[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6361900,"mediaKeyId","2169242-85f7727b27f7ace5e9f470845be3bcdd","parentId",2169242,"title","Board endorses park policy updates covering alcohol permits, pavilion fees, geocaching and lights","audioSeconds",2213,"startMs",2692000,"endMs",4905000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169242-85f7727b27f7ace5e9f470845be3bcdd&start=2692&end=4905","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169242-85f7727b27f7ace5e9f470845be3bcdd/thumbnail_2692000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6361900/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-endorses-park-policy-updates-covering-alcohol-permits-pavilion-fees-geocaching-and-lights","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361900-d859370abba44f58cebcbcf27f584cc4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201215&Signature=Plp~bxFT60cIIFVxMP~uh3ULxvZ8cEqLHAHJgNes9Pte3com3OyBN-drscmUs0dRh3xBrDV1KZAgrPqxNMACFRi1C4Qb2ivu-Vpe0g-EaOIw~XRH0tBfxKEvK-x0Efrt-K0BCpjTAAtqNBtZpar8csus5crk2YLWr7HT-ecoknDMbreKRYuFrEQg2JBhknzmEtSOoK90-EXStbZSZ7REHJFSWRvb~lzwgGgP7G6Nan5tDqibHHWeiqxlfA3NFOtJhSyF0tgVoNUP~mkifp4SqJE36t6Ccigjs2SRc0YaqXEvfmNpt4WquhPcF7x9N2I9QDWdinP2dOxwdgKSy09dRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-01-30T18:49:16Z","article","The Recreation and Parks Board voted to endorse a package of updates to the department's park policies and procedures and approved four alcohol-consumption permit requests for museum events.

Phil summarized the primary policy changes and staff recommendations. On alcohol, the manual now makes explicit that \"consumption of alcohol in county parks is prohibited except by permit at designated areas,\" and lists specific picnic pavilions where staff may approve alcohol permits. Phil corrected an oversight during discussion to say Elm's Beach and Lancaster Park are alcohol-free areas and will not be eligible for permits.

On pavilion fees, staff recommended simplifying fees by charging a flat $150 for the county's identified large pavilions (Dorsey Park, Cecil Park, Elms Beach, 5th District Park) and $100 for small pavilions (Chancellor's Run, John Baggett, Nicolette, Lancaster locations). For very large groups (over 200 people), staff recommended requiring the group to pay for a park attendant to be on site; staff said that attendant cost would be charged at direct cost and that a \"mandatory parking attendant staffing fee for groups, $210 an hour per event\" would cover the cost of providing the attendant.

Staff also updated a vendor/merchandise permit policy: private vendors must provide a St. Mary's County Health Department license and liability insurance on file for Recreation and Parks, and staff said the department will differentiate concession-fee levels for volunteer-run league stands versus commercial vendor trucks. Geocaching guidance that the department has piloted will be added to the manual with a registration form and tracking process for caches placed on county property.

On lighting, Phil explained the new ControlLink system used to operate athletic field lights remotely and described the planned Dorsey Park tennis-court system, which will require users to push a button to activate lights for one hour and which will give a five-minute warning before lights turn off. \"They only come on between certain hours, but you've gotta be there to, you know, a person or a group's gotta come push push the button for them to come on,\" he said. He added the county can adjust field lights remotely if schedules change.

The board approved four alcohol-consumption permit requests from the Friends of the St. Clement's Island and Piney Point Museums for events on Feb. 21, July 10, July 28 and Dec. 14; staff said the museum group has successfully used similar permits previously and that any event selling alcohol must also obtain an alcohol-beverage board license. A board motion to endorse the policy changes passed with the board asking staff to bring back two outstanding additions — an explicit lightning/weather cancellation policy and a written policy prohibiting individual ownership of league equipment — for inclusion at a later date.

Votes recorded at the meeting included board approval of the four museum alcohol permits and passage of the policy-endorsement motion. Staff will update the manual, correct minor text errors and post the revised policies for the spring season.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2/4/2010 Recreation and Parks Board","oneSentenceSummary","The Recreation and Parks Board endorsed a set of updates to the park policies and procedures including designated alcohol permit locations, new pavilion fee structure, attendant staffing fee, geocaching registration and tennis-court lighting controls; the board also approved four museum alcohol-permit requests.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6361905,"Donor-led plan to enlarge dugouts at Chancellors Run wins board support",484,2191000,2675000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169242-85f7727b27f7ace5e9f470845be3bcdd&start=2191&end=2675","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169242-85f7727b27f7ace5e9f470845be3bcdd/thumbnail_2191000.jpg","/articles/6361905/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Donor-led-plan-to-enlarge-dugouts-at-Chancellors-Run-wins-board-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361905-cd3af319e9edd0a25407e5ad2f338cc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201215&Signature=IT5Dq6~rQK7YrEM01d1LTSxjZdzH0LNwi-54CICMnNqWs4Azco3MUZ3O94TX9pKgfnNtyOuqFdDUUMUwb9SgsOJgJm-6XZMBUaQnfRAI36t4nUXvsDacsKfJI6SH~kTA8Or6xJs7n97VEgm3pZdQW-XNy8GXb~o8ZNZqXLtlfOELcaBFZQPSoAcp-e-FIjITykuN6FmLPPEiQFUSftdjPqTpoeZwIHDxf~-Dg5U9eMyDozHngRGa8-7NlqJSFbxoK~bM~9IhMEhdvfC-bhgRSRRP-hfC2GTjWkX9qvEGriA5aJnFBAMd8S~5xZQW0HZsnpKXrfq6HGf8zbD9XvB6BQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Don DeGraves told the Recreation and Parks Board he seeks the board's support to fund and construct deeper, cinder-block dugouts at the 90-foot baseball field at Chancellors Run Regional Park as a next phase of previously completed field improvements.

DeGraves described the proposed work: the dugout depth would increase by about three feet while width would remain the same, the structures would be cinder-block with matching brick and shingled roofing so they match the existing Hall of Fame appearance, and the protective fencing in front of the dugout would remain. He said the technical center has offered carpentry student help and that staff would complete the work if the school project is not available.

\"So, basically, we're just looking for your your support to to, you know, to move this forward,\" DeGraves said. County staff confirmed materials and work can be coordinated to avoid interfering with the April 3 tournament start date; construction relies on suitable weather and may take about two weeks of student work time for the masonry and related tasks.

Staff recommended the board support the donor-led project and the board agreed. One board member said, \"We can count on our support,\" and another said, \"You have our blessing.\" DeGraves also said the group will solicit donated materials and funds and coordinate volunteer and technical-center labor with county staff to complete the project.

No formal vote was required; board members orally signaled approval and thanked DeGraves for his efforts.","Don DeGraves presented a volunteer fundraising and build plan to deepen and rebuild dugouts at Chancellors Run Regional Park; staff recommended moving forward and the board offered its support.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6361910,"County plans one-year trial of bow hunting on 85 acres at Elms property pending DNR approval",173,1857000,2030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169242-85f7727b27f7ace5e9f470845be3bcdd&start=1857&end=2030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169242-85f7727b27f7ace5e9f470845be3bcdd/thumbnail_1857000.jpg","/articles/6361910/St-Marys-County/Maryland/County-plans-one-year-trial-of-bow-hunting-on-85-acres-at-Elms-property-pending-DNR-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361910-37dbc1fc62778f603820c1180e9ebd39/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201215&Signature=MLipd5M5H337K8Y~q7-w7pHsQC4YYiWvHvMFTM6OBTklUNrVTfjv3RrhX5sVe7B2azLai1~hTuxRNVDITjHvj3IQw5t5HT6B~zwkM0HLR0iKGYXofwP57NqW8fCzPODAA7pkACKgXnNzDeD8zkFuFIqH5IQcGFguT3bLMnF7bH~pldkCXTj5XchXDXyOvsSCMZZJtDeBbOr~F85SEpZOOCkH4it1Yk5~eeIAt8UfcVi8gNI0LJIUq0Fkgy8uiMKW8Qcbqx9cK3xbNcwtToOJG6fGKDEwgoq4vyrn8I-JAtz64FOT8cRn9bfp7eMGPKh8H5S7ylaLjNnhsyZ7lRzuqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Recreation and Parks staff briefed the board on a recently endorsed plan to permit bow hunting on 85 acres inside the Elms property lease area, subject to approval by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) secretary.

Phil said the Board of County Commissioners endorsed a management proposal his office prepared and that the plan would require DNR approval because DNR is the property landlord. \"If the DNR secretary approves the plan because they are the landlord, so we have reason to believe that they will,\" Phil said. The county proposed that Recreation and Parks would manage the bow-hunting site and issue county permits to hunters for the 85-acre carved-out area to reduce impacts on the Elms Environmental Education Center programming.

Key elements of the plan provided by staff include a permitted system with a sign-in sheet and a daily cap on users: only authorized, permitted hunters may use the site and the county will require a visible county permit in vehicles. Phil said the proposed bow hunting season for the site would run \"from September 15th to about January 31st every year.\" DNR police would continue to respond to game-related issues on the larger property, while the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office agreed to respond to reports of unpermitted users on the county-managed 85 acres.

Staff said there would be no additional county fee for taking deer beyond the existing state hunting license requirement; hunters must hold Maryland hunting licenses and a county permit to be authorized on the site. The plan would be executed as a one-year trial with evaluation after the season.

No formal county board vote was needed; staff reported the commissioners had already endorsed the plan and that Recreation and Parks staff would implement permitting and site management if DNR approval is granted.","Recreation and Parks staff outlined a county-backed plan to allow permitted bow hunting on 85 acres within the Elms property lease area for a one-year trial; Department of Natural Resources approval and sheriff enforcement for unpermitted users were discussed.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6361915,"Recreation budget tight; staff recommends operating Great Mills Pool one more year",420,1100000,1520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169242-85f7727b27f7ace5e9f470845be3bcdd&start=1100&end=1520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169242-85f7727b27f7ace5e9f470845be3bcdd/thumbnail_1100000.jpg","/articles/6361915/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Recreation-budget-tight-staff-recommends-operating-Great-Mills-Pool-one-more-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361915-55d6e5921b7e3873f7883740613fdca1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201215&Signature=a-wx7zP6iBSN-XHSk5K~YB6IY9t019m3mpS1r8eojf7EFDE80txaDteYmrBGbgha3Ia61fMINHlunvrdzTScBYTdhZQENOqOwIJxNy3CSKQsI2dQiAty41wAOe3OomxQ7Onojgw3d7GRYpWMQu1IHl~qsbQQqqEq62PwUvv25AwBepjvqVbnVgOtvwt-GsAqPwOUbuMQxEeYVHBAVCtf~IjsUohehxjOr51fDZ9HIbZUD1y77ImPYjYv0F2uR6kZxhDORF0UEoSPsLUMVGZiRS45b3st4ms32fA0bOjcQLGQWnQF5njjLnGmGSV1aw926joKhdca0XpJ6BRfOwSjbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Phil, speaking for Recreation and Parks, gave a brief budget update and told the board the department will submit its FY11 operating budget to the county finance department by the end of the following week.

Phil said the department has finished preliminary capital budget work and that the capital package had not changed since the commissioners' recent review. On operating funds, Phil said the department produced a baseline budget (maintain current services) and a separate 7% reduction list requested by county leadership \"which is essentially a list of items that we would cut out of our budget or, or at least put on the list for the commissioners to decide,\" he said. He identified the parks division as the area that would take the biggest hit because it receives a large share of general fund support.

On Great Mills Pool, Phil provided cost and subsidy figures and the department recommendation: \"It currently, it's about a $325,000 budget. It currently brings in about half of that cost in revenue from user fees.\" He said commissioners previously provided a $50,000 subsidy from tax dollars for the pool and that the department's recommendation was to operate the pool for at least one more year while the College of Southern Maryland's new indoor facility begins operation so the county can evaluate whether the CSM facility can absorb demand for swim lessons, teams and other users. \"Our recommendation's going to be that we at least operate 1 more year and and see how it all works out with the 2 facilities,\" Phil said.

Phil said Recreation's enterprise funds currently help subsidize the pool and staff believe the department can cover the subsidy with other efficiencies for another year. He also noted that many recreation programs are enterprise-funded and self-supporting, while general-fund-supported staff positions are the main operating costs.

Phil told the board the museum division has been asked to prepare a 7% reduction list; because that division's general fund is small, a 7% cut would affect programming. He said operating budget decisions will depend in part on state-level budget actions that could reduce county revenues.

No formal board vote was taken on budget recommendations at the meeting; Phil said staff will present a list of proposed cuts at the board's March meeting.","Recreation and Parks staff briefed the board on capital and operating budgets, anticipated cuts, and recommended continuing year‑round operation of Great Mills Pool for at least one more year while the new CSM indoor facility opens.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6361920,"St. Mary's Youth Football reorganizing after Pax River Raiders lose Calvert affiliation",943,67000,1010000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169242-85f7727b27f7ace5e9f470845be3bcdd&start=67&end=1010","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169242-85f7727b27f7ace5e9f470845be3bcdd/thumbnail_67000.jpg","/articles/6361920/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-Youth-Football-reorganizing-after-Pax-River-Raiders-lose-Calvert-affiliation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361920-b663d3c8faf97904e97cb0e3e060c49a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201215&Signature=JxJyVaDyG8yEK9JjbWSLlDM~Wf13N-cPKAzCc00PA3t2jBSvMB1AHl0U-j6w6rvuXMqm6TUKOjiX8bQvxK1cbTO6C8FNnQpEZFvjn7IaicE3IUbn3VXwnDOtvvZ2nvNhY-z9tZasZ5igas68dVtD5H48CWrxCKB91UJoK7Yjaxe9LhR~BYAnIGhheGuF30v0TAPQw5V1cDNIWNhY8G0YqdeQxxQt01JPvdXae1C-fAosF4rlDN1F7CVYJs9jXmEqAi3o1le3ww-W04EIXQVSncbq5X7Lp5NT38j3V64X4wfEre1ZCjwfgd60PwWVj7x-jm3IyT1s-iNPGnAHdq415g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks staff updated the Recreation and Parks Board on plans to form a county football league and options for the Pax River Raiders after Calvert County informed the Raiders they would not be able to participate in Calvert for the coming season.

The update centered on three options under consideration: the Pax River Raiders could join Saint Mary's County as their current independent nonprofit club under the Raiders' existing leadership; the Raiders could transfer leadership to someone else and participate as a separate club; or the Raiders could become a club under the Southern Maryland Youth Football nonprofit structure. \"March 1st is gonna be online registration. And that's really when we're gonna find out exactly what's happening,\" Recreation staff member Art Shepherd said, adding that March 1 will show which clubs and families feel comfortable with the new structure.

Why the three-option approach: last season Southern Maryland Youth Football was the single league that participated in St. Mary's County and has agreed to partner with Recreation and Parks to establish a club-based model for a Saint Mary's County Football League. Shepherd said volunteers prefer to defer full nonprofit organization for all clubs until the second year so volunteers can manage the league operations without immediate fiscal responsibilities. \"The goal is that all clubs then would have non profit status,\" Shepherd said, describing a plan where equipment and treasury ownership would rest with the nonprofit club rather than an individual.

Board members and staff discussed logistics: each of the planned four clubs (Mechanicsville Braves, Leonardtown Blue Raiders, Lexington Park Hornets and the Pax River Raiders) would have its own leadership — president, vice president, treasurer and fundraising chair — and each club would send a representative to the league board. Tyrone Harris and Kyle, the county sports coordinator, are working on field scheduling, registration dates and fees. Shepherd said organizers expect two teams initially in each weight division and estimated each team could take up to 40 children.

Volunteer leaders Pat Murphy and Paul Richardson (previous Smithville program leaders) and others have participated in planning meetings. Shepherd said the county will host a parent meeting Thursday the 11th at Esperanza Middle School to answer questions. \"I'll be there at Esperanza Middle School cafeteria next, Thursday at 7 o'clock on 11th to discuss that with the parents,\" Shepherd said.

Shepherd and others said registration numbers on March 1 will reveal whether the Raiders and other clubs commit to the county league or pursue other arrangements. \"If people begin to register and feel comfortable with the new status of football, then you'll see the registration showing that,\" Shepherd said. The county will consider a memorandum of understanding with volunteer leaders to clarify expectations and communication. Board member Julie asked about club governance and was told each club would have an officer slate and representation to the league board.

The county will also monitor older age divisions more closely because participation declines at older ages; Shepherd said the older divisions may need to partner with other jurisdictions for games.

Board members did not take a formal vote on the options; staff said they will continue working with volunteers and will report back after registration opens.","County staff and volunteer leaders described three organizational options for youth football after Calvert County told the Pax River Raiders they could not participate there; online registration March 1 will determine the fall season’s shape.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board endorses park policy updates covering alcohol permits, pavilion fees, geocaching and lights

Donor-led plan to enlarge dugouts at Chancellors Run wins board support

County plans one-year trial of bow hunting on 85 acres at Elms property pending DNR approval

Recreation budget tight; staff recommends operating Great Mills Pool one more year

St. Mary's Youth Football reorganizing after Pax River Raiders lose Calvert affiliation