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Residents urge Cheverly to buy two lots to protect Woodworth Trail green space
Summary
After a resident purchased two tax-sale lots near the Woodworth Trail and offered to sell them to the town at cost, dozens of residents urged the Cheverly Mayor and Council to reimburse the buyer and formally acquire the parcels to preserve the town's urban forest and trail connectivity.
Mayor Michael Watson announced that town attorneys and staff report most legal issues in a pending land matter have been resolved, and public comment at the April 20 meeting focused on next steps for preserving two privately purchased lots near the Woodworth Trail.
Resident Gabe Orkler told the council he bought Lots 25 and 26 at a tax sale to prevent development and said he is willing to transfer them to the town at his out‑of‑pocket cost. “What we need to do now is make sure that these lots remain in perpetuity green spaces,” Orkler said. He asked the town to pursue acquiring adjacent lots that may also be for sale.
Several longtime residents and volunteer stewards followed, describing years of volunteer work on the Woodworth Trail and the environmental services the remnant woodland provides, from stormwater buffering to urban heat reduction. Abel Olivo, executive director of Defensora de la Cuenca, said his group has donated trees and labor valued at roughly $35,000 to support the preserve and praised the partnership with the Friends of Lower Beaver Dam.
Speakers urged the council to use conservation tools such as conservation easements and to coordinate with the Maryland Environmental Trust to ensure the parcels are protected in perpetuity. Dan Smith recommended the town seek existing conservation easement models rather than starting a new process from scratch.
Town attorney Todd Pounds told the council the “majority of any issues” with the land matter have been resolved and that questions about long‑term use would be addressed in a future meeting with public input. Several residents asked that any transfer be accompanied by a clear plan for stewardship and binding protections. No final purchase vote was recorded at the meeting; council discussion and public input will continue at upcoming sessions.
The council has indicated interest in moving forward; staff and the town attorney will return with detailed purchase terms, funding source clarification, and recommended conservation language for council review and possible adoption at a future meeting.
