Annie’s Playground in Bel Air to close for renovations, Ma & Pa Trail repair work to begin

The Harford County Department of Parks and Recreation will close Annie’s Playground at Edgeley Grove Park and portions of the Ma & Pa trail, both in Bel Air, starting next week for renovations. The closures are timed to allow for work to be completed before the busy summer months, according to a county news release.

The project involves removing the old, pressure-treated wooden playground for children ages 5-12 years old and installing a new custom creative playground for the same age group along with a poured rubber safety surface.

The new equipment will include a giant treehouse with an evolution arch climber, a rock wall, four different kinds of slides, various swings and gliders, a music area, catwalks, tunnels, bridges, ramps, animal sculptures, sensory panels, and seating, among other items.

The rest of the playground will also be closed to the public while this work is being done due to grading and large pieces of machinery that will be used on-site to improve the transition between play areas. Pavilion rentals at this site will also not be available during this time.

The playground was originally built in 2005 and the first significant renovation was completed on the section designed for 2–5-year-olds in the spring of 2022.

The playground is named for Annie Cumpston, a Harford County resident who tragically died in 2003 at age six after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Baltimore City. Harford County Government worked with the Cumpston family throughout the planning of the renovation.

Repair work will also begin next week on the Ma & Pa Trail between Tollgate Road and Edgeley Grove for approximately four months. Repairs will be made on the boardwalk and bridge decking on that portion of the trail.

Portions of the trail will be intermittently shut down while repairs are completed and residents are asked to obey trail closures for safety reasons, according to a county news release.

The Edgeley Grove section of the Ma & Pa Trail was dedicated on June 7, 2008, and the boardwalk and bridge decking have reached the point of replacement, according to a county news release.

Questions about either project may be directed to Paul Magness with the Harford County Department of Parks and Recreation, 410-638-3570 or pmagness@harfordcountymd.gov.