Carroll Park is Baltimore's third oldest city park and was originally part of the vast  Mount Clare estate owned by Charles Carroll, a Barrister in the mid-18th century. The park was the site of Camp Carroll during the Civil War. The area surrounding Mount Clare was leased from the Carroll family and became Southwestern Schuetzen Park - a private recreation area used by Baltimore's German immigrant community.
 
In 1890, the City purchased 20 acres of the former estate to create Carroll Park and in 1906 engaged the Olmsted Brothers to develop a master plan for the park. The famous firm’s recommendations respected the historic character of the west side, including the Mount Clare mansion, while providing for sports facilities on the east- in keeping with the trend toward more active recreation for urban dwellers.