Major Upgrade Coming To Bensville Park With $530K Nature Trail Project

WHITE PLAINS, Md.— Families walking through Bensville Park will soon have a new shaded path to explore, complete with native plantings, pollinator meadows and even outdoor musical instruments, after the Resilience Authority of Charles County secured $530,623 to build the “Nodes of Nature” Educational Trail.

The project is part of the authority’s “Concrete to Green” initiative, which focuses on transforming underused or heat-trapping areas into greener, more resilient community spaces.

Authority officials explained that while Bensville Park includes athletic fields, a playground and other popular amenities, portions of open field space had heavily compacted soil and limited tree canopy — conditions that contribute to higher surface temperatures and poor stormwater absorption.

Stacy Schaefer, executive director of the Resilience Authority of Charles County, said the site was selected after evaluating heat mapping data and existing field conditions.

“In cooperation with parks, we identified some unused field space that has that same compacted soil which without tree cover also registers as a heat island,” Schaefer said.

ADA-Accessible Nature Trail Planned

The planned project will create a winding, half-mile ADA-accessible trail designed to be inclusive for residents of all mobility levels.

Officials said the rain garden and soil restoration elements will help improve stormwater absorption and reduce runoff. The additional tree canopy is intended to lower surface temperatures during peak summer months, addressing localized heat island conditions.

The outdoor musical instruments are designed to create interactive experiences for families and children while encouraging outdoor exploration.

Funded Through State And Environmental Grants

The $530,623 secured for the project includes $135,500 through a Chesapeake Bay Trust Outreach and Restoration Grant and $395,623 through a Maryland Department of Natural Resources Greenspace Equity Grant.

Commissioners were told that greenspace equity has been identified at the state level as a priority, particularly in areas where residents have limited access to shaded, natural public space.

The DNR Greenspace Equity Program supports the creation, preservation and improvement of public green spaces in underserved and overburdened communities. The program focuses on expanding access to parks, trails, community woodlands and outdoor gathering spaces while addressing environmental health disparities.

Education And Workforce Training Site

Beyond recreation, officials said the “Nodes of Nature” trail will serve as a demonstration and training location for the authority’s green infrastructure education program.

The site is expected to host community workshops and serve as a hands-on learning environment for the Resilience Authority Youth Corps, which provides workforce experience to local high school students.

“This site will be used for green infrastructure training because it covers the major stormwater practices that we will be able to teach the community,” staff said during the briefing.

Bensville Trail Joins Countywide ‘Concrete To Green’ Climate Projects

The Bensville Park project is part of the Resilience Authority’s broader “Concrete to Green” initiative, which converts heat-trapping pavement and compacted soil into shaded, stormwater-absorbing green space.

Other projects under that initiative include a stormwater pocket park at the Elite Gymnastics and Recreation Center and the ADA-accessible pocket park at the Waldorf Senior and Recreation Center, both highlighted during the Feb. 3 commissioners meeting. Officials said the pocket parks and the Bensville trail share the same goal: reducing heat islands, improving stormwater management, and expanding equitable access to outdoor space in developed areas of Charles County.

Bensville Park, located at 6980 Bensville Road in White Plains, currently offers a playground, zipline, basketball court, softball field, picnic pavilion, restrooms and direct access to the Indian Head Rail Trail. The new “Nodes of Nature” trail will add to those amenities by expanding shaded walking space and educational outdoor features.

Watch the Feb. 3 Meeting: CCGTV
See the complete Feb. 3, 2026, presentation here.

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