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County advances site concept for Leonardtown Park; commissioners press to renovate Dorsey Park meanwhile
Summary
Recreation and Parks outlined a concept for Leonardtown Park (Hayden property) with two multipurpose fields, parking and restrooms; commissioners asked staff to prioritize improvements at Dorsey Park as Leonardtown plan proceeds and agreed to fold Nicollet Park entrance work into the FDR Phase 4 effort.
Recreation and Parks staff presented a concept plan for Leonardtown Park and discussed how it would relieve pressure on existing fields at Dorsey Park, while commissioners urged renovating Dorsey in the near term.
What staff described
- Brian Lowey, Recreation and Parks, told commissioners the latest concept for Leonardtown Park (the Hayden property behind the elementary school) would include two lit multipurpose fields, a playground, restroom/concession facilities and parking; earlier concept work estimated roughly $1.75 million for an initial phase focused on multipurpose fields, parking and restrooms.
- Lowey said archaeological reviews and initial MHT (Maryland Historical Trust) consultations have advanced: phase‑1 archaeological work and follow‑up investigations were under way and the county received preliminary determinations that barns on the site could be removed if necessary for layout.
Why it matters: Dorsey Park is at or near capacity for scheduled youth sports and parking; Leonardtown Park is intended to add capacity and parking to reduce overflow and scheduling pressure.
Commissioners’ concerns and direction
- Several commissioners said they would rather see some investment in Dorsey Park now — including parking configuration changes and field renovation — rather than delay improvements while Leonardtown is developed. Staff replied that Dorsey will continue to receive routine renovation but is constrained by topography and available expansion land; Leonardtown can provide additional fields and shared parking with the nearby elementary school.
- Commissioners agreed to fold the Nicollet Park entrance design and construction into the newly created FDR Boulevard Phase 4 (see transportation article) so the projects align in design and property acquisition.
Next steps
Staff agreed to circulate the concept plan sketches to commissioners, continue archaeological and design tasks for Leonardtown Park, and coordinate Leonardtown work with the FDR/Phase 4 schedule so parking and access details align. No construction appropriation was approved at the meeting.
