Venice On The Bay Provides Plenty Of Water Access, Green Space

At the far north end of Fort Smallwood Road, between the intersections of Arundel Road and North Avenue, is Venice on the Bay. The serene neighborhood of once beach cottages boasts access to Hines Pond and the Patapsco River, with a clear view of Baltimore and the large vessels that come and go from Maryland’s largest port.

Chesapeake Terrace, in association with Belle Grove Corporation, acquired the land to build Venice on the Bay in November of 1960. It was initially designed to have a lakeside drive skirting Hines Pond, with a boat house and hunting station. Over the period of 30 years, the land was developed by the descendants of the Belle Grove Corporation through the Venice Partnership.

Yorkie Road homes adjacent to Fort Smallwood Road were the last to be built in the early in the early 2000s. In 2006, a special community benefit district was established to improve the community and its amenities. This led to the building of the community hall.

Today, many residents enjoy a community beach maintained by volunteers, a Labor Day cookout, Halloween party, Christmas lights competition, Christmas potluck dinner, and availability of a boat ramp.

John Clark
Resident for 18 Years

John Clark grew up in Rock Hall Beach and settled into Venice on the Bay nearly two decades ago. Today, he’s the community association president, and his wife is the treasurer.

“[My wife and I] liked the fact that the community wasn’t a ‘tract home’ community,” said Clark. “We also liked the fact that two parks - Weinberg and Fort Smallwood - were easily accessible.”

Clark appreciates that Venice on the Bay, with only 205 properties, is more intimate than some other communities. “We love the touch of wilderness here and how quiet it is in the evenings,” Clark added.

The Clark children attended Fort Smallwood Elementary School, which Clark felt was a good school for his family.

“I think Pasadena is special because of our unique access to the Chesapeake Bay, beaches and rivers,” said Clark. “I would absolutely recommend Venice on the Bay to anyone looking for close waterfront community.

Ethan Casey
Resident for One Year

Although Ethan Casey’s immediate family is not from this area, he knows Pasadena well, thanks to his godmother, a lifelong resident.

“I chose Venice on the Bay because of the affordable housing and the great community amenities,” said Casey. “I have amazing neighbors, and there are wonderful people in the community. They were so welcoming when I first moved in, and continue to be so to this day. I really love and appreciate my neighbors.”

Casey likes living in Pasadena because of the many locally owned businesses, and how people in Pasadena will come together and help those in need.

“When I moved in, my neighbors right away made me feel like part of the community,” said Casey. “They let me borrow tools when I was doing renovations to the house and yard, and some brought flowers and left notes welcoming to the community. One of my neighbors painted me a gorgeous painting, which now hangs in my living room.”

Elsie Cullins
Resident for 70 Years

Elsie Cullins remembers when Baltimore residents started their exodus from the city, coming south to communities along the Magothy, Severn and Patapsco rivers. She and her husband, who was in the construction business, lived in a four-room cottage in the late 1940s along with just a handful of summer homes in the area.

“My kids loved to fish,” Cullins remembered. “They spent a lot of time in the water, either at Hines Pond or in the river. It was so tranquil and neat. We loved it.”

Cullins said development in the Venice on the Bay area was slow but steady, including her own home. Cullins still lives in the home she shared with her husband when her children were young; however, after several large scale additions, her home is no longer a cottage. She noted that development continues today.

“In the last 15 years or so, people have been steadily improving the cottage and old beach shanties,” said Cullins. “Everyone keeps the neighborhood neat. It’s a wonderful place to live.”

Cullins has been happily and heavily involved with the civic association over the years, including serving as the community newsletter editor for 10 years and as a “block captain.”

Cullins’ home now serves as the gathering place for her extended family. She and her husband raised seven children, and she now has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Every Christmas, the family returns to their Pasadena roots.

“Everyone is spread out now, but they make coming home a priority,” said Cullins. “Every year, I think, ‘Wow, it happened again!’”