St. Mary's County adopts 2017 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan; Snow Hill Park cited for increased water access

St. Mary's County Commissioners on Aug. 22 unanimously adopted the 2017 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan, a five-year update required by state statute that keeps the county eligible for Program Open Space funding.

The plan updates inventories, goals and priorities for parks, recreation and agricultural preservation and reflects state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) comments received earlier this year. Arthur Shepherd, director of Recreation and Parks, told commissioners the county has met its acreage and acquisition goal largely because of the March acquisition and July opening of Snow Hill Park.

"The county has met its acreage and acquisition goal," Arthur Shepherd, Director of Recreation and Parks, said during the meeting. He and Adam Boston, the Greenplay consultant who presented the plan, noted the plan is the product of staff and stakeholder outreach and an online survey that drew about 1,400 responses.

Adam Boston, a representative of Greenplay, said the update is required by state law and is necessary to remain qualified for about $370,000 a year in Program Open Space funding that the county has received between 2012 and 2017. "The Land Preservation Parks and Recreation Plan is required by state statute," Boston said.

The presentation highlighted two recent acquisitions: Snow Hill Park and a Shannon Farm parcel. The county's overall park and open-space inventory increased by about 83 acres after the McIntosh Run Wildlife Management Area was added to the inventory at the state's request. The plan also reiterates long-term agricultural goals, including a previously adopted target to preserve 60,000 acres of farmland set in the county's 2010 comprehensive plan.

Commissioner Mike Hewitt praised work on new boat launch and waterfront access projects but relayed resident concerns about signage, parking and potential conflicts between people launching boats and those fishing or crabbing from shore. "They said, '...can we set up some kind of rules and regulations as to if a boat comes in obviously it...has priority,'" Hewitt said, describing feedback from residents near Clark's Landing.

Shepherd and other staff told commissioners Recreation and Parks will address signage, staffing at high-use launches during peak times, bilingual signs where appropriate and routine trash pickup at busy access points. Commissioners also discussed capital improvement priorities, maintenance needs at existing facilities such as Dorsey Park and the importance of aligning limited borrowing authority with highest-return projects.

After questions and brief discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt the plan and to authorize the Recreation and Parks director to make minor edits reflecting that the county has met its state land acquisition goal. The motion passed unanimously.

The adopted plan becomes part of the county's comprehensive plan by reference and will guide park, recreation and conservation work and state grant eligibility for the next five years.