In early 2008 The Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks retained Mahan Rykiel Associates, Inc. to prepare a long-range master plan for Herring Run Park. Plans were already developing through the Department of Transportation to replace the Harford Road Bridge and through the Department of Public Works to replace and upgrade sewer lines as part of the city-wide improvement program for wastewater infrastructure.
The Master Plan team worked with the Herring Run Watershed Association, The Friends of Herring Run Parks (a committee of the Herring Run Watershed Association), and Morgan State University. All of the agencies and organizations have worked with the Department of Recreation and Parks during the master planning process, providing detailed information and evaluating alternative ideas. Thus far, the planning process has included 5 Town hall meetings, over 20 individual stakeholder meetings, and 2 park walking tours.
In April, 2009, The Draft Herring Run Master Plan was released. The Draft was posted on the Department of Planning website, made available for review at the Herring Run branch of the Enoch Pratt Library, and presented to the community at a public meeting.
During the summer of 2009 representatives from the Department of Recreation and Parks and Department of Planning met with all the community organizations in the neighborhoods surrounding the Herring Run Park Master Plan area to gather feedback on the Draft Plan. At the suggestion of the Herring Run Watershed Association Board an Advisory Board consisting of representatives from the stakeholder groups was convened and has helped direct and shape the changes to Draft Master Plan.