Annapolis plans Carr’s Beach shoreline restoration, ADA access and cultural center with community-curated history

Annapolis — City recreation officials on July 17 presented a master-plan concept to restore Carr’s Beach, add accessible beach and pier amenities, and create a small visitor center and cultural interpretation that the city and community groups would curate.

Rosalind Johnson, director of the City of Annapolis Recreation and Parks Department, told the council the shoreline-and-coastal elements are permitted-work ready and that the department will submit permits to critical-area reviewers in the days following the work session.

The plan presented by the city and design teams includes a shallow swimming area with an accessible “get-down” area and movable water play elements, an ADA-accessible kayak launch and Mobi-mat beach access for wheelchairs, a larger pier designed for passive fishing and viewing, and a small visitor center intended for interpretation and program use. The design also includes cabanas and a pavilion-style stage area in the master plan’s social-gathering zone.

"Yes. It is funded," Johnson told the council when asked whether funding for the shoreline-and-coastal work is in hand, while adding a customary caveat that final prices will depend on contractor bids. City staff said they have budgeted funds and that the project team estimated the design could be built with the funding in hand, but that final cost certainty requires going to bid.

Accessibility and safety

City staff said the swim area will be shallow and supervised by lifeguards. The plan calls for beach wheelchair equipment and a Mobi-mat pathway to allow wheelchair users to get to the waterline. The kayak launch is designed for ease of use so paddlers of different skill levels can enter the water.

Community history, partnerships and programming

Officials said the plan intentionally highlights Carr’s Beach’s cultural and musical history. The city described ongoing collaboration with Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation and other organizations to co-curate interpretive programming, educational events and public-facing lessons about shoreline resilience, oysters and the African American maritime history of the site.

Didi Strum of Blacks of the Chesapeake, who spoke at the session, said the group and its partners envision the park as a center for environmental education and restoration. "We see that as a place for oyster gardening and restoration and having partners who specialize in that area that will talk about resilience, climate resilience and the importance of oysters," Strum said.

Timeline, permitting and next steps

City staff said the permitting submission to critical-area reviewers would happen this month and that the city expects a short bid window (they estimated 30–60 days) once permits are approved. Staff said the shore-restoration construction itself should take a few months; they described a target to have swimming available in 2026, subject to permitting and contractor procurement.

Parking and access

Officials said the first strategy to manage demand will be parking management rather than immediate land acquisition. The city is working with nearby Maritime Museum parking and plans to offer time-limited parking passes and to integrate bus and ride-share options. Staff said an offer on a nearby property to increase parking availability was not accepted; they said the city will continue to pursue options.

Public programming and design details

Designers described a set of artwork and landscape elements to create a sense of place — a grove for historical interpretation, small cabanas, a pavilion for events and a shallow swim zone for safe wading and supervised swimming. City staff said some materials and elements would be phased in over time and that moving parts such as movable water-play elements and temporary shading for boat-show events are included in the planning.

Next steps

After permit submission, the city expects to go to bid and return to council with procurement results and a construction timeline. Officials emphasized the community role in curating the visitor-center programming and memorial elements and said they will continue to work with partners including Blacks of the Chesapeake, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and local schools on programming and interpretation.