[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6359232,"mediaKeyId","2188035-3d37e0d43c61c8c1b7f5dbd9c295881b","parentId",2188035,"title","County advances design for Charlotte Hall athletic fields; layout to require agreement with Board of Education","audioSeconds",539,"startMs",361000,"endMs",900000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2188035-3d37e0d43c61c8c1b7f5dbd9c295881b&start=361&end=900","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2188035-3d37e0d43c61c8c1b7f5dbd9c295881b/thumbnail_361000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6359232/St-Marys-County/Maryland/County-advances-design-for-Charlotte-Hall-athletic-fields-layout-to-require-agreement-with-Board-of-Education","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359232-97732c41324616ae6b2cca06dafe8c0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776087298&Signature=Nm6hKpRN-ncATGDgtVymmrfxiZXh70ijHDDm~4Dm-OTe-27xz8qRVsyI4OuiTyS7QK7TswN~rFwbzePVnLN-oF64CcUzThtkBJ6jXvSWIKdap39bP~nk3s7tpDUlkro7en1-p-bRm0rO8mSDv9XdnQaHmCCsv2xLnyICbZd19Ot3OsWE8isEx7arVralwzTzlovjrOP4H8tv2g0jYhroOAXMv8kY8dGNyjz9jM8VnT8gkLsUhHAVmLadMFSb8G1biPlqdxiDM~qL417yL2RoRM8PYPw81QD75dKEZ0ThQ~THqXhy1SuGOb1y~k~v4eRSSmneIb0mQYzFJRLRhkEjUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-01-31T19:12:28Z","article","St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks staff told the advisory board on Nov. 5 that design work has begun for a Charlotte Hall athletic‑fields project adjacent to Luddy Dent Elementary School and 5th District Park and that the recommended layout will require coordination and an agreement with the Board of Education.

Staff said an engineering firm under contract prepared three layout sketches; after consultations with school officials, staff recommended “Concept 2” (the sketch on the bottom right of the handout) in which two fields are aligned north–south and a third is aligned east–west. Staff said that configuration best addresses topography and drainage and concentrates athletic facilities toward the park side of the parcel.

Because parts of the new fields would be sited on school property and the school’s planned expansion will require stormwater management areas, staff said a formal agreement between the County Commissioners and the Board of Education will be needed to clarify use, land transfers or easements and shared stormwater responsibilities. Staff noted the Board of Education has included the school expansion, bus turnaround and parking in its six‑year Capital Improvement Program with planning requested in FY2012 and construction requested in FY2014.

Staff described the fields as intended primarily for team practice (football, soccer, lacrosse) to relieve pressure on existing playing fields; game use was not ruled out but practice needs drove the design choices. Parking and access were identified as the project’s biggest ongoing challenge; staff said school parking would be available evenings and weekends when school activities do not conflict, and that signage, outreach to leagues and an initial park attendant were options to manage parking and public awareness.

Staff also noted the Board of Education is pursuing acquisition of a nearby state‑owned residential lot to assist with stormwater management and future parking expansion; the lot has not been acquired and any school purchase would be an independent action by the Board of Education.

Staff said it hopes to complete engineering review and begin construction as early as summer following plan approvals and permitting, with seeding and two growing seasons anticipated before play could begin.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","11/5/2009 Recreation and Parks Board","oneSentenceSummary","Recreation and Parks staff reported Nov. 5 that an engineering firm is designing three athletic fields adjacent to Luddy Dent Elementary School and 5th District Park in Charlotte Hall and that the recommended layout will require an agreement with the Board of Education because parts of the project are on school property.","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},6359243,"Recreation and Parks board backs county‑administered club model for youth football; will send commissioners letter",1290,1860000,3150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2188035-3d37e0d43c61c8c1b7f5dbd9c295881b&start=1860&end=3150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2188035-3d37e0d43c61c8c1b7f5dbd9c295881b/thumbnail_1860000.jpg","/articles/6359243/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Recreation-and-Parks-board-backs-countyadministered-club-model-for-youth-football-will-send-commissioners-letter","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359243-26f8518130aa5cdd55dfb2e6eca89ce6/orig.mp4?Expires=1776087298&Signature=FX45tZulY6gshyz7D8oN8cBTSl2L2elWrQnJ9Wi4rIoSCNvSXDdCH5ANZnie6kRTrYGDmhge-mpZ37xbZUf~qFjJb-hLo2xLieg63R4VjxZpg2RivhB-POQiK1~YGhPVMJG3f0MTJZUyoynS~c~Bm0UQiWLholwJivIXbq71Dmw6~esNw4zbNTR~hc~ERprSDYZLSPzSqCzIWyeLwIVE7SmWLTwV~uIjrT1yYqXJ0nMt7gImXaVRCauOvP9APkf9ThtYOCcYznj2yC760eIwUC-Y-aru7MeJk4DJvQ992dEgsA6se7so5AN~5RjfintpV5F3jfEEp04j6uNXQ2fsvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks Advisory Board voted unanimously Nov. 5 to accept staff recommendations that Recreation and Parks begin administering a countywide youth football league using a club model and to instruct the board chair to send a letter to the County Commissioners endorsing the plan.

Board members and staff told the board the proposal is intended to provide standardization, accountability and coaching and safety requirements while relying on community‑based clubs to organize teams and handle fundraising. Staff said the county would not provide additional operating funds for the league; teams and clubs would pay league fees and raise funds for equipment and operations.

Under the proposed club model, community football clubs (for example, a Leonardtown club, a Lexington Park club or a Mechanicsville club) would form their own boards, recruit coaches, raise funds and own and maintain equipment. Recreation and Parks staff would act as the league administrator — described at the meeting as a “league commissioner” role — and a directors’ board composed of club presidents would advise on league rules, divisions, age/weight guidelines and operations.

Staff said participation would be voluntary. Southern Maryland Youth Football League (SMYFL) indicated it is open to the model and willing to participate; SMYFL leadership said their organization would continue some of its current arrangements. Pax River Raiders will be “grandfathered” under the plan and will continue to enter teams in the Calvert County league while SMYFL and county organizers work on integration for certain divisions. Staff reported that Chris (last name not specified), a leader with SMYFL, agreed to a cap of 13 teams for his organization to help ensure viable divisions in county competition.

Board members and staff also discussed operational details likely to be included in a formal plan: club formation rules, field assignments and scheduling, equipment ownership and maintenance, and mandatory coach background checks and training. Staff noted the county currently contributes $15,000 toward background checks across sports; that amount covers roughly two coaches per team and that some leagues or individual coaches may need to cover additional checks, which staff said would likely prompt pushback from some volunteer organizations.

Chris, a SMYFL representative at the meeting, told the board, “We’re not against what the county’s trying to do. We’re here to support it…we’ll help you guys.” A board member moved to accept the proposal and to generate the recommended letter to the commissioners; the motion was seconded, and the board voted in favor. The board recorded the vote as unanimous.

Staff said next steps will include drafting formal league operations, negotiating details with the existing clubs, establishing the board-of-directors structure for the league and returning to the advisory board with implementation details.

Votes at a glance: Motion to accept staff proposal to pursue a county‑administered, club‑based youth football league and to generate a letter to the County Commissioners — motion passed (recorded as unanimous).","The St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks Advisory Board voted unanimously Nov. 5 to accept staff recommendations that the department administer a countywide, club‑based youth football league and to send the County Commissioners a letter endorsing the plan.",{"_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},6359237,"Draft six‑year capital budget highlights 3 Notch Trail phases; staff proposes funding missing California sections",652,3874000,4526000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2188035-3d37e0d43c61c8c1b7f5dbd9c295881b&start=3874&end=4526","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2188035-3d37e0d43c61c8c1b7f5dbd9c295881b/thumbnail_3874000.jpg","/articles/6359237/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Draft-sixyear-capital-budget-highlights-3-Notch-Trail-phases-staff-proposes-funding-missing-California-sections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359237-b4ccb70daac6f8abf3b24c6f262a3086/orig.mp4?Expires=1776087299&Signature=bn5S3lUq0eWaiVuITNhDuZhu9s~GIrAJuRrbmuUdXXihRB6z7mRa9PwdbgjFSYAx6w9GcWxIDnWZB7ntloE2mdovMfctlSF7dC2OkAx4icaQwEf7J-nDlWOpQ-HWs5dFEaR90GP2f-XIyHRxt6g5Hw5C8be9opZ50TLZLDOH5~4MBBburA5vpvEZmr6ry5hgbiTgXkd03gf9zV7ldxMZpoJb1acgvlqGKy8e0UfQLupLEEt3ObqqzXbf2EjWOPa8Rq~HHDWEJE75Wl3SOFmGE-8y3l92q8EC0kxL0KqY-UWm079T6ND5h3iDdAIn5UKCgZP5gspbeKi7suKxdjaZyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks staff on Nov. 5 presented a draft FY2011–16 capital budget that continues funding for the 3 Notch Trail and a slate of park, museum and waterfront projects and asked the advisory board for guidance on whether the county should use public funds to fill several undeveloped trail segments in the California/Lexington Park corridor.

The draft budget would fund design and engineering for a 5‑mile section of the 3 Notch Trail (Phase 6) from Route 5 near Wawa north to New Market (FY2011 design budget shown as $212,000 in staff materials and construction funding in a later year). Phase 5 — the section from John Baggett Park to Route 5 — was identified for imminent bidding and construction. Staff said completing those sections would create an about‑11‑mile connected segment between John Baggett Park and Charlotte Hall.

Staff also raised three undeveloped links in the California/Lexington Park area that were expected to be built by private developers but have stalled because of the economy: a First Colony segment, a section in front of Kmart, and a potential link tied to a proposed St. Mary's Marketplace shopping center. Staff asked whether the advisory board wanted to recommend the county pursue these “missing links” as county projects using local, state and—where possible—federal funds rather than waiting for private development to resume.

Board members asked for visuals and additional detail before a final decision. Staff said it would include the California segments as a priority item in the draft CIP submission to the Finance Department by Dec. 1 while preparing maps that identify the existing trail segments and the gaps.

Other capital items discussed in the draft FY2011–16 CIP included:
- Chaptico Park phase development (design and later construction of basketball courts, picnic areas and additional fields).
- Program Open Space (state parkland acquisition funds) placeholder and a $1.3 million county balance that staff warned could be swept by the state if not encumbered.
- Park road, parking and access improvements (paving Cecil Park road; hard‑surface paths at Nicollet Park).
- Museum projects at Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and St. Clement's Island Museum; Drayton African American Schoolhouse preservation.
- Lancaster Park parking addition (up to ~100 spaces) to address weekend parking pressure.
- Elms Beach Park improvements (restroom, pavilion, parking), and Wicomico waterfront restroom replacement and River Springs pier replacement using state waterway funds.

Staff identified funding sources in the draft as a mix of county capital funds, Program Open Space (state) and potential federal Transportation Enhancement funds for trail construction. For the 3 Notch Trail Phase 6 staff indicated that the FY2013 construction estimate included nearly $2 million with an expectation that at least half of those costs would be covered by federal transportation enhancement funding.

Staff stressed permitting and stormwater reviews could extend plan approval timelines and that several projects would require coordination with other agencies, including the Board of Education on school‑adjacent athletic fields. The advisory board requested maps of completed segments and gaps and asked staff to return with visuals and refined cost estimates for the California/Lexington Park missing links before finalizing CIP priorities.","St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks staff presented a draft FY2011–16 capital budget Nov. 5 that continues planned construction on the 3 Notch Trail and lists park, museum and waterfront projects; staff asked the advisory board whether the county should use public funds to complete three undeveloped trail links in the California/Lexington Park area.",{"_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},6359227,"Recreation division to launch online registration Dec. 2; gymnastics center reports self‑supporting operation",440,1325000,1765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2188035-3d37e0d43c61c8c1b7f5dbd9c295881b&start=1325&end=1765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2188035-3d37e0d43c61c8c1b7f5dbd9c295881b/thumbnail_1325000.jpg","/articles/6359227/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Recreation-division-to-launch-online-registration-Dec-2-gymnastics-center-reports-selfsupporting-operation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359227-5d7c2a01865a91c399732c20634191cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1776087299&Signature=Mz7nXFwt9cbetcZW44AEe5lZpZalZcmRQeFbHw~wNxQDNQJDdt9MdkGP3Z8T0AufzHzCdAT8dkj0wDMrPQZe0Xw5~zPxvWH~K-jCf1vACHL13YtHi3llahu9fnHvwlR-Xg1qYYmOkZ-8LyuHxFPCsMCnhpBRweDGj-o0fpzilp3sRYxRAK-jYbgXVLAeZta7GSptco53rIO417Z8NqZM6ayXKO3yUPdzg0DKaBfs69G3E~4p9FO8WGY6tBFKu2Z6qkz1G6e9jCUL6mNx424WcmtKzM-10w15kBse8DTrI66YZ2QciIq0w67NTTQVzaWq7IY4BMgGZCcgRG1yNUAFqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Art Shepherd, recreation division manager, told the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board on Nov. 5 that the department will launch online registration Dec. 2 using an integrated Vermont Systems platform, allowing residents to register for classes, trips, swim lessons and gymnastics online.

Shepherd gave an operations update noting upcoming registration windows: youth basketball registration begins the week of the meeting and other program registration dates for sports, swim lessons and leisure classes were listed. Shepherd said youth basketball attracts more than 1,000 participants countywide and that registration would take place at several sites and at the office.

Shepherd highlighted the gymnastics center as a self‑supporting enterprise operation with reported FY2009 results and current performance metrics: the gymnastics program is a roughly $308,000 enterprise operation; about $190,000 (62 percent) of that is for hourly staff; rent and related costs were reported at $71,000 (about 23 percent); utilities and equipment account for additional operating shares. Shepherd said the facility netted about $21,000 in the 2009 fiscal year and that recent registration totals (462 signed up in the second session this fall versus 385 last year) place the center comfortably above its break‑even participation target.

Shepherd also noted the gymnastics program’s lease expires in May 2012 and said staff will raise the lease and facility question with the board as the expiration approaches. The presentation emphasized program quality and instructor ratios; Shepherd said the department uses a 1:8 coach‑to‑student ratio as a staffing guideline and will add instructors rather than simply enlarging class sizes when demand grows.

Shepherd briefly reviewed other recreation activities: a cheerleading/team dance fundraiser, an active middle‑school basketball selection process and a Carver after‑school program with roughly 59 registered participants and an October daily average of 28 attendees. Shepherd said staff plans to highlight a different operation in future reports and will continue monitoring enterprise revenues as the online registration system goes live.","Art Shepherd, recreation division manager, told the advisory board Nov. 5 that the department will launch online registration Dec. 2 using Vermont Systems. Shepherd also highlighted the gymnastics center as a $308,000 enterprise operation that was self‑supporting in FY2009 with participation and revenue gains this year; lease renewal and staffing","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County advances design for Charlotte Hall athletic fields; layout to require agreement with Board of Education

Recreation and Parks board backs county‑administered club model for youth football; will send commissioners letter

Draft six‑year capital budget highlights 3 Notch Trail phases; staff proposes funding missing California sections

Recreation division to launch online registration Dec. 2; gymnastics center reports self‑supporting operation