Pristine Roland Park offers an eclectic Baltimore oasis - Neighborhood Series

Asking an average Hopkins student about Roland Park neighborhood usually elicits a simple shrug or a wave in the general direction of West University Parkway. However among those Hopkins students who are athletically inclined, Roland Park is a much more frequent destination. ?

A quick walk, jog or bike ride along the quiet, tree-lined sidewalks of this mostly-residential area reveals immediately why Roland Park is a popular exercise route for residents and non-residents alike.

With its stately brick-and-ivy facades, shockingly green lawns, well-manicured gardens and immaculate streets, Roland Park is a refreshing, relaxing retreat from the excitement and activity of downtown Baltimore, a mere 15-minute drive away. In fact, Roland Park exudes an atmosphere more suitable to upper-class suburbia than to Baltimore City neighborhood.

Residents of Roland Park are a self-described "eclectic" mixture of people. One can encounter many retirees, including the occasional "elderly lady sporting a wide-brimmed hat and colorful make-up." However seven-year resident David, out for a Saturday morning stroll with his daughters Maya, four, and Adina, one, said that, "Most of the people I've met are professionals with young families, many affiliated in some way with Johns Hopkins University."

Whatever the residents' personal backgrounds might be, the very active assortment of community organizations in Roland Park never fails to bring neighbors together. The Roland Park Civic League and the smaller neighborhood associations under its umbrella work hard to beautify and maintain streets and public areas, as well as keep residents well-informed and foster a sense of community.

David and his wife are actively involved in a sub-community within Roland Park known as The Orchards, where they deliver newsletters and attend frequent neighborhood get-togethers and picnics. Sherry Carter, an 11-year Roland Park resident, volunteers as a "block-captain" for her street. Her duties, she says, entail, "keeping neighbors informed and making phone calls if there is an intruder in the area or if there is other information [they need to know]."

Despite Roland Park's idyllic reputation and well-defined boundaries, residents are quick to point out that it is still a part of Baltimore and suffers from its fair share of crime. The home invasion and rape of a Roland Park woman in August has drawn a great deal of media attention and has residents concerned. Another common crime is burglary.

"We had an incident several years ago when someone broke a window trying to break into our home," David said, though despite incidents like that, "overall Roland Park is a very safe community."

Another aspect that makes Roland Park so appealing is the assortment of schools known collectively as the "Roland Park Five": Boys' Latin, Bryn Mawr, Friends, Gilman and Roland Park Country schools. In fact the private schools are so desirable and well-attended that residents are able to name few, if any, children attending the closest public school in the area, Roland Park Elementary/Middle School.

"Our decision to send our children to Bryn Mawr and Gilman was because they offered smaller classes, stricter rules and dress code policies and just a more structured environment," Carter said. She gave a wry smile and added, "It was very expensive, but worth it."

For non-residents, Roland Park offers a different set of attractions. The historic octagonal Roland Park Water Tower rises above the buildings lining Roland Avenue, adding charm to the otherwise understated area. Roland Park houses are built in an array of different architectural styles, including Georgian, English Tudor and Queen Anne. Originally designed as a model "streetcar suburb" by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., residents lived in Roland Park to escape city life and commuted into the city via streetcar near the turn of the 20th century. Though the mode of transportation has modernized, the peaceful surroundings and feeling of separation from the rest of Baltimore remain.

College students frequent the Starbucks and Eddie's Market in the Roland Park Shopping Center. Also close to Roland Park and a 10-minute drive from Homewood is the pricier Cross Keys Village, with an Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa, Ann Taylor, Talbots, Chico's and Williams-Sonoma. Especially tempting are the pizzas at Donna's Caf?? and the over 30 varieties of truffles at Truffles and Tea, both under local ownership.

Though the area of Charles Village bordering Homewood has experienced a revival, students and Charles Villagers continue to turn to Roland Park for a brisk morning jog, a breath of fresh air and a break from the hectic Baltimore lifestyle.

Easily accessible by foot, bike, car and shuttle, pristinely maintained through the neighborhood associations' supervision, and gorgeous to behold, Roland Park deserves now more than ever the "model neighborhood" title that it first earned over 100 years ago.