September 18 – Lusby, MD The former Chesapeake Ranch Estates stables area that is now being proposed as a community park received a sizeable donation on September 16 from Dominion Cove Point LNG.
The stables were removed in 2013 due to inactivity at the site with no horses being boarded and general disrepair of the stables due to its inactivity. It was at that time that the idea of repurposing the area to a community park was born in an effort to provide an area that could benefit a larger segment of the community.
Local engineer and CRE resident Jay Hopson came up with a concept that includes pathways with lighting, pavilions, a restroom and concession stand, an amphitheatre and several stormwater management facilities to be used as educational tools for the community, especially children. The outer perimeter trail could be connected to the existing wooded trails within the community.
The stormwater management facilities could include rain gardens, rain barrels, micro bioretention facilities and more. These areas would include information on how they are constructed and how they benefit our environment by filtering rainwater runoff. There also is the possibility of creating a small wetlands area for use in education. Soils testing will determine that viability.
The park could potentially host family reunions, small group outings, elementary school field trips to learn about the environment, small concerts, movie nights, plays, a playground, an area for a small dark park and a grassy area for multipurpose use for children to play.
Hopson and Zane Rettstatt, a former CRE Board Director have taken on the task of securing grants and donations from the area utilities and contractors that provide services to the CRE community. The CRE Board of Directors and General Manager Maggie Moudry pursued and were granted non-profit status for the park with the Southern Calvert Environmental Resources Fund (SEARF), who will manage, audit and oversee the disbursement of the funds for the park.
Funds would be sought and secured from donors by Hopson, Rettstatt and other members of a park planning committee to be assembled and funds would be placed into an account with SEARF and disbursed as the project moves along in its phases. The park received its first grant from Dominion Cove Point in the amount of $15,000 and a presentation was made on September 16 as stated earlier and was presented to Travis Scott, President of the CRE Board and the other board members by Karl Neddenien, Dominion Cove Point Media Relations and Community Relations and Mike Gardner, Dominion Cove Point Plant Operations.
The park planners welcome input from the CRE community on ideas to include in the park and specifically wishes to hear from anyone wishing to become a park benefactor. The next step in the park planning is to gather input from the community and to begin the design of the park as the push for more grant funding occurs. The first phase of the park is tentatively planned to include the lighted pathway around the perimeter of the park.