Avenue is currently is divided into three sections, as follows:- In Baltimore city: From Druid Hill ParkDruid Hill ParkDruid Hill Park is a urban park in northwest Baltimore, Maryland. Its boundaries are marked by Druid Park Drive , Swann Drive and Reisterstown Road , and the Jones Falls Expressway...
to Northern ParkwayNorthern Parkway (Baltimore)Northern Parkway is a major road that runs west–east across the northern part of the city Baltimore. For most of the way, it is at least six lanes wide, and it is used by motorists for crosstown travel.... - In Baltimore city: From Northern ParkwayNorthern Parkway (Baltimore)Northern Parkway is a major road that runs west–east across the northern part of the city Baltimore. For most of the way, it is at least six lanes wide, and it is used by motorists for crosstown travel....
to Cross Country Boulevard/Pimlico Road - In Baltimore city/county: From Cross Country Boulevard to Tufton Avenue.
Greenspring Avenue begins inside of Druid Hill Park, near the Maryland Zoo. The first section, which is approximately 1.9 miles (3.1 km) long, is mostly lined with high-rise and garden apartments. This section ends at Northern Parkway, at Sinai Hospital, and across from Cylburn Park. From here, a left and then a right two blocks later is required to continue along Greenspring.
The next section of Greenspring Avenue starts off of Northern Parkway about one block west of Sinai Hospital, and continues for about 3/4 of a mile to a five-way intersection consisting of Cross Country Boulevard and Pimlico Road, in an area known as Cheswolde
Cheswolde, Baltimore
Cheswolde is residential community in northwest Baltimore, Maryland. It is located along the Western Run. The main roads running through the area are Greenspring Avenue, Cross Country Boulevard, and Taney Road....
. A right turn is required here to continue along Greenspring.
The third and longest section of Greenspring Avenue continues from this intersection for about 10 miles (16.1 km) until the end of the name Greenspring Avenue for the road. However, the road physically continues beyond this point and is known as Worthington Avenue for the next mile and a half. It finally continues into Butler Road (Maryland Route 128
Maryland Route 128
Maryland Route 128, better known locally as Butler Road, is a road in Baltimore County, Maryland.-Route description:The road starts at the end of a spur of I-795 known as Maryland Route 795, where it intersects with Maryland Route 30 , and then passes to the east through historic Glyndon...
) before it reaches Hanover Pike (Maryland Route 30
Maryland Route 30
Maryland Route 30 is a state highway in Central Maryland region in the U.S. state of Maryland. It serves as one of the major north–south routes of central Maryland.-Route description:...
), at which point going straight will lead to I-795. This section of the road can be accessed from the Baltimore Beltway at exit 22.
History
The Green Spring Avenue Company was chartered in 1858 to build the portion south of Maryland Route 130Maryland Route 130
Maryland Route 130, better known as Greenspring Valley Road, is a state road in Baltimore County, Maryland that operates cross-county from Owings Mills to Lutherville...
as a turnpike
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
.
Landmarks along Greenspring Avenue
- Maryland National Guard
- Sinai HospitalSinai HospitalLifeBridge Health is a Baltimore area corporation operating several medical institutions. These most notably include Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Northwest Hospital , and various nursing homes and medical office complexes.-Sinai Hospital:Sinai Hospital is a Baltimore, Maryland hospital originally...
- Cylburn ArboretumCylburn ArboretumCylburn Arboretum is a city park with arboretum and gardens, located at 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland. It is open daily without charge....
Quarry Lake at Greenspring development
Throughout the 2000s, construction has been underway for a new development now known as Quarry Lake at Greenspring, which is located between Old Court RoadOld Court Road
Old Court Road is a major cross-county road in the central region of the U.S. state of Maryland, running east–west for approximately through Baltimore County, Maryland from just inside Howard County, Maryland at Woodstock on the Patapsco River to Maryland Route 25 near Towson...
and Smith Avenue.
In 2005, a rock-breaking ceremony was held.
In 2006 and 2007, some commercial properties on the premises opened, including medical office space of Lifebridge Health, Walgreens
Walgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
, and The Fresh Market.
The development also features 83 single-family homes and 500 condos.
The center of the development features is 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) lake, which is 500 feet (152.4 m) deep, one of the deepest lakes in the state of Maryland.
Public transportation
Public transportation, provided by the Maryland Transit AdministrationMaryland Transit Administration
The Maryland Transit Administration is a state-operated mass transit administration in Maryland, and is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation. It is better known as MTA Maryland to avoid confusion with other cities' transit agencies who share the initials MTA. The MTA operates a...
, is available on or near parts of Greenspring Avenue.
- Route 1 operates between Druid Park Drive and Sinai HospitalSinai HospitalLifeBridge Health is a Baltimore area corporation operating several medical institutions. These most notably include Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Northwest Hospital , and various nursing homes and medical office complexes.-Sinai Hospital:Sinai Hospital is a Baltimore, Maryland hospital originally...
. - Route 27 crosses Greenspring Avenue at Ken Oak Road, and operates one block east of Greenspring Avenue along the parallel Cross Country Boulevard.
- Route 58Route 58 (MTA Maryland)Route 58 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line's western terminus is the Reisterstown Plaza Metro Subway Station, and its eastern terminus is White Marsh Mall, though some peak hour trips make short turns in Overlea....
(formerly Route M-10) operates between Cross Country Boulevard and Willowglen Drive. - Route 60Route 60 (MTA Maryland)Route 60 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line currently operates weekdays only from the Reisterstown Plaza Metro Subway Station to Stevenson University during peak hours and Greenspring Station midday.The route is based on that of the...
crosses Greenspring Avenue along Greenspring Valley Road (Maryland Route 130Maryland Route 130Maryland Route 130, better known as Greenspring Valley Road, is a state road in Baltimore County, Maryland that operates cross-county from Owings Mills to Lutherville...
). - In the past, service was provided on Greenspring Avenue between Ken Oak and Cross Country by Route 44Route 44 (MTA Maryland)Route 44 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line currently runs from Rosedale Industrial Park near Pulaski Highway just outside the Baltimore city limits on the east side of the city across the northern portion of the city to Security...
and between Greenspring Valley Road and Greenwood by Route M-12. But these services have been discontinued.
In popular culture
- Greenspring Avenue was the site of a murder in the book Homicide: A Year on the Killing StreetsHomicide: A Year on the Killing StreetsHomicide: A Year on the Killing Streets is a 1991 book written by Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon describing a year spent with detectives from the Baltimore Police Department homicide squad...
by David SimonDavid SimonDavid Simon is an American author, journalist, and a writer/producer of television series. He worked for the Baltimore Sun City Desk for twelve years. He wrote Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and co-wrote The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood with Ed Burns...
. - In the book A Broken Heart Still Beats by Anne McCracken, Peter and the narrator drive frantically up Greenspring Avenue during an emergency.
- In The Writer on Her Work by Janet Sternburg, the narrator has a near accident while driving on Greenspring Avenue.