Parks director updates: tennis resurfacing, six dedicated pickleball courts, mural, lights and indoor-space strain

During director updates, Recreation & Parks staff summarized completed and ongoing capital and programmatic work across county parks and facilities.

Completed and nearly completed capital work: staff reported resurfacing and line work on the Dorsey Park tennis courts, funded in part with Open Space funds; a conversion at Chancellors Park that created six dedicated pickleball courts (soft-opened with strong community response); and installation of bottle-filling stations requested by trail users. Staff also described a Baggett Park mural, created by artist Eric Jackson with sponsorship from Cedar Point Federal Credit Union and partnership with the St. Mary—s Arts Council.

Field improvements: staff said new lights are being installed on Fields 2 and 3 (near the playground and basketball courts) and that the fixtures will increase foot-candle levels; Open Space funding is covering that work. Staff acknowledged the lights were not originally installed by Recreation & Parks and described the project as a substantial improvement for high-use fields.

Programming and demand: staff reported new and successful programs (a costume run and an upcoming turkey trot) and said the department offers bus trips that have had strong take-up. Registration demand highlighted a capacity issue: when indoor soccer registration opened, 30 teams and 246 individual youth registered in fewer than 24 hours; staff reported there were 8 teams and 26 players on waiting lists as of the meeting.

Concessions and operations: board members and staff discussed the feasibility of reestablishing concessions at Chancellors Park. Staff said equipment remains on-site, that procurement for a vendor-run seasonal operation is under consideration, and that a concession pilot could focus on the busiest months rather than year-round service.

Saint Andrew—s complex update: staff said conceptual planning and a cost analysis for the proposed Saint Andrew—s complex are near completion and under review by the Maryland Stadium Authority. Staff cautioned the site poses access and geotechnical challenges, said the project would likely be phased, and noted the authority will present findings to county officials when its review is complete.

What's next: staff said they will continue to brief the advisory commission as projects progress and will seek procurement options for concession services and continued capital funding through grants and Open Space funds.