Delegation seeks to shrink Port Deposit park plan to prioritize Snow Hill site and reduce cost

Delegate Teresa Riley presented HB 1184 to reduce the acreage of the Port Deposit State Historical Park and delay the land transfer to the Department of Natural Resources to allow focused preservation work at the Snow Hill archaeological site.

Riley told the Environment and Transportation Committee the 2022 insertion of the Port Deposit project into the Great Maryland Outdoors Act had proceeded without input from several local stakeholders, producing a concept that combined distinct historic areas — Snow Hill, the Tome School campus and a large wooded conservation area — into a single park scope with an estimated preliminary budget of over $56 million, and no identified funding source. The bill as presented would shrink the park to roughly a 12–19‑acre parcel centered on Snow Hill and move the transfer date by one year to June 2026.

Speakers representing the town of Port Deposit, the Bainbridge Development Corporation (BDC), Cecil County government and local preservation organizations backed the change. Vicki Rinckerman, the town administrator, and Toni Sprinkle of the BDC told the committee the Snow Hill archaeology and the Tome School have different histories and preservation needs; they said the smaller initial parcel would make the project financially feasible and allow local partners to coordinate restoration and interpretation. Carl Roberts, BDC chair, and the Cecil County executive said the downsized scope better aligns with DNR capacity and local planning.

Opponents and concerns mentioned in the hearing included confusion over what the larger original acreage entailed; several members of the committee and questioners sought clarification about whether the reduced parcel would remove risk of unwanted commercial development and how the Tome School granite buildings would be reused. Witnesses from Port Deposit described preexisting preservation easements on the Tome campus, grant work on granite structures and an intention to restore three stone buildings and the Italian gardens as part of a phased local effort.

Why it matters: Snow Hill is a free Black community site dating from the 1840s and local speakers framed the change as preserving and prioritizing the Black historical narrative. Supporters argued a smaller initial park parcel focused on Snow Hill would be less costly, more immediately actionable and better aligned with DNR staffing and budget constraints.

Discussion and next steps: The committee asked for clarity about ownership, preservation easements and development plans for the surrounding Bainbridge parcels; witnesses said BDC holds title but preservation easements require Maryland Historic Trust review for any changes on the Tome campus. Several county and local speakers noted the town and BDC will continue to collaborate with DNR and the Maryland Historic Trust on restoration, interpretation and phased development. HB 1184 was offered with additional local support letters and stakeholder testimony in the hearing transcript.