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Advisory board backs rewritten park rules banning fireworks and clarifying lighting controls
Summary
The St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks advisory board recommended that the county adopt revised park policies that clarify automatic lighting controls and make fireworks and explosives unlawful in county parks.
The St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks advisory board reviewed proposed revisions to the park policy on Feb. 5 and recommended the changes to county decision-makers, including a new explicit prohibition on fireworks in county parks and clarified language about automatic field lighting.
Why it matters: the changes give park staff a written policy to reference when addressing unsafe or unauthorized uses of park property and clarify existing lighting controls so users and enforcers understand when lights may operate.
Policy changes and board action
Tyrone Harris, Parks Division staff, explained the edits and read the revised fireworks language into the record. "It is unlawful for any person, firm, or cooperation to engage in the retail sale of or to sell, possess, use, transfer, discharge, or explode any fireworks of any kind within county parks," he said. Harris and other staff also proposed editing the lighting section to make clear that lights come on at sunset but require a manual activation and will automatically shut off at 11 p.m.
After discussion about whether the language reflected actual practice, a board member moved to close nominations and another moved to recommend approval of the policy changes to county commissioners; the motion passed by voice vote and the board recorded the decision as unanimous. The board chair confirmed staff would incorporate the revisions into the printed policy manual; staff said the revised page number will be 28 in the new packet.
Operational context
Board members said the fireworks prohibition is primarily about safety and giving staff a clear policy to cite when addressing incidents. Staff noted the provision is intended as an enforcement tool; Harris said the policy provides supporting documentation for staff interactions with park users.
Ending
Board members asked staff to include the revised language in the next packet for commissioners’ consideration; staff said the board’s recommendation and the text would be forwarded as part of the policy review process.
