Bowie Schools Explained: Boundaries, Specialty Lotteries and Report Cards (2026)
August 27, 2026
Owning a Home in Bowie, MD: Permits, Tax Credits, Appeals and a Seasonal Calendar
August 27, 2026
Allen Pond Park was James Allen’s cattle and tobacco farm, where he sold access to the pond as $10 annual fishing shares before selling the land to Levitt and Sons in 1965 on the condition it become a community park. Today those 85 acres hold the City’s ice arena, a 10 acre stocked pond, a lighted skate park and a summer amphitheater.
Own a home in Bowie? Know what it would sell for.
Bowie homes are taking almost twice as long to sell as last year, 21 days instead of 12, so the starting price matters more than it used to. Bruno will send you a written value range built from the closest recent sales near you. No obligation.
Bowie’s parks are one of the most visible things a City of Bowie tax bill pays for, so this guide sorts out what the City runs, what the county runs, and what each place actually offers in 2026.
What is at Allen Pond Park?
The main entrance is 3330 Northview Drive, with more parking at 3404 Mitchellville Road. The park has the 10 acre pond (bass and crappie are the usual catch), seasonal boat rentals, six lighted ballfields, a lighted basketball court, a fitness station, trails, pavilions and playgrounds. The Robert V. Setera Amphitheater, built in the late 1960s, hosts the City’s summer concerts.
Opportunity Park, inside Allen Pond, is designed for fully accessible play: its tot lot, school-age playground, fitness cluster and fishing area are all built for 100% accessibility. Our accessible homes guide covers one-level housing options nearby.
Homes in the Northview subdivision closed at a median of $480,000 with a median of just 7 days on market (Bright MLS data, April to September 2026, 10 sales). See the Northview neighborhood page.
How much does the Bowie Ice Arena cost?
The Ice Arena sits inside Allen Pond Park at 3330 Northview Drive (301-809-3090). The 2025 to 2026 season brochure ran public sessions from July 2025 through April 30, 2026, with weekday sessions such as 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12 to 2 p.m.
| Ice Arena (2025 to 2026 season) | Price |
|---|---|
| Public skate, Bowie resident | $7.00 |
| Public skate, non-resident | $9.00 |
| Senior (60+) | $7.00 |
| Skate rental | $3.00 |
| Learn to Skate, 7 weekly lessons plus 7 public sessions | $135 to $155 by residency |
Which City parks should I know?
The City maintains 11 named parks plus smaller local parks, open sunrise to sunset. The Recreation Office is 301-809-3011. Picnic areas at Allen Pond and Whitemarsh are first come, first served for small groups; larger pavilions need a permit.
| Park | Acres | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Whitemarsh | 182 | Bowie Playhouse, 4 lighted ballfields, trails, campfire circle |
| Church Road | 94 | Soccer and football fields, woodlands |
| Allen Pond | 85 | Ice Arena, amphitheater, skate park, stocked pond |
| Jericho | 64 | Adult softball, 2 youth baseball fields, tournament field |
| Popes Creek | 12 | Neighborhood park in the Highbridge Park development |
| Buckingham | 10 | 3 ballfields, trail, basketball, 2 playgrounds |
| Glen Allen | 9 | 2 tennis courts, softball and soccer fields |
| Acorn Hill | 2 | ADA accessible walking and biking trail |
| Town Green | Small | Old Town gathering space with a live music patio |
Fran Uhler Park, 28 acres at 10300 Lemons Bridge Road, is a county park run by M-NCPPC with trail access, open dawn to dusk.
Is there a dog park in Bowie?
Yes. The City’s one acre dog park is at 3600 Northview Drive, next to Northview Elementary, with two fenced areas: one for all dogs, one for small or shy dogs and puppies over four months. The City’s posted rules call for up-to-date rabies and county license tags, no more than two dogs per owner, flat collars or harnesses only, and leashes on entry and exit. Hours are 8 a.m. to dusk, closed on City holidays. Animal Control: 301-809-3002.
Where does the WB&A Trail go now?
The WB&A Trail follows the bed of the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis electric railway, which ran from 1908 to 1935. The Prince George’s section, 5.6 miles from the Glenn Dale area to Bowie, opened November 8, 2000. For two decades it dead-ended at the Patuxent River.
That changed in 2025, when a 530 foot bicycle and pedestrian bridge opened over the river. The East Coast Greenway counts the result as 12.7 continuous miles of trail between Bowie and Odenton. If you want to ride or walk to Anne Arundel without touching Route 50, this is now the route. The City counts more than 24 miles of hiker and biker trails overall.
What are the Belair museums, and what do they cost?
Belair Mansion, 12207 Tulip Grove Drive, was built around 1745 for Provincial Governor Samuel Ogle and enlarged in 1914 by horseman William Woodward. It is free, with self-guided tours Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekday group tours of 10 or more are $6 per person (301-809-3089).
Belair Stable Museum preserves the barn of the Woodward family’s Belair Stud, home of Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox (1930) and his son Omaha (1935), and later Nashua.
Bowie Railroad Museum, 8614 Chestnut Avenue in Old Town, is free on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad opened Bowie Station in 1872, and it operated until 1989. The Bowie Tower now houses a railroad research library.
National Capital Radio and Television Museum, 2608 Mitchellville Road, fills a 1906 storekeeper’s house with radios, early televisions and broadcast gear. Hours are Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors, students and Bowie residents.
One more piece of horse history: Bowie Race Track opened in 1914 and ran its last race on July 13, 1985. The track is gone, but the horse bridge over Race Track Road still stands.
Where do the Baysox play now?
Same place, new name. The team became the Chesapeake Baysox on November 22, 2024, but still plays at Prince George’s Stadium, 4101 Crain Highway (Route 301), which opened June 16, 1994. The Baysox are the Baltimore Orioles’ Double-A affiliate in the Eastern League and won the league title in 2015.
For 2026, M-NCPPC and team owner Attain Sports added a Chesapeake Bay themed play area with a lighthouse, ADA viewing platforms on the concourse, a large video display at the main entrance and new murals, part of a broader $50 million modernization announced in January 2025. Summer fireworks nights sell out early.
What else is there to do?
- Bowie Golf Course, 7420 Laurel Bowie Road (MD 197): an 18 hole course the City has owned since 1981, managed by Indigo Sports.
- Bowie Playhouse, 16500 White Marsh Park Drive: a 150 seat, ADA accessible City theater in Whitemarsh Park, home to Bowie Community Theatre and 2nd Star Productions. Tickets are sold by each company, not the City.
- Bowie Farmers Market: Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., May through late October in the Bowie High School lot.
- City events: the 2026 calendar includes the Bowie International Festival in September, Old Bowie Arts on the Ave in early October, the Green Bowie Veterans 5K in November and the Holiday Tree Lighting on December 5. Bowiefest and the Juneteenth Jubilee were canceled for 2026.
Find a home near the places you will actually use
Take the Bowie neighborhood match, browse this month’s Bowie events, read the Bowie relocation guide, or check current listings. To find homes within walking distance of a specific park or trailhead, call or text Bruno at (240) 418-3809, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Email me my street’s sold report
Tell us your street and Bruno will email you what homes on and around it actually sold for, from Bright MLS closed sales, with what each one had going for it. No obligation.
Sources: City of Bowie Parks, Allen Pond Park, Bowie Ice Arena Brochure, City of Bowie Dog Park Brochure, M-NCPPC Fran Uhler Park, East Coast Greenway, Belair Mansion, Bowie Railroad Museum, National Capital Radio and Television Museum, City of Bowie Horse Racing History, City of Bowie Golf Course, Bowie Playhouse, Chesapeake Baysox, Bright MLS data, April to September 2026.
