Patapsco Valley State Park
| Patapsco Valley State Park | |
| Maryland State Park | |
 The Thomas Viaduct, a signature monument of Patapsco Valley State Park
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| Country | United States |
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| State | Maryland |
| Counties | Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard |
| Elevation | 374 ft (114 m) |
| Coordinates | 39°17′35″N 76°47′12″W / 39.29306°N 76.78667°WCoordinates: 39°17′35″N 76°47′12″W / 39.29306°N 76.78667°W |
| Area | 14,340 acres (5,803 ha) |
| Established | October 6, 1907 |
| Management | Maryland Department of Natural Resources |
| IUCN category | V - Protected Landscape/Seascape |
  Location in Maryland
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| Website: Patapsco Valley State Park | |
Patapsco Valley State Park is a public recreation area extending along 32 miles (51 km) of the Patapsco River south and west of the city of Baltimore, Maryland. The state park encompasses multiple developed areas on over 14,000 acres (5,700 ha) of land. In 2006, it was officially celebrated as Maryland's first state park and is managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Formation of the park started with provisions in the Forestry Act of 1906. The completion of Bloede's Dam in 1906 required the implementation of protections to prevent silting from nearby farm erosion. Patapsco Valley State Park was established as Patapsco State Forest Reserve in 1907 to protect the valley's forest and water resources. The first 43 acres were donated by Russell Sage Foundation director John Mark Glenn (1858-1950) from his Hilton estate. In 1912, Maryland delegate Carville Benson promoted expanding the Patapsco Forest Reserve as a park to support his suburban development initiatives. As other sections along the river were added, Patapsco Valley State Park became one of the largest parks in Maryland.
In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps opened State Park Project 2 work camps 336 and 356 at the park. CCC workers created recreational facilities and performed tree plantings for erosion control and silt management around the dam from adjacent overworked farms. Keeping the shores and hillsides vegetated minimized erosion, thus minimizing the amount of silt that could clog the turbines of Bloede's Dam which generated electricity for surrounding communities.
On May 15, 1941, the camp was converted to the nation's first Civilian Public Service conscientious objector camp, with 26 men and three women required to serve for one year, a term that was extended as the United States entered World War II.
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