BALTIMORE, MD (Sunday, August 27, 2023) - Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott signed legislation into law officially dedicating the Hanlon Park Playground to late community activist and "Matriarch of Hanlon" Mrs. Ruby K. Couch.

Mayor Scott was joined by Senator Antonio Hayes (District 40), Delegate Malcolm Ruff (District 41), Council President Nick Mosby, Councilman James Torrence (District 7), Baltimore City Recreation and Parks Executive Director Reginald Moore, Hanlon Improvement Association President Linda Batts, son of the late Mrs. Ruby K. Couch Imam Earl El-Amin, and numerous community member to celebrate the life of the Mrs. Couch, who has been a pillar in the Hanlon community for over 60 years, and was a founding member and past president of the Hanlon Improvement Association, Inc. 

“As the Matriarch of Hanlon, Mrs. Couch spent decades fighting for her community, mentoring leaders at every level, and keeping city leaders in check to make our beautiful city better,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “She symbolized the best that Baltimore’s diverse neighborhoods have to offer, and she imparted her values and passion on everyone who had the privilege to meet her. She personally instilled in me a belief about the ability to achieve real change in our city and helped pave the way to making that change a reality. She is deeply missed every single day, and we are honored to dedicate this playground in the park she loved so much to her.”

“Mrs. Couch was a dedicated community leader, known as the ‘Matriarch of Hanlon’ and a founding member of the Hanlon Improvement Association and was later president,” said Councilman James Torrence. “This dedication honors public service as an educator, environmental justice advocate, community resource, mentor, and more. Mrs. Couch’s leadership and activism is the cornerstone of civic leaders who transcend beyond their earthly presence. It was an honor to sponsor the renaming legislation for the Hanlon Park playground bearing her name, ‘Ruby K. Couch Playground.’”  

“Today we honor Ruby Couch, her service to the Hanlon Park Community for over 60 years and her commitment to youth in Baltimore City,” said City Council President Nick Mosby. “Her loss continues to be felt but this park provides an opportunity for youth and families to congregate in her memory in a way we hope she would be proud of.”

Mrs. Couch was a champion for community engagement, education, environmental justice, education, and volunteerism, and she was instrumental in establishing Hanlon Park as a historical designation in Baltimore along with many other improvements in Hanlon Park. 

Today’s dedication was held on August 27, 2023 which would have been Mrs. Ruby K. Couch’s 100th birthday.