The Board of County Commissioners and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Community Services are pleased to invite the public to the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II of the Three Notch Trail.

The Ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 9 at 11:30 a.m. near the entrance of the Northern Senior Center in Charlotte Hall. The ceremony is being planned in conjunction with the community celebration of the Charlotte Hall Library’s 25th birthday that begins at 10:00 a.m. at the library.

“Development of the County’s railroad right-of-way into a hiking, biking and equestrian trail will provide numerous recreational, tourism and transportation opportunities,” said Commissioner President Jack Russell (D). “The trail will also help promote the health and wellness benefits of walking, biking and rollerblading.”

Phase II of the trail will extend from the Northern Senior Center to Deborah Drive in Charles County, approximately 1,400 feet north of the St. Mary’s County line.

Phase I of the trail, from MD 236 in New Market to the entrance of the Northern Senior Center, was completed in June 2006. This area of the trail provides a connection between the Southern Maryland Regional Library, the St. Mary’s County Farmers’ Market, the new St. Mary’s County Welcome Center, Charlotte Hall Veterans Home and the Northern Senior Center and links the villages of New Market and Charlotte Hall. 

Other Phases of the trail are planned as follows: 

  • Phase III:  This 2-mile section, from the Wildewood development south to the Wal-Mart shopping Center, is expected to be constructed by private developers in 2008-2010.  
  • Phase IV:  Design and engineering for the three-quarter-mile section Phase IV-A from Wal-Mart to Chancellor’s Run Road is underway; construction is expected to begin in 2008. Design and engineering for Phase IV-B from Chancellor’s Run Road to Pegg Road (Gate 1 of Patuxent River Naval Air Station) will be coordinated with the construction of FDR Boulevard, beginning in 2009.
  • Other phases:  Design and construction of Phases V through IX, from Wildewood north to New Market, is planned for 2008-2015, as funding permits.

For more information, please contact the Department of Recreation, Parks and Community Services at (301) 475-4200 ext. 1811.

This notice was provided by St. Mary’s County government as a public service to the community.