Board briefed on park projects: entrance fee review, Civil War memorial grant, 3 Notch Trail progress, skate park policy and golf course finances

Recreation and Parks staff provided a multi-item project update at the Dec. 1 board meeting covering waterfront park entrance fees, a Civil War memorial, trail engineering, park capital projects, skate‑park management and the county golf course’s financial outlook.

Entrance fees and county action: Staff reminded the board that the department previously endorsed recommendations to continue entrance fees at Elms Beach and Myrtle Point parks and said staff presented those recommendations to the St. Mary's County Commissioners. Staff will return to the commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 6 for follow-up and said commissioners are expected to act on continuation of the fee program.

Civil War memorial at Lancaster Park: Staff reported progress on a Civil War memorial project being developed in partnership with the Unified Committee for Afro American Contributions (UCAC). The project includes $150,000 in state bond bill funding; staff said they recently joined UCAC representatives in Annapolis where the Board of Public Works approved the grant agreement needed to access the funds. Staff said a sculptor has been commissioned, site work is expected in spring and the design calls for a 30-by-30 plaza, pedestal locations and additional monuments honoring U.S. Colored Troops from St. Mary's County.

3 Notch Trail phase 6: The engineering firm submitted 30% drawings for the trail segment from Route 5 in Mechanicsville to Newmarket, a section staff said will complete the northern part of the trail. A technical evaluation committee (TEC) review is scheduled and staff noted several encroachments—dog runs, sheds and a garage in the right-of-way—that they plan to address with private property owners. Construction funding for the phase is in the capital budget for FY14; staff estimated a construction cost of about $2 million to $2.5 million and said they expect to seek federal transportation enhancement funds for roughly half the project cost, acknowledging the federal review and permitting process will be lengthy and that construction would likely not begin until fiscal 2014 (July 2013 in staff’s timeline).

Lancaster Park ball field and parking expansion: Staff said they will solicit an engineering firm to design new multipurpose turf fields and additional parking and that they are coordinating a lease amendment with the Navy because Lancaster Park sits on land leased from the Navy. The project aims to reduce current parking congestion for weekend games.

Leonardtown Park/site planning: Staff said the Hayden property (previously considered for a new library) will be planned jointly with the school department so the elementary school site plan and park design can be coordinated. The county commissioners decided not to move forward with a new library on that site, so staff will re-evaluate the concept plan and bring a design firm in for additional site planning.

Public landing/piers: Staff said three public-landing pier replacement projects—Fox Harbor Pier, St. George's Island Pier and River Springs Pier—are scheduled to go to bid in January, with expected spring construction and completion by fall.

Skate park policy review: Staff updated the board on a policy change earlier in the year that eliminated daily admission and replaced it with a lower-cost season pass while removing daily supervision. The policy aimed to reduce cost barriers after comparing other skate parks; however, staff reported some serious incidents, including an assault on a skateboarder, and said they will revisit skate‑park management over the winter to consider options for additional supervision balanced against the department’s budget and affordability goals.

Golf course finances and potential privatization: Staff previewed a report to county commissioners on the golf course’s financial position. The course historically operated as an enterprise fund but ran persistent deficits after 2008. Staff cited several causes: a new clubhouse mortgage payment of roughly $112,000 annually, required contributions to OPEB (post-employment health benefits) beginning with an $80,000 charge the first year, and a decline of about 6,000 rounds of golf annually over three years compared with the previous 10-year average. Staff said these changes reduced a roughly $500,000 reserve to near depletion and that the golf course ended the last fiscal year with an approximately $80,000 deficit in its reserves. Commissioners considered privatization last spring but opted to continue county operation for another season; staff and the golf advisory board are recommending continued self-operation while acknowledging the county currently subsidizes the course and will discuss options with commissioners on Dec. 6.

Board questions and next steps: Board members asked for clarification on funding for volunteer projects (staff said park budgets likely paid for materials and volunteers provided labor), for signage at the Baggett Park trailhead (staff said planned kiosks and signage are part of the interpretive signage project), and for timing on bids and construction for piers and Lancaster Park designs. Staff committed to follow-up and said several of the projects will require additional county and state reviews, approvals and coordination with outside agencies.