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Board hears proposed master‑plan amendments: Salt Creek hiker‑biker sites, Port Williams boundary signs, Robin Hill trails
Summary
Staff proposed targeted master‑plan amendments to record existing hiker‑biker campsites at Salt Creek, clarify boundary signage at Port Williams, and incorporate recent Robin Hill trail work into planning documents.
The Parks Advisory Board reviewed staff recommendations for the 2025 master‑plan amendment window, including three specific amendments: inclusion of Dungeness Trails County Park, adding six hiker‑biker campsites and one Cascadia Marine Trail campsite at Salt Creek Recreation Area, and clarifying boundaries and signage for Maryland Nelson County Park at Port Williams.
Salt Creek: Staff told the board that several hiker‑biker sites and one Cascadia Marine Trail site already exist on the ground but had not been recorded in the written master plan. "They're non‑motorized campsites — backpacking, cycling or kayaking," a staff member said. Board members debated the correct count (memo language listed five sites; staff and board clarified there are six hiker‑biker sites and one Cascadia Marine Trail site) and agreed the amendment should describe them separately from vehicle camp sites.
Port Williams / Maryland Nelson: Staff recommended clearer signage and public education to mark the 225 feet of county tide lands the county owns and to indicate where public access ends and private property begins. Staff said standard "leaving county park property" signage could be used; the board asked staff to coordinate with nearby private property owners and the Pitship Duck Club before placing signs on non‑county land.
Robin Hill and trails: Members of the public and volunteers described recent trail improvements at Robin Hill, including a new loop and hardened surfacing in wet sections. A volunteer provided sketches and asked the board to consider the Robin Hill trail changes during master‑plan work. Staff said the master‑plan amendment and later map updates will incorporate small trail adjustments where appropriate.
Why it matters: recording existing facilities in the master plan makes them official for planning and grant applications; clarifying boundaries reduces conflicts with private landowners and informs park users; documenting trail work supports future maintenance planning.
Next steps: staff will revise the amendment language to reflect correct site counts and clearer phrasing, work with IT to post master‑plan materials and boundary information more prominently on the county website, and bring final amendment language back to the board for action.
