[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6361899,"mediaKeyId","2169246-c139b783ccfcca0e1f90e47c820c125b","parentId",2169246,"title","St. Mary's County parks staff outline $5.5M CIP, progress on Lexington Manor passive park and sports-complex study","audioSeconds",1627,"startMs",110000,"endMs",1737000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169246-c139b783ccfcca0e1f90e47c820c125b&start=110&end=1737","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169246-c139b783ccfcca0e1f90e47c820c125b/thumbnail_110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6361899/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-County-parks-staff-outline-55M-CIP-progress-on-Lexington-Manor-passive-park-and-sports-complex-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361899-f06c1c58d1442db357551fb1cf6a46f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773578778&Signature=oQcoC4yYN8pl2iwt5ewMVJOntRBHJdTxWGYf~A7mR3Eef-74w99KFx1HMrDWB0vcb~0neg45-JLdqhyyElvQPAugqROYais5BdVWHfWoboPpqGBUYAvQo8hkVpjpnxNngW7pk0e58fEElcSYrJBmU91LbgQoUDOr0pxx2SPgBf4vPOszIM2kxfn4wh~26e5OqDsKlUPRzerxjx9QmcjdOmPmsohsNaA6-lwDSA3aS9isaHstCjrIipe2QQ67liS~AStN5tQp606ExqrTnar4u3hNbkT3Tlav7KAOv4IxS-aKaNBde2611GwtmgBHKj~jT4bw2WGsnDqL1xcHkOeVqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-01-30T18:49:13Z","article","St. Mary's County Parks and Recreation staff on Feb. 2021 gave an update on capital projects, reporting demolition and new partnerships at Lexington Manor Passive Park, a state/federal match for a Snow Hill Park boat ramp, continuing synthetic turf installations and lighting at several parks, and a feasibility recommendation that pushed a proposed county sports complex to fiscal 2027.

The projects matter to residents who use county fields, playgrounds and waterfronts and to the county's capital budget: staff said the upcoming CIP recommendation totals about $5.5 million, with the largest single item tied to Snow Hill Park and a planned boat ramp.

\"I was just at the Lexington Manor Passif Park this afternoon,\" Mr. Shepherd said as he opened the project update. He reported that a contractor, Triple Creek, will begin full demolition the week following the meeting and that crews already removed dead trees and created new pathways as part of phase 1 improvements. Shepherd described a new parking area and a \"new entrance off to 35\" and said the project is close to receiving a building permit for a public restroom.

Shepherd also described a new community partnership: \"I was called or emailed a couple weeks ago from professor of environmental studies from Saint Mary's College. And they wanted to know how they could partner in the Passat Park,\" he said, describing planned work on community gardens, composting and a pollinator meadow in coordination with local stakeholders.

On waterfront work, Shepherd said Snow Hill Park is being positioned for a boat-ramp project that carries a roughly $800,000 estimate and has a 50% match: \"if we have a, $800,000 boat ramp there, 400,000 is coming through from, waterway improvement funds. We'll get 50% of that,\" he said. He told the group the county has applied for a matching grant and expects the local share to be covered by that process.

Athletic-field projects are further along: Shepherd reported that synthetic turf installations are under construction at Chancellor's Run and Lancaster Park and that lights and field markings are being finalized with league leaders. He said the county purchased an initial set of bleachers for the six new fields and is installing new netting near parking areas to prevent kicked balls from reaching cars. \"Everything's moving forward in our timeline still to have the next 3 in for April,\" Shepherd said of the turf fields.

A proposed county sports complex drew extended discussion. Shepherd said a market and economic feasibility study found the concept viable but that a funding decision was moved out: \"they moved it out to FY '27 because that's gonna be a major, major cost, major cost,\" he said. He described next steps as developing a concept plan, selecting sites, hiring design and engineering teams and then pursuing construction funding.

Shepherd gave a brief CIP summary: roughly $5.5 million in recommended capital spending, with 60% of that tied to Snow Hill boat-ramp work in the near term. He also discussed other park improvements such as new restrooms (he said 12 parks now have running-water restrooms year-round, with Cardinal Gibbons as an exception), play-area replacements, and repairs to spray grounds and field fencing.

Questions from attendees addressed project timelines, communication (a request to post Concept 1 maps online was noted for the Feb. 23 budget work session), access and safety at passive-park entrances, and the locations under consideration for a future YMCA and sports complex.

Votes taken at the meeting concerned procedural items: the minutes were approved as written, and officers were re-elected (see \"Actions\" for motions and outcome details). No final appropriations or bond-authorizing votes were recorded during this presentation; staff said many CIP entries remain recommendations pending commissioner decisions.

Ending: Staff said they will take additional design and permitting steps in the coming months and return to commissioners with lease or funding recommendations where required. Several projects, including the Snow Hill boat ramp and parts of the turf-field program, rely on external grants and state approvals that will affect construction timing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2/4/2021 Recreation and Parks Board","oneSentenceSummary","St. Mary's County Parks and Recreation staff on Feb. 2021 gave an update on capital projects, reporting demolition and new partnerships at Lexington Manor Passive Park, a state/federal match for a Snow Hill Park boat ramp, continuing synthetic turf installations and lighting at several parks, and a feasibility recommendation that pushed a proposed county sports complex to fiscal 2027.","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},6361890,"Parks staff outline COVID plan-of-action process for meets and travel events; indoor competition remains limited",266,2495000,2761000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169246-c139b783ccfcca0e1f90e47c820c125b&start=2495&end=2761","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169246-c139b783ccfcca0e1f90e47c820c125b/thumbnail_2495000.jpg","/articles/6361890/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Parks-staff-outline-COVID-plan-of-action-process-for-meets-and-travel-events-indoor-competition-remains-limited","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361890-3fdecf1abf0e8df126b73088667189ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1773578778&Signature=FtZsY~nJGiOePDysRgGh6ViphDiuqZpZw5ERFHfaxkXwhOXG31JV8L5Di8nskajCMl9sM7VyAiXn9i4iAEhSTfibpAxh1VAgu5ujvk2SM3wVaqeUIp5kDCUVPlKUEIexBZ8HiwgDH2HM7PNtsyRbnrhyZQCMNand3r4o0u8JJk~M4m9qiVplqOZA6jeE0JgV6akhYYVTq~ZTsEeZuP8hVZxnWnHM6qavbPT~LslJXgpuYbVJ02Gh9QpNfL-wNwSe4SJ8MA2ldc38Fu2S2qRWYsDSVU1QrOpSezap1lDFGrztjCDRcn0MDlEJw8C-5C3DMxiND7tm7qOr7PR1uk0kgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County Parks and Recreation staff described a written plan-of-action process for events that fall outside regular program scope, saying it requires health input, an approved timeline and event-specific assurances before the county will provide staff support or facility access.

\"Meet host assures compliance, filing consultation with the Saint Mary's County Nurse, a timeline and all those things that are involved,\" Mr. Shepherd said while reviewing a sample plan-of-action for a gymnastics meet. He said these plans go first to staff and then to the county administrator for signature when required.

Shepherd explained that the plan covers events that change the normal scope of activity (for example, hosting a multi-team tournament rather than routine league play) and that, in many cases, league organizers must provide assurances for visiting teams and out-of-county participants. \"If you're inviting people in your plan of action, you would have to show assurance that you're taking care of those things,\" he said.

Staff said outdoor school fields are now available to county leagues, which provides crucial practice time, but indoor, close-contact competitions are still restricted by statewide orders and facility capacity rules. Shepherd summarized state guidance: \"the governor the order says in youth sports that indoors there's capacity 50% in recreation center and it's masks and it's clinic style workouts, not competition.\" He added that clinics, drills and limited practices may be possible in department-managed facilities under a plan of action, but full indoor seasons and competitions remain constrained.

The department also outlined tracking and contact-tracing practices and said it has had limited COVID impacts at department sites; staff reported no service interruptions at some facilities and a small number of quarantines for individuals with exposure. Practice and program limits, reservation systems for lap swim and other operational changes remain in place.

Ending: Staff said they will continue to accept event-specific plans of action, coordinate with the county nurse and return to commissioners if broader policy changes are needed or if the department will not provide staff support for a requested off-site event.","County parks staff described the plan-of-action process used to vet out-of-scope events such as gymnastics meets and tournaments, explained that plans require county nurse and administrator review, and clarified that outdoor school fields are now available for county leagues while indoor full-contact competition (not clinics) remains restricted.",{"_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},6361895,"County staff say commissioners authorized move toward short-term lease of College of Southern Maryland fitness center in Leonardtown",242,1031000,1273000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169246-c139b783ccfcca0e1f90e47c820c125b&start=1031&end=1273","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169246-c139b783ccfcca0e1f90e47c820c125b/thumbnail_1031000.jpg","/articles/6361895/St-Marys-County/Maryland/County-staff-say-commissioners-authorized-move-toward-short-term-lease-of-College-of-Southern-Maryland-fitness-center-in-Leonardtown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361895-1121886177fa262d8263e7f67e80a606/orig.mp4?Expires=1773578778&Signature=JB-AXRlkANJvjlK13q0I9WjaaNyrNwJKKV6F2XF5ptTNa33qkQA9Jl7aNZ5Fyrldmo36PVYi3t8bIrpJmOwtcaATvlDClVlbxQ6saJyjePHqJPlkcIl-1MRLoZOm-fK-2bg5FDl6B8fNYdAW8wzyBr5IH3oR1C3nP6US2UazweMTjWX-LoNZH420fFMQz3Qh07O1EvfT82lx8nQwGN7eTQqt8HlcYglz4INbbmlNrvbcHQs0~dQqxpsUk965QWYlwtwbib7XLq4xOA-z4112oFhLEYs8NEhFMcRSNfIhsrhv7BYWuwdaMBYSFnb3BJB~WF~R6yNI1XsoP6WpK7K4fA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County Parks and Recreation staff told attendees they will pursue a short-term lease to use the Leonardtown Fitness and Wellness Center on the College of Southern Maryland campus, following commissioner direction. Staff described the arrangement as an initial two-year agreement with shared utility costs, no new full-time employees and county-run programming contracted or staffed through existing hourly and part-time options.

\"Commissioners gave direction this past Tuesday,\" Mr. Shepherd said, summarizing the recent decision and the staff recommendation to bring a lease memorandum forward in March. Shepherd said the facility is roughly a \"$16,000,000 facility,\" and described the original construction funding split: \"County put in 3, I think 3.5 and then the 12.5 was by the College of Southern Maryland when it was built,\" noting the complex contains studios, a heated therapy pool and other amenities.

Shepherd said the county would not be asking for additional full-time employees. \"We're not asking for any more full time employees,\" he said, and described plans to cover operating expenses through a cost-sharing approach (utilities handled by the county enterprise fund, program staffing via existing hourly and contract arrangements). Shepherd cited retained enterprise-fund earnings of about $547,000 and said that, with Leonardtown's residential growth, initial participation projections make the pilot feasible.

Staff said next steps include further meetings with college leadership, public-works and IT staff, legal review, and a return to commissioners to sign a lease if terms are finalized. The memorandum will be scheduled for commissioner review in March.

Ending: If the commissioners approve the lease, staff said they will begin program rollout under the two-year pilot and then evaluate whether to extend the agreement based on participation and financial results.","St. Mary's County staff reported that commissioners gave direction to pursue a short-term lease with the College of Southern Maryland for the Leonardtown Fitness and Wellness Center. Staff described a two-year pilot lease, a cost-share arrangement for utilities, no new full-time staff and a plan to offer county programming there.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

St. Mary's County parks staff outline $5.5M CIP, progress on Lexington Manor passive park and sports-complex study

Parks staff outline COVID plan-of-action process for meets and travel events; indoor competition remains limited

County staff say commissioners authorized move toward short-term lease of College of Southern Maryland fitness center in Leonardtown