After years in the planning stages and even more time spent securing funding, the city of Leonardtown and St. Mary’s County Commissioners are set to bid out the construction of the Port of Leonardtown Park and Winery.

The Port of Leonardtown complex is located at the westernmost section of the city, along state Route 5 where it intersects with county Route 243. The park’s land is situated on the former site of the State Highway Administration.  When completed, the park will be the home to a winery and a nature park.

The plans call for Port of Leonardtown to provide a beautiful picnic area, a kayak and canoe launch area, a walking path with bridge over the McIntosh Run leading to the Tudor Hall 55 acre nature reserve and sanctuary and more.

According to Mayor J. Harry Norris, “The town is very excited by the prospects of this park.”

Norris thanked the efforts of the County Commissioners, especially former Commissioner President, Thomas McKay and the Leonardtown City Commissioners for their efforts to acquire funding for park construction.

Town Administrator, Laschelle Miller stated that the town will administer the $500 thousand funding and that requests for construction bids are being readied to start the process.

 
 Purvins

Included in the park will be the Port of Leonardtown winery. According to Southern Maryland Winegrowers Cooperative member, Steven Purvins, the winery is something that local vintners need.

“Until now we had to truck our grapes out of the county to sell,” said Purvins. “Having a local winery will help.”

Purvins’ Clements-based vineyard produces from five to eight tons of red and white grapes each year.

Norris reported that the project has been formulating ever since Leonardtown acquired the old State Highway Administration property.

“We were offered the property over 8 years ago. The state had the property appraised for $500 thousand, but state law states that the state has to offer the land to local governments before auctioning off the property.” He added that Leonardtown was able to acquire the land for the original 1930s purchase price of $14 thousand.

Port of Leonardtown Park will offer a quiet family place and access to the serene McIntosh run, which leads kayaks and canoe enthusiasts down a beautiful 3-mile stretch of water, and to the Leonardtown Wharf.


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