Kayak Rentals, New Boat Ramp And More Parking Coming To Snow Hill Park

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. — Snow Hill Park is preparing for a series of improvements that will expand boating access, add self-service kayak and paddleboard rentals and provide additional parking at the waterfront park in Mechanicsville.

St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks Director Raymond Bivens provided an update on the project during the Aug. 6 Recreation and Parks Citizens Advisory Board meeting, saying the county recently reached an important milestone with a pre-bid meeting for the upcoming construction work.

The first phase of improvements includes a new boat ramp and kayak launch, along with parking improvements designed to accommodate additional visitors and boat trailers.

“We’ve been talking about this project for a long time,” Bivens said.

County officials said multiple prospective bidders attended the pre-bid meeting, moving the long-planned improvements another step closer to construction.

A rendering shows planned improvements at Snow Hill Park, including expanded parking, roadway upgrades and enhanced waterfront access. (Image courtesy of St. Mary’s County Government.)

The project will also increase parking at Snow Hill Park. Plans include pull-through boat and trailer parking in a gravel lot, while existing parking near the pavilion is expected to be paved.

“We’ll be ending up with more parking than we currently have,” Bivens said.

The additional capacity could become increasingly important as improvements bring more visitors to the park.

my“I think the park is going to see a lot more use now that once the word kind of gets out,” Bivens said.

Kayak Kiosk Snow Hill Park — Kayak Kiosk
Photo Source: St. Mary’s County Government Board Docs

Self-Service Kayak And Paddleboard Rentals Coming

Visitors will not have to wait for the larger construction project to see something new at Snow Hill.

Bivens said a self-service rental kiosk offering kayaks and stand-up paddleboards was expected to be installed within about 10 days of the Aug. 6 meeting.

The rental program was approved by county commissioners earlier this year through a partnership with Rent.Fun, which operates app-based recreation equipment kiosks.

Users will be able to rent equipment through a smartphone app, complete required waivers digitally and unlock and return equipment without an employee being stationed at the park.

The county previously approved approximately $41,000 for the initial kiosks and equipment, with rental revenue to be split between St. Mary’s County and Rent.Fun. The company is responsible for maintenance, repairs and replacement of damaged or unreturned equipment.

At Snow Hill, the paddle-sports station is expected to provide kayaks or stand-up paddleboards along with paddles and life jackets stored in secure, app-controlled lockers.

Snow Hill is one of several county recreation properties included in the initial self-service rental rollout.

Chancellor’s Run Regional Park is expected to offer pickleball and bocce equipment, while Lexington Manor Passive Park is slated to receive disc golf equipment.

Road Improvements Also Planned

A second phase of work at Snow Hill will focus on the roadway leading to the park.

Bivens said improvements are planned to increase visibility near the intersection with Sandgates Road, where drivers leaving the park turn left or right.

Vegetation will be cleared back to provide better sight lines for motorists, with the county working with neighboring property owners on easements needed for the improvements.

The improvements come as Snow Hill continues to grow in popularity as a waterfront recreation destination.

Bivens joked that whenever Recreation and Parks promotes the park on social media, longtime visitors sometimes respond by asking the department to stop drawing attention to what they consider one of the county’s hidden gems.

“Every time we promote Snow Hill on social media, people write, ‘Please stop talking about my favorite park. We don’t need any more people coming to it,’” Bivens said.

The upcoming boat ramp, kayak launch, self-service rentals, parking expansion and roadway improvements are expected to make Snow Hill more accessible as Recreation and Parks prepares for increased use.

Watch the full meeting below: