The ribbon-cutting for the North Beach Sunrise Garden was held Saturday, Aug. 22 under the park’s gazebo. From left to right, Town Councilman Randy Hummel, Mayor Mark Frazer, Calvert County Commissioners’ President Steve Weems, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Maryland Senate President Mike Miller, Calvert County Commissioners’ Vice President Evan Slaughenhoupt and Town Councilman Mickey Hummel.
North Beach, MD – “I was told the sun shines every day in North Beach,” said a beaming Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. On Saturday, Aug. 22, just a few weeks after delivering grim news that he was in a fight for his life with Stage 3 cancer, Maryland’s new chief executive was greeted by a large, enthusiastic crowd in the bayside town.
The late summer celebration brought together two huge Election Day 2014 winners—Hogan, who bested Democrat Anthony Brown statewide, and the new North Beach Sunrise Garden, a planned amenity that seemed to be the biggest issue in the town’s municipal election. Mayor Mark Frazer, five incumbent councilpersons and one new councilman—all who enthusiastically supported the project—won resounding victories.
“North Beach has gone from worst to first,” Frazer declared.
The new park, which includes a gazebo, fish ponds, walkways, bridges and benches, was constructed with the use of Calvert County Program Open Space funds, a Maryland Senate bond bill, a Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development grant as well as town funds.
“This is a beautiful park,” said Hogan, who commended Frazer and the town’s Public Works director, Donnie Bowen for their project leadership. The governor called the parks components “a point of pride. It’s a place where residents and visitors can come to relax and reflect.”
Maryland Senate President Mike Miller remembered a time when North Beach had a wilder, racier edge to it. Noting the town now draws huge crowds, mostly families, to summertime outdoor events like the Friday night Farmers’ Markets, the Senate president hailed North Beach’s “renaissance.”
“The new park is evolving and we are about 98 percent done,” said Frazer. The mayor recalled how the project’s nay-sayers claimed the park was going to cost the town roughly $2 million to build. In fact, along with the state and local funding, some of the park components, including plantings and koi fish were donated.
The facility also has the volunteer service of a devoted “park ranger.” Town resident Louis Claggett, whose home is located next to the park, has kept a close eye on the parcel dating back to the construction phase. Since its completion, Claggett told The BayNet he has had to chase away a few youths with skateboards, but no difficulties with adults. “It’s all in how you handle people,” said Claggett.
Local artists Tammy Vitale, Ed Rupard and Larry Ringgold have loaned sculptures to the town for display in the garden. Over a dozen businesses from five Maryland counties and Virginia aided in the planning, development and construction of the park at 3rd Street and Bay Avenue. Frazer announced that Calvert County Master Gardeners are implementing a development plan for the park.
While the sight of a brand-new park overlooking a glistening Chesapeake Bay impressed the opening ceremony crowd, the chance to meet Maryland’s new governor at his first public appearance since announcing his cancer diagnosis brought the event a proper added measure of emotion.
“The prayers are working,” Hogan told former Calvert commissioner Susan Shaw, during a post ceremony meet-and-greet. “Thank you all so much!”
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
