BALTIMORE — For decades, dog owners have been bringing their pets to Lower Wyman Park, next to the Johns Hopkins campus in North Baltimore.

The secluded park is a hidden gem tucked away from the busy streets nearby, where dogs run unleashed in what they consider a safe, controlled environment.

“I started going to a couple of other places,” says Jim Fendler, who lives a couple miles away in Waverly. “And then we heard about this place. And when I came here, it's going on 11 years now, it's just perfect. People come here and picnic. They fly kites. Kids in the wintertime, they slide down the hill. It's a great open space for everybody.”

Until recently, the university had a lease on the property. Now the city has regained control and wants to crack down on off-leash dogs.

Residents speak

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