PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Hallowing Point Park is one step closer to getting community-focused updates like turf fields and a skate park.
At the May 21 public hearing, the Calvert County Planning Commission found the Hallowing Point Park master plan consistent with the Calvert County Comprehensive Plan and recommended it for adoption by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).
While this doesn’t mean work will be starting soon, it does take the plan — which began in the fall of 2023 — one step closer to becoming a reality.
The Department of Parks and Recreation began looking at ways to improve the park in 2023 and says that a community survey played a major role in the improvements they’ve decided to include in the update.
Residents specifically asked for more paved walking paths, natural surface paths and a skate park. The plan also includes synthetic turf for the baseball and softball outfields and other improvements to multi-use fields.
Noting that driving through the park can be confusing if you’re not familiar with it, Amanda Stillwagon, Park and Safety Division chief, said that adding signage was a priority to help people better navigate the park by car and by foot.
As part of the process, the Department of Parks and Recreation sent the master plan to both internal and external agencies for review and gave the public the opportunity to comment on the plan at the Planning Commission meeting.
Stephanie Sperling, a park planner with Parks and Recreation, promised to incorporate comments from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of Planning Clearinghouse and the Maryland Historical Trust, among others, into the master plan. Suggestions from these agencies include ideas like safe walking and biking paths to the park and how to avoid soil contamination during construction.
Of particular concern was the presence of two tobacco barns on the property — one estimated to be from the mid-1800s and the other from the mid-1900s. The barns were not included in the original draft plan or the updated master plan, but comments from the Maryland Historical Trust encouraged the Department of Parks and Recreation to further consider adding protections for the barns.
Currently, the department is responsible for the upkeep of the barns, but they don’t fall under any formal protection by state or county historical preservation societies. They also aren’t included in the master plan, leaving them vulnerable to future changes or demolition.
Barns can earn historical protection, especially tobacco barns. There are currently over 150 pre-1870 tobacco barns registered with the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties, though they’re less likely to earn status through the National Register of Historic Places.
Chair John Toohey reiterated his desire to see a plan for the barns included so that when “we’re not here in twenty years,” they could remain part of Hallowing Point Park’s unique character.
Another point of concern was including synthetic turf in the updates to the park. The Planning Commission asked to include considerations for potential cons of synthetic turf versus grass when the plan moves on to the BOCC, noting that turf has higher levels of injuries than grass.
The Planning Commission was overall enthusiastic about the master plan and voted 7-0 to send it to the BOCC.
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