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A Ribbon Cutting ceremony for Phase V of the Three Notch Trail has been set for 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at the John V. Baggett Park at Laurel Grove, located at 26929 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville, Maryland. All are invited to attend and celebrate the Grand Opening of this section of the trail.

Phase V will provide users a scenic three-mile section of trail beginning at the park and ending near MD Route 5 (at the Gospel Light Baptist Church). Baggett Park will serve as a trail hub in this area, where ample parking and restroom facilities are available.Ultimately, when the entire trail is completed, it will link the established, more urban areas of Lexington Park and California to more scenic, rural areas such as Hillville, Oakville, Laurel Grove, Mechanicsville and Charlotte Hall.In addition to recreational and fitness uses, the trail is expected to serve transportation needs for those wishing to bike to attractions, shopping, parks, Senior Activity Centers, libraries, farmers’ markets, businesses and workplaces.

Other Phases of the trail already constructed or planned are as follows:

vPhase I: This one mile section of trail from MD 236 in New Market to the Northern Senior Center in Charlotte Hall opened in 2006.

vPhase II: This 2.25 mile section from the Northern Senior Center to Deborah Drive in Charles County was completed in 2008.

vPhase III:This two mile section, from the Wildewood development south to the Wal-Mart shopping Center, is being constructed primarily by private developers; South Plaza, Wildewood, and Wal-Mart have completed sections along their development frontage.

vPhase IV - Phase IV-A from Wal-Mart to Chancellor’s Run Road in California is nearly complete.Phase IV-B from Chancellor’s Run Road to Pegg Road will be coordinated with the future construction of FDR Boulevard, a community roadway project.

vPhases VI - from MD Route 5 to MD Route 236 in Mechanicsville is currently in the design stage and is anticipated to be constructed in FY14.

vOther Phases: Phases VII, VIII and IX, from Wildewood north to Baggett Park, are planned for FY15 and beyond as future funding permits.

This project was made possible by funding provided under the Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) administered through the Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration. The TEP is a Federal program in which dollars are provided to the State for non?traditional, community?based, transportation?related projects.The Board of County Commissioners for St. Mary's County provided match funding as the project sponsor.Additional funding was provided by the National Recreational Trails Program and from Maryland's Program Open Space.

“Developing the County’s railroad right-of-way into a hiking/biking trail will provide numerous recreational, tourism and transportation opportunities,” said Francis Jack Russell, President, Board of County Commissioners.“We are especially grateful for the Transportation Enhancement Project award which will assist the County with approximately 50% of the Phase V total project costs and help us promote the health and recreational benefits of walking, running, biking and other types of exercise.”

"Transportation is more than roads and rails," said Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim?Staley."Maryland's trail network is a valuable asset providing citizens with both recreational and transportation benefits for bikers and pedestrians.Under the

leadership of Governor Martin O'Malley, we now have in place a comprehensive statewide trail plan that will help guide future investment and improvement to Maryland's trail network."

For more information on the Three Notch Trail, please contact the Department of Recreation and Parks at (301) 475-4200 ext. 1811 or log on to www.stmarysmd.com/recreate and click on parks and facilities.