PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County is reaffirming its commitment to sustainable outdoor spaces for residents to enjoy. The county Parks and Recreation Department will reapply to Program Open Space, a Maryland Department of Natural Resources project that provides assistance for communities to create and maintain public spaces, for FY26.
Calvert County’s recreation stems from its unique ecosystem and natural beauty. Under this program, development is tied to conservation, meaning the county can get financial and technical support for nature-focused recreation projects.
Bob Branham, director of Parks and Recreation, emphasized that the plan is amendable and doesn’t lock the Board of County Commissioners or the towns into pursuing any one project. If certain projects become more feasible than others over the course of the year, they can take priority. Or, if something new presents itself, that project can be added to the plan.
Branham said this year’s plan focused on what was most likely to happen, as they wanted to narrow the focus from past years.
“One of the great interests in this community is access to water and launches,” Branham said, and his team looked for projects where they could do just that. Expanding public access to waterways is also part of the county’s Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan (LPPRP) goals.
For FY26, the projects include:
- A land acquisition that would add 1.10 acres of waterfront property to the Calvert Marine Museum
- New canoe/kayak launches along Fishing Creek in Chesapeake Beach
- Acquisition of 201.86 acres for preservation of wildlife habitat
- Open space preservation near Randle Cliff
- Improvements at Hallowing Point District Park (adding paved walking trails between fields and bleacher pads)
- Replacement playground equipment at Cove Point Park
Branham explained that these projects encourage health, low-impact recreation and community connectedness, and stressed the importance of Program Open Space in past projects across the county.
The Planning Commission agreed that the POS plan aligned with the county’s Comprehensive Plan and the LPPRP. They approved the plan created by Parks and Recreation and recommended it for adoption by the BOCC in a 7-0 vote. Parks and Recreation will present the plan at the BOCC meeting on Tuesday, June 3, and submit their application by the July 1 deadline.
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