1 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:11,599 Uh good evening everyone. Thank you uh so much for being here. It's a beautiful 2 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:16,640 evening. I really appreciate you being here inside. Um this this microphone and 3 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:20,400 this microphone don't do anything to make you hear better what we're saying 4 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:26,720 or what you're going to be saying to us later. This is for the recording. The 5 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:30,880 folks from Rundle TV are here recording this meeting tonight. It helps the 6 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:35,440 Department of Recreation and Parks with our note takingaking and make sure that 7 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:40,320 we accurately record the comments that you provide us tonight and uh it'll give 8 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:46,399 you an opportunity to see yourselves on uh YouTube on the Rundle TV channel. So 9 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:50,480 uh anyhow again, thank you so much. I'm Bruce Bruchcci from the Department of 10 00:00:48,079 --> 00:00:54,800 Recreation and Parks and we are here tonight to talk about the department's 11 00:00:53,199 --> 00:01:01,280 2027 Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation 12 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:05,680 Plan. And the little logo down here at the bottom, uh you'll see it on the 13 00:01:03,359 --> 00:01:13,600 literature and the the signs advertising things to do with the the 2027 plan. The 14 00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:19,680 focus is the your wreck and parks. That's us. Your future. And why we're 15 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:25,520 here tonight is to hear your voice into what goes into the future of our our 16 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:35,040 recreation and parks system. So, with that, let's get uh let's get started. Uh 17 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:38,880 let's start with what is an LPPRP? And I won't keep saying land 18 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:44,320 preservation, parks, and recreation plan. We we typically just say LPPPRP. 19 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:50,720 It's a whole lot easier and in the next 15 minutes you're going to hear it more 20 00:01:46,079 --> 00:01:56,560 than you you care to. But the LPPRP is an important part of the county's 21 00:01:53,200 --> 00:02:03,360 overall planning process. This is the county framework and there are all kinds 22 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:08,640 of county plans, very specific management plans. There's storm water 23 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:13,840 plans, there's transportation plans, there's a bicycle plan, there's the 24 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:19,040 county code that governs everything, but the largest cog that you see here that 25 00:02:16,239 --> 00:02:26,000 that makes it all work together is the general development plan, what Annaundle 26 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:33,200 County calls plan 2040. Plan 20 240 meshes with these other plans, various 27 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:38,480 functional plans, regional plans, small area plans, and one of the one of the 28 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:45,440 things that it works with is the land preservation, recreation, and parks 29 00:02:40,319 --> 00:02:50,080 plan. Now, the the uh plan 2040 establishes the vision, the goals, the 30 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:55,440 policies, and strategies that guide development of the county as a whole. 31 00:02:52,879 --> 00:03:00,720 Uh, plan 20 240 sets the policy framework to protect our environment, to 32 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:06,080 shape the development of things in Anaonda County to provide services to 33 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:12,560 promote healthy communities and support a diverse and resilient economy. There's 34 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:16,800 there's four key parts of plan 2040. And if you're not familiar with plan 20 240, 35 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:21,440 I would encourage you to spend some time online. It's a very informative plan. 36 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:26,080 It's very easy to flip through. But there are four key parts to it. Focused 37 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:31,120 on the natural environment, the built environment, on developing and 38 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:37,040 maintaining healthy communities, and promoting and maintaining a healthy 39 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:41,519 economy. Plan 2040 drives zoning decisions, public policy, just about 40 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:47,280 everything. As I said, it's the framework for the county. 41 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:53,200 Another one of those incremental plans that meshes with the overall county 42 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:58,720 general development plan is the green infrastructure master plan. And the 43 00:03:55,840 --> 00:04:02,799 green infrastructure master plan focuses in on green infrastructure. And what is 44 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:08,319 green infrastructure? Green infrastructure is the connection of 45 00:04:06,159 --> 00:04:14,400 natural features, conservation easements, parks and natural areas, our 46 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:20,000 preserved agricultural lands, and the trails that connect all those green 47 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:26,240 spaces. Again, the green infrastructure master plan is posted on the Office of 48 00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:30,960 Planning and Zoning's website. If you're not familiar with it, I'd encourage you 49 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:35,120 to take some time and go look at it. Uh some very interesting things in there. 50 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:39,680 You can see the plans for our county and how we're going to maintain our our 51 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:43,759 healthy green environment. As I said tonight though, we're here to 52 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:49,040 talk about the most important plan in the county. And that is the land 53 00:04:45,919 --> 00:04:53,680 preservation parks and recreation plan. Why do I say it's the most important 54 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:58,560 plan in the county? Because it's the one that drives the department of recreation 55 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:04,160 and parks. The LPPRP 56 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:10,000 serves as the advisory master plan for the county department of recreation and 57 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:16,160 parks. The plan evaluates the demand for parklands and recreational facilities 58 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:21,199 and it makes that evaluation on the need for those facilities or the demand for 59 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:30,240 those facilities based on three things. What we call need, proximity and equity. 60 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:35,199 the the demand based on need is is actually fairly straightforward. It's 61 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:40,639 it's counting and measuring. We count how many how many people enroll in our 62 00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:45,759 recreation programs. How many people visit our parks? We count the things 63 00:05:43,759 --> 00:05:49,600 that make up the recreation and park system. How many pickle ball courts? How 64 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:58,800 many basketball courts? How many softball fields? So we use the demand 65 00:05:55,199 --> 00:06:03,280 for based on need to measure very simply do we have enough? Do we have enough 66 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:09,360 according to national standards? Do we have enough to respond to the needs of 67 00:06:06,319 --> 00:06:14,639 the people of Anaundle County? The second demand that we analyze is called 68 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:19,520 proximity. And that is when we have all of those baseball fields and basketball 69 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:25,919 courts and swimming pools, are they in the right place? The proximity, the 70 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:29,199 location of parks and recreation facilities, 71 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:34,160 are they in the right parts of the county? Are they where the people are 72 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:41,120 and where people can get to those facilities? And then the third demand 73 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:46,479 that we analyze is equity. Are the parks and recreation facilities 74 00:06:43,919 --> 00:06:53,360 and the individual amenities that you find in our parks distributed equitably 75 00:06:50,720 --> 00:07:01,360 around the county? Do we reach communities of need? Does everyone have 76 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:07,680 equal access to those facilities? And so the analysis of the demand for those 77 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:13,440 those three kinds of needs need, proximity and equity, those form the 78 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:19,039 outline for the policies, goals, objectives and priorities for the next 79 00:07:16,479 --> 00:07:25,840 five years and actually for the next 10 years and even 15 years from now. 80 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:32,479 Why we're here tonight? Because the insight that you provide 81 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:37,199 gives planners and county officials a clear understanding of the goals and 82 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:43,360 priorities of county residents for improving parks, recreation facilities, 83 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:47,759 and open spaces. This is why we appreciate you being here so that you 84 00:07:45,759 --> 00:07:51,400 can tell us the kinds of things that are important to you. 85 00:07:52,319 --> 00:07:59,039 The LPPPRP is required by the state department of 86 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:03,759 natural resources and the Maryland Department of Planning and it's required 87 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:09,840 from each of the 23 counties in the state of Maryland to be updated every 88 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:15,919 five years. The last time Anna Rundle County and all the other counties 89 00:08:11,759 --> 00:08:22,319 updated their their plan was in 2022. This is the 2022 LPPRP. 90 00:08:19,919 --> 00:08:27,520 Again, this document is posted on the Wreck and Parks website. You're welcome 91 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:32,159 to go look at that, but we're here to talk about the replacement plan for 92 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:35,159 that, which is the 2027 LPPPRP. 93 00:08:36,399 --> 00:08:45,040 Talk about this 2022 plan for a minute. And just to give you some examples, 94 00:08:42,159 --> 00:08:52,399 we did public meetings similar to this. Although in 2021, as we were preparing 95 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:57,680 the 2022 plan, we were all locked inside the dark days of the pandemic. So 96 00:08:55,120 --> 00:09:01,440 meetings like this were held virtually. They weren't in person. We couldn't we 97 00:08:59,519 --> 00:09:09,360 couldn't all go in a meeting room like this. So we had similar meetings. We 98 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:12,640 conducted similar public engagement and these were the needs that were 99 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:16,959 identified. These were are the top four needs that were identified in the 2022 100 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:21,440 LPPRP. Need for trails, need for more 101 00:09:18,959 --> 00:09:26,959 multi-purpose fields, need for water access, and a need for recreation 102 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:31,120 centers. This plan has guided the Department of Recreation and Parks for 103 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:36,880 the past five years. And so when we look at at these kinds of needs, 104 00:09:34,399 --> 00:09:42,640 we see that that the trails needs well, the department responded by completing 105 00:09:39,279 --> 00:09:46,720 the Broadneck Peninsula and WBNA trails, and we're in planning and design for 106 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:50,480 more trails and trail spurs and connectors. 107 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:56,000 when the need was identified for more multi-purpose fields. We've been working 108 00:09:53,440 --> 00:10:00,800 on designing and building new multi-purpose fields at Brooklyn Heights 109 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:06,160 Park, at Tenard Springs Park. We're under construction at Millersville Park. 110 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:10,320 We're in design for an multi-purpose field at the North of Rondo Aquatic 111 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:15,760 Center. And this year, we we bought additional land to expand Bell Branch 112 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:20,320 Park to accommodate more multi-purpose fields. 113 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:24,240 the need was identified for expanded water access for the people of Anna 114 00:10:22,079 --> 00:10:28,560 Rundle County. So, some of the things that the department has been involved in 115 00:10:26,079 --> 00:10:34,720 over the past five years, improvements to Spriggs Farm on the Magathy Park, 116 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:41,360 Cartop uh boat launch, kayak launch, water access, repairs to Cars Wararf and 117 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:45,120 Dealswarf Park. Construction is already complete at Cars Wararf except for the 118 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:50,640 living shoreline and soon we'll be starting down the street at Deal Wararf 119 00:10:47,519 --> 00:10:56,079 Park and planning and design continues for a new West County swim center. 120 00:10:53,040 --> 00:11:01,680 Again, responding to the need for expanded water access. And finally, 121 00:10:59,279 --> 00:11:08,000 recreation centers were identified as a need. So, we are in the process of of 122 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:13,360 planning, designing. Actually, Deeprun Recreation Center in Hanover is already 123 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:18,800 open and operational. We'll soon be starting construction on a new community 124 00:11:15,839 --> 00:11:24,640 center in Brooklyn Park. And yesterday, we started construction on a new 125 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:30,079 community center in Edgewater. So, those are the kinds of outcomes that come out 126 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:35,120 of the plan. So, tonight is part of our public 127 00:11:32,959 --> 00:11:41,360 engagement. We want to we want to hear from the people of Anaundle County about 128 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:48,880 what you want to see in your parks and recreation system in the coming years. 129 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:53,440 So, what have we heard so far? Well, our public engagement, we we have a 130 00:11:51,839 --> 00:11:58,000 couple of surveys that I'll talk about here in a second. We hold listening 131 00:11:56,160 --> 00:12:03,760 sessions like this one tonight where we're here to listen to you folks and in 132 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:09,040 a couple of months when we get a draft of the plan put together and that will 133 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:15,200 be by the end of this calendar year. So in January there will be a draft plan we 134 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:20,079 will post that we'll put a copy here at the library as we've done previously. 135 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:25,440 We'll put physical copies out in a number of places and we'll post it 136 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:30,320 online and we'll ask you folks to please look through it. Give us more comments. 137 00:12:28,399 --> 00:12:35,279 Does the plan respond to what your thoughts were? The does the plan reflect 138 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:42,720 what you think is needed in the county recreation and park system. 139 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:49,200 We start each of these LPPRP efforts conducting various surveys. 140 00:12:46,079 --> 00:12:56,160 this the the major survey, our online survey was conducted back in the spring. 141 00:12:52,480 --> 00:13:04,160 You may have seen signs in the park, ads on Facebook, postings like this on our 142 00:13:00,079 --> 00:13:10,959 social media sites asking you to please scan the QR code, log on to the website, 143 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:17,760 and participate in the survey. We also looked at a couple of different 144 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:24,560 surveys. So this was our primary our online survey and nearly 2500 residents 145 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:29,040 of Anaonda County participated. This was one of the social media post associated 146 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:35,120 with that survey. We put one question at a time up on our 147 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:40,320 various social media channels. The department has Facebook. We have 148 00:13:37,839 --> 00:13:44,560 Instagram. We get support from the county council members and from the 149 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:52,880 county executive's office to post and repost things. We had over 5,000 people 150 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:58,000 react to social media post on those various platforms. 151 00:13:55,519 --> 00:14:06,800 Our partners at Anaundle County Schools were also very helpful. They distributed 152 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:12,639 a a very simple survey to every middle school student and their family in the 153 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:18,880 county. And we asked those people to respond. We got almost 500 responses 154 00:14:15,680 --> 00:14:23,040 back from the middle school survey. And lastly, 155 00:14:20,959 --> 00:14:28,320 we ask our partners at Anaundle Community College at the Center for the 156 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:33,920 Study of Local Issues to include some parks and wreck questions in their 157 00:14:31,199 --> 00:14:38,639 bianual survey. Uh you may have participated. They tend to ask questions 158 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:43,199 about do you think the president's doing a good job? Do you think the governor's 159 00:14:41,199 --> 00:14:48,480 doing a good job? Do you think the county executive is doing a good job? 160 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:52,959 So, we asked them to ask a few questions as part of their 161 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:58,399 survey about what people thought about recreation and parks. 162 00:14:55,680 --> 00:15:04,399 The primary survey, as I mentioned, our online survey ran from February, late 163 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:09,920 February through early July. It was offered in both English and Spanish. We 164 00:15:07,279 --> 00:15:14,800 asked people to identify the kinds of recreational activities that they 165 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:19,920 engaged in. We asked them what they did in our parks. We asked them to identify 166 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:24,160 the parks that they go to. Uh we asked them some very specific questions about 167 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:28,639 what were their perceptions about the parks and recreational facilities that 168 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:37,120 they visited. And we asked them what they wanted to see in future facilities. 169 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:43,360 As I said, 2500 people responded. You can see some days we we had 150 200 170 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:49,360 people a day taking the survey. Had a very robust response. 171 00:15:46,639 --> 00:15:54,160 People checked in on the survey. Each of these little dots on this map is where 172 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:59,360 somebody marked it either on their computer or their phone as they took the 173 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:06,800 survey and said, "Oh, I'd like to go here. I I'm at this park or I'm using 174 00:16:02,959 --> 00:16:12,959 this trail." and told us what they were doing on those. We asked them what where 175 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:17,279 they were and and these are the kinds of responses. They're in a park, they're on 176 00:16:14,959 --> 00:16:22,160 a trail, they're in a playground, they're on a they're on a court, they're 177 00:16:19,279 --> 00:16:26,880 on a ball field. We asked them very specifically to tell 178 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:31,519 us about what their experiences were. There's two examples here. A person 179 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:37,040 checked in from Oh, this is Beachwood Park up in Pasadena. A person checked in 180 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:42,160 said, "Hey, I'm at Beachwood Park. Enjoy the undeveloped rural vibe of this park. 181 00:16:40,639 --> 00:16:47,199 Would like improvements to make the kayak launch more accessible." So, they 182 00:16:45,199 --> 00:16:51,040 told us what they liked about the park. They told us what they were doing in the 183 00:16:49,279 --> 00:16:57,440 park, and they told us how it could make it better. This person checked in from 184 00:16:54,880 --> 00:17:02,000 Spriggs Farm on the Magathy Park uh down in the Arnold area. They were in this 185 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:06,319 part of the park and they said, "We love this park. We use it for family. Nature 186 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:09,760 walks through the woods and by the river." They didn't offer any 187 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:15,439 suggestions about what else they wanted, but at least we know that they were out 188 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:20,880 in one of our parks enjoying themselves. We we got some good news for those of us 189 00:17:17,679 --> 00:17:25,120 who work for recreation and parks. 66% of the people who responded to the 190 00:17:22,559 --> 00:17:32,160 survey thought that that they are either satisfied or very satisfied with our 191 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:38,799 parks and facilities. Fewer than 15% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. 192 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:44,440 And 22% of the people that responded the survey were like, "Ah, they're okay. 193 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,440 They're parks." 194 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:52,400 So, so what else have we heard at through the survey effort uh to this 195 00:17:50,000 --> 00:18:01,200 point in time? Well, we've gotten a lot of general comments about facilities, 196 00:17:55,919 --> 00:18:05,360 pickle ball, tennis, water, bikes, etc. We we we've gotten some specific 197 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:10,160 comments. We said, "What wreck program should be expanded?" 198 00:18:07,360 --> 00:18:13,200 You can see the size of the of the words tells you the number of people that 199 00:18:11,919 --> 00:18:22,640 responded. indoor community, swimming, nature, 200 00:18:17,679 --> 00:18:27,520 pickle ball, splash, pools. People, that's people in the comments telling us 201 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:32,640 the kinds of things they want to see in the recreation and park system. 202 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:35,840 We said, "Okay, that's what you want to see. What are you doing there now? What 203 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:42,640 what kind of activities do you engage in in our parks?" Well, we we we we walk. 204 00:18:39,679 --> 00:18:48,880 We play soccer. a lot of walking. We play basketball. We play lacrosse. We go 205 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:54,160 hiking, uh, dog park, uh, in there, tennis. So, we we got from the comments, 206 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:58,080 we understood what people like to do in our parks. 207 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:04,480 In general, these are the three takeaways so far 208 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:10,080 from the data that we've analyzed from our surveys. First one is people are 209 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:13,600 very supportive of providing diverse recreational 210 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:18,640 facilities. They don't want every park to look the same. Not every park has to 211 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:22,480 have a swing set and a seesaw. Not every park has to have a basketball court. 212 00:19:20,799 --> 00:19:27,840 They want to see diversity in the recreational facilities. 213 00:19:24,799 --> 00:19:34,480 There's been a lot of interest and great support for developing accessible trails 214 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:39,200 for hiking and biking. Trails have been a major theme both in our previous 215 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:44,720 LPPPRP and what we're hearing so far on the 216 00:19:41,919 --> 00:19:48,240 development of this LPPPRP. And an interesting one, people say that 217 00:19:46,799 --> 00:19:54,480 they're they're very supportive of developing smallcale park amenities. 218 00:19:51,679 --> 00:20:01,520 They're they're less interested in a giant field or some type of large 219 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:07,840 recreational facility, but but they'd like to see more benches, more picnic 220 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:12,640 tables, smaller places where they can enjoy the parks. When it comes to 221 00:20:10,559 --> 00:20:16,480 recreation facilities, we asked people to identify all the kinds of things that 222 00:20:14,559 --> 00:20:22,240 they like to do. These are the top three responses from our surveys. People said 223 00:20:19,679 --> 00:20:28,720 more pickle ball courts, more tennis courts, and more open field areas. 224 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:34,320 When it comes to community parks and and a sense of place, more community and 225 00:20:31,360 --> 00:20:39,440 recreation centers, interesting people say more outdoor concerts and theater 226 00:20:37,919 --> 00:20:45,679 venues and more ornamental and botanical 227 00:20:43,039 --> 00:20:50,480 gardens, something that we only have a handful of in the county. 228 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:55,840 When it comes to sports facilities, people are interested in fitness. They 229 00:20:52,799 --> 00:21:02,480 want want to see more more fitness, more yoga, more Zumba, more dance type 230 00:20:59,120 --> 00:21:10,480 activities offered in our facilities. More bless you, more more ice skating 231 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:15,440 and and indoor sports fields, not just not just courts and fields outside, but 232 00:21:12,559 --> 00:21:20,320 indoor court fields. We asked about adventure sports. Uh the middle 233 00:21:17,919 --> 00:21:26,559 schoolers are big on this. Uh but we get a a tremendous response from everyone on 234 00:21:23,679 --> 00:21:32,240 adventure sports. People want to see opportunities for rock climbing. They'd 235 00:21:29,039 --> 00:21:36,320 be interested in seeing ziplining and in archery ranges, something that uh we 236 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:42,480 only have one of in the county at present. 237 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:47,039 We ask about natural areas and courses outside. 238 00:21:44,159 --> 00:21:51,760 Back to more hiking and biking trails. People have indicated that they'd like 239 00:21:48,799 --> 00:21:58,000 to see nature centers, places where they can experience and learn about nature 240 00:21:55,039 --> 00:22:04,720 and more natural areas for things like bird watching. 241 00:22:01,360 --> 00:22:08,400 So, we finally gotten to the part the best part of the meeting. There's 242 00:22:06,799 --> 00:22:15,600 there's two things that make it the best part. First is you stop listening to me. 243 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:22,720 Second thing that makes it so great is I get to listen to you. So, I'm going to 244 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:27,840 ask you to please step up to the microphone here so we get your comments 245 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:35,039 and I'll give you a couple of prompts here just like in the surveys. So, you 246 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:39,840 can tell tell us please which parks which county recreation facilities do 247 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:44,799 you go to? What what's your favorite and least favorite experience in any of 248 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:50,000 those? Give us some ideas on how we can improve that. Tell us what activity or 249 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:56,480 program the county should add to the system in the future. Tell us more of 250 00:22:53,120 --> 00:23:01,120 what we've heard in the survey so far. Do we need more basketball courts? Do we 251 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:06,880 need more softball fields? Do we need more fitness programming? Do we need 252 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:12,159 more natural places? So, please, if you could, one at a time, 253 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:16,880 step up here and and share your thoughts about the future of your parks and 254 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:20,480 recreation system. Who's going to go first? Thank you, sir. 255 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:25,840 » I'm not going to follow your leading questions. So, and your presentation was 256 00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:27,679 wonderful, but it doesn't reflect what's happening here in South County. 257 00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:31,440 » Okay. >> We have no pools. There are no 258 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:37,760 basketball courts. As far as I know, there's no pickup boards. There's no 259 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:42,400 indoor opportunities for uh activities. Uh I know in Edgewater there's a 260 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:49,520 community center that's been promised. I think it's probably moving. I'm not 261 00:23:45,919 --> 00:23:56,240 sure. Um water access is a big big thing down here. And um if I get out, I'm not 262 00:23:54,400 --> 00:24:00,960 going usually to a park. I'm out on the water. And there's very few 263 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:06,400 opportunities really to put craft in the water down here. Um, I don't have a boat 264 00:24:03,679 --> 00:24:12,960 ramp on my property. I'd like one. I'm sure the county won't give me one, but 265 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:18,480 um I'd like to see more of that. I um I would like to see um 266 00:24:16,559 --> 00:24:22,159 a pool down here. I think that would be wonderful. I think the people would use 267 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:28,880 it. I would like to see basketball courts and pickle ball courts. 268 00:24:24,799 --> 00:24:32,640 Um and um and nature is a big thing down here. I would like to see a lot more 269 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:36,400 nature activities. So, >> Okay. All right. Very good. Thank you so 270 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:40,480 much for your comments. Le Let me pick up on I I heard you mention a place to 271 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:43,840 put in your boat and and opportunities. If you're going to go out, you're going 272 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:49,039 to go on the water. So, in addition to providing your input tonight to our long 273 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:54,000 range plan. Coincidentally, the Department of Recreation and Parks is in 274 00:24:50,640 --> 00:25:00,320 the process of evaluating water access opportunities in South County. 275 00:24:57,679 --> 00:25:05,039 And so if if you'll see the sign over here on the side of the room, 276 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:09,520 we are in the process of taking a survey that's independent from the LPPRP 277 00:25:07,120 --> 00:25:13,679 process. So if you haven't done so already, please make sure you 278 00:25:11,279 --> 00:25:19,760 participate in that survey. We want to hear from folks just like you in South 279 00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:25,520 County that are interested in more water access opportunities. So please 280 00:25:23,120 --> 00:25:29,360 everyone, please make sure that that thank you so much for your comments. I 281 00:25:27,279 --> 00:25:33,679 appreciate it. Ple, please, in addition to your comments that you're offering in 282 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:38,480 this session, please take the time to participate in that water access survey. 283 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:41,520 Okay. Who else wants to to tell the department what to do? 284 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:44,562 » I'll tell you what to do. >> All right. Thank you. [laughter] 285 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:54,799 So, am I looking into the camera here? >> All right. I'm Bill Sherbo. I live in 286 00:25:50,559 --> 00:25:59,600 Shady Side. Um, water, water and water access 287 00:25:56,480 --> 00:26:03,440 is the life's blood of this community. Um, 288 00:26:01,679 --> 00:26:07,520 it's not pickle ball courts, although I think we do have a few pickle ball 289 00:26:04,799 --> 00:26:12,720 courts in the area. Um, I was on the general development plan and the small 290 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:17,840 area plan twice and 291 00:26:14,559 --> 00:26:26,799 water access has come up going back 20 years from from today. And um in the 292 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:32,240 last small area plan, the county working with the county and 293 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:38,480 the and the and the folks uh they surveyed the area 294 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:43,360 for water access. We spent a lot of time talking about water access, boat ramps 295 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:48,640 in particular, and what it what you need to have for a boat ramp. 296 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:52,960 Only two places came up that fit the bill in this area. 297 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:57,120 One of them is Discovery Village, which is still available. The other one was 298 00:26:55,279 --> 00:27:04,720 Woodfield property in Gailsville, which is now off the table. Um, 299 00:27:02,159 --> 00:27:09,279 having little marinas take care of the amount of boats that 300 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:14,000 need that are put into the water on weekends in the summer around here will 301 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:18,880 not work. The marinas don't really want a horde of 302 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:21,600 of boats and trailers and trucks because they don't have parking areas for that 303 00:27:20,559 --> 00:27:25,679 kind of thing. >> And you can't just like gather up 10 304 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:28,559 little marinas down here and say we're going to have a little access here, 305 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:33,200 there, and everywhere. It's not going to work. We've already been through that in 306 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:38,559 the small area plan talking about it and with the experts and the developers and 307 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:44,760 all to that effect. So, the other thing that I'm going to break 308 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,760 the ice on is 309 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:55,360 folks down here have tried to get the county interested in Discovery Village 310 00:27:50,159 --> 00:27:59,760 as a park for multiple uses, as a enhancement to the economy down here, as 311 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:05,679 an educational facility, as an access point to the water, as as access to the 312 00:28:03,360 --> 00:28:09,600 environment. the county is not really interested in 313 00:28:07,679 --> 00:28:14,000 it. And 314 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:18,880 after seeing how the county managed to park next door here, 315 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:24,320 I don't think the county is capable of a job as big 316 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:29,279 as Discovery Village. That's my comment as of 317 00:28:26,159 --> 00:28:32,399 » All right. Thank you. I appreciate that. >> All right. Who else? 318 00:28:30,799 --> 00:28:36,159 » I I want to say one thing about the Discovery Village site that is 319 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:40,880 important. And I'm VK Holtzenorf. I was on the smaller airplane with Billy and 320 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:45,039 he is absolutely correct that water access is a lifeblood for this area. But 321 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:50,880 one thing that Discovery Village brings to the table as far as water access is 322 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:55,840 not only the boat ramp but also a safe place for small boat launch because it's 323 00:28:53,600 --> 00:29:01,279 a protected harbor. So, back in the day when Al Adam Hison owned the place, 324 00:28:58,399 --> 00:29:05,840 every Wednesday they had uh rental kayaks that families could come or bring 325 00:29:03,919 --> 00:29:10,480 their little canoes, get their family in a little canoe pretty much unless it was 326 00:29:08,399 --> 00:29:15,760 a gale force wind. That's a protected harbor. So, you could go out there and 327 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:22,320 be safe. I was on Londontown board and I was trying to figure out how can we 328 00:29:17,679 --> 00:29:26,480 possibly connect some of these um very very special county properties. 329 00:29:24,399 --> 00:29:30,240 quiet water in London Town, you know, to get them to thrive and be better. And 330 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:35,360 they were going to put all this money in the London town dock for what reason? 331 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:40,240 Oh, so the pride of Baltimore can come once a year. I said that I I I can't 332 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:45,039 invest in that. I can't I can't work that with the county because I think 333 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:49,120 that is money just um inappropriately used for one purpose and one event once 334 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:52,480 a year. It doesn't make any sense to me. So, let me see if I can tie these two 335 00:29:50,399 --> 00:29:56,799 together. Let's go and do a ferry from Quiet Waters to London Town. Of course, 336 00:29:54,720 --> 00:30:00,640 Quiet Waters doesn't have dock. Also, they have very shallow water. The other 337 00:29:58,559 --> 00:30:05,679 thing is is if we wanted to say, "Hey everybody, let's enjoy big parks." 338 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:10,720 Crossing the South River with a family in a canoe is like crossing 97 in a 339 00:30:08,559 --> 00:30:15,520 wheelchair. You just simply can't do it. It's unsafe. No matter what time of 340 00:30:13,039 --> 00:30:20,240 year, it's too rough, too many boats, too much south wind, too much weather. 341 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:25,279 It won't work. Discovery Village will. So, we need to to take off our 342 00:30:22,799 --> 00:30:29,200 blindfolds and start looking at there's people in this community that do things 343 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:34,720 other than play pickle ball. There's people that their recreational 344 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:38,320 um activity is the arts. There's people who their recreational activity is 345 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:43,440 dancing. There's people whose recreational activity is families going 346 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:47,360 out in a little canoe for a for for in a picnic. You know, there's lots of things 347 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:54,720 that can happen and Discovery Village is the one place where it can happen. 348 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:58,399 But we've just blown $7 million on a dog park and a very small kids playground. H 349 00:30:56,799 --> 00:31:02,186 how are we going to pull this one off? You know, I mean that park I just drove 350 00:31:00,399 --> 00:31:07,919 by and there's not a soul out there. [snorts] So, um I think Billy's right 351 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:12,960 that this may be but as in London Town, London Town is managed by a nonprofit. 352 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:17,919 It is owned by the county. The c county provides the services as far as 353 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:22,000 maintenance and and things. But it I know it's taken them God at least eight 354 00:31:20,159 --> 00:31:26,399 years to come up with a dock plan. I presented one to the county eight years 355 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:30,480 ago and had already talked to all the the charter boat people, all the I took 356 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:34,799 them over to CIRC and let them see what a good dock supposed to look like. I I 357 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:38,080 talked to all the captains of all the schooners. I I used to run a charter 358 00:31:36,799 --> 00:31:42,480 boat. I know what I need. You know, these are all the things we need if you 359 00:31:39,919 --> 00:31:47,200 want us to come and provide boat access and service. But if you build it, they 360 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:51,519 will come. I used to run a charter boat out of Discovery Village. What was 361 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:57,440 unique about my charter boat? My charter boat took women, kids in wheelchairs, 362 00:31:54,240 --> 00:32:01,679 people uh people in wheelchairs. I took every single sinner center in South 363 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:05,840 County in in all of Anonda County out with their wheelchairs and their walkers 364 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:09,120 because I had because I was set up to handle the handicap people in my boat. 365 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:12,559 So, we need to get we need to think beyond some kid with a baseball because 366 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:14,880 there's a bunch of us who aren't those people. Thanks. 367 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:18,640 » Okay. All right. No, thank you so much. I appreciate that. Good. Some good 368 00:32:16,399 --> 00:32:23,440 comments there. Thank you. Who else wants to add to that? 369 00:32:21,679 --> 00:32:29,600 Please, folks, you drove out on this hot night, gave up your evening. 370 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:34,080 » Yes, ma'am. She beat you to it. I'll I'll invite you up next. 371 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:38,559 » That's pretty hot. >> For one, I really appreciate your 372 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:44,080 comments. Um, I do think that any opportunity to encourage people out and 373 00:32:42,159 --> 00:32:50,799 about. The one thing that I was thinking that um the way your surveys ran, one 374 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:56,880 area that might have also been important could have been um looking at either 375 00:32:55,039 --> 00:33:01,679 surveying people that are coming to health care areas because generally 376 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:07,039 there are people that in fact can't access equally things and would have 377 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:11,679 perhaps a different perspective on what they need for Rex and parts and they 378 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:17,120 probably wouldn't even think, oh yeah, that should include me. So that's kind 379 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:24,159 of a special needs component. My one comment in terms of what the county 380 00:33:20,399 --> 00:33:31,440 needs to have also besides water is I think there's a pretty uh high interest 381 00:33:27,519 --> 00:33:38,960 and growing in terms of cultural arts. So there's a whole venue of artists and 382 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:43,600 I also think most of the restaurants around here offer small venue 383 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:49,679 opportunities for concerts, but I think that in this area there would be a huge 384 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:52,000 interest in some sort of outer outdoor concert area. 385 00:33:51,039 --> 00:33:56,000 » Okay, that's it. >> Great. Thank you so much. I appreciate 386 00:33:53,600 --> 00:34:00,519 your comments. That's some some fresh perspective. Yes, ma'am. Your turn. 387 00:34:01,279 --> 00:34:09,520 My name is Randy. Hi. I live on Idaw Wild Road and I grew up in Shadyside. I 388 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:13,359 grew up on in Snug Harbor and I went to Shadyside Elementary School. So, I have 389 00:34:11,359 --> 00:34:18,320 a vested interest in the entire area between Idaho, Jax Creek, and Discovery 390 00:34:16,159 --> 00:34:23,679 Village. And one of the opportunities you guys have had for years and 391 00:34:21,359 --> 00:34:28,879 somewhere it fell apart, but the county owns the property where the dredge site 392 00:34:25,679 --> 00:34:34,560 is on Idawa Road and somebody in the county started to put in the trail 393 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:39,599 between Idaho Road and Shady Side Elementary School over to I think it's 394 00:34:36,879 --> 00:34:44,240 Atwell Drive. I don't know why they gave that up. There's a wonderful opportunity 395 00:34:42,079 --> 00:34:49,679 to allow the people that live on Ottawa Road to have a trail that's safe to get 396 00:34:46,879 --> 00:34:53,679 from one side of the community to the other and then we would be able to go to 397 00:34:51,919 --> 00:34:58,560 a place like V, you know, Discovery Village which could have concerts and 398 00:34:55,760 --> 00:35:04,079 events and you know when my kid was at Shady Side Elementary School, the Bay 399 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:09,920 Restoration Projects and Oyster um restoration was there and one time um 400 00:35:07,119 --> 00:35:14,560 Steny Hoyer came and uh did a program with the kids and at at Discovery 401 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:21,280 Village. So, it's like there is so much opportunity already there, already here 402 00:35:17,920 --> 00:35:27,440 to save our community and to give us opportunities for walking and trails and 403 00:35:24,240 --> 00:35:33,280 safety. We do not have a safe road to walk on in South County. Let's give it 404 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:38,880 up, people. There are no walking trails here except in the parks. So, we need to 405 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:44,160 look at being able to connect our communities to other places and getting 406 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:46,400 one road to another road safely. So, thank you. 407 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:50,160 » Okay. No, thank you. That's great. Got connectivity. That's that that's a 408 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:57,320 that's a new nude conversation. So, thank you so much. We appreciate those 409 00:35:52,079 --> 00:35:57,320 comments. Okay. Who's Yes, sir. 410 00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:09,040 » So, you're hearing a Discovery Village theme here for a reason. It's because 411 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:17,280 it's that important. Um, and there is no way that this community can thrive in 412 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:21,760 the way it could if it has to pay $25 every time it wants to put something in 413 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:28,880 the water. That's that's the beginning. But I was looking at the at the word map 414 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:33,119 that you had up there and I'll just run through it in my mind. If 415 00:36:31,119 --> 00:36:37,839 you wanted a small park, not a large one, probably 7.1 acres would be 416 00:36:35,520 --> 00:36:42,400 probably a good size. If you wanted something that had a different 417 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:47,359 opportunity for the public to come out and enjoy, you might have a band shell 418 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:52,640 or you might have a performance space on the waterward side of this Discovery 419 00:36:49,839 --> 00:36:58,640 Village. You could have in that same area, you could have an art show twice a 420 00:36:55,359 --> 00:37:04,800 year in the building itself. One of the biggest words up there was inside. 421 00:37:02,240 --> 00:37:11,359 And I agree that not every everybody around here is a stick and ball person. 422 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:17,040 So inside may mean a learning center. It may mean an opportunity to have 423 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:24,079 educational opportunities within a building. Maybe it has kids dance. Maybe 424 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:29,440 it has the y uh the uh ability to uh bring people on the inside on a winter 425 00:37:25,920 --> 00:37:34,240 day and have them enjoy the arts. And I think that the one portion of all this 426 00:37:32,720 --> 00:37:39,760 discussion that has not been emphasized enough is that um as we look at the 427 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:44,079 community and not everybody's under 40, not everybody's out there sweating it 428 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:49,200 out. You know, a lot of people want to come in and they want to express their 429 00:37:46,560 --> 00:37:55,280 their themselves and they want to do that through the arts. And the Discovery 430 00:37:52,720 --> 00:38:00,720 Village building, which we hope to show to the county and others, is a very 431 00:37:57,119 --> 00:38:05,040 viable facility, is exactly the place where arts communities, which right now 432 00:38:03,119 --> 00:38:08,960 are bursting at the seams down near Arrington Harbor North. They're bursting 433 00:38:07,119 --> 00:38:13,200 the seams. They cannot find a place to even display their work, much less get 434 00:38:10,720 --> 00:38:18,079 together. That's a massive building that has so 435 00:38:15,359 --> 00:38:23,040 much potential and it is not underwater as people say and it does not have 436 00:38:20,079 --> 00:38:26,480 asbestous. So like I said, the reason that people are just coming up here and 437 00:38:24,720 --> 00:38:33,440 talking about it over and again is it hits so many different places of of 438 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:37,359 opportunity. Um and then there's the boating, you know, 439 00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:40,720 I mean it it's like the the boating everybody wants to say, "Oh, Discovery 440 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:44,720 boat ramp." Well, it's it's really the Discovery Village Community Center, 441 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:52,240 which is the vision that I hope you all will take away from this as a small park 442 00:38:49,839 --> 00:38:57,680 with diverse opportunities, whether it be music, dance, arts, education, 443 00:38:56,079 --> 00:39:02,480 simply going out to one of the most beautiful promitories, looking out on 444 00:38:59,359 --> 00:39:07,599 the bay that you can find that's free. I mean, this place is so locked down to 445 00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:13,119 get a beautiful view of the bay when you're is just it's a precious resource. 446 00:39:11,200 --> 00:39:20,160 And to allow it to slip through your fingers because of one vote on one day 447 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:26,400 because it costs $ three.5 million is not, I think, a forward-looking view of 448 00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:32,480 a plan that is supposed to last for five and 10 and 15 years. Because the South 449 00:39:29,680 --> 00:39:37,280 County of 15 years from now is going to look back and say either I am so glad 450 00:39:35,599 --> 00:39:42,160 that the county and the state and others worked together to preserve this for us 451 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:48,800 or they're going to say can you believe they had a 35 year lease on this and one 452 00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:53,119 vote one day they gave it up and they didn't care. They didn't care enough put 453 00:39:51,119 --> 00:39:58,640 their shoulder to it, put it in the plan, put it in five, 10, 15 years. 454 00:39:56,240 --> 00:40:02,640 That's what we need. So, I'm a little passionate about it, 455 00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:07,839 » but I think it's with good reason. >> Okay. Well, good. Thank you. I 456 00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:14,560 appreciate Appreciate your passion. >> All right. Who else? Yes, ma'am. 457 00:40:11,359 --> 00:40:19,599 » Um, I feel like I'm a little slow. Um, I didn't take the survey. I'll admit it. I 458 00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:24,560 didn't know there was a survey. Maybe I didn't get an email. Maybe I didn't go 459 00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:32,000 to the park 30 miles from me where there was a little QR code for me to to click 460 00:40:27,680 --> 00:40:37,200 on. Um, in South County, you are in our community center right now. This room is 461 00:40:35,680 --> 00:40:43,280 it. And what I hear in my community is not 462 00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:48,960 what I see in your survey. partly because we're talking we're not 463 00:40:45,520 --> 00:40:55,520 able to go to those places as much as other people are. Um we're not going to 464 00:40:52,480 --> 00:41:00,000 the indoor pool because it's too far away or we don't go as frequently 465 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:05,599 in my neighborhood. I hear people talking about wanting a pool. I hear 466 00:41:02,240 --> 00:41:12,319 them talking about really wanting a community center and that that has been 467 00:41:07,839 --> 00:41:17,119 on on in discussions for 10, 15, 20 years. I think when they built the gas 468 00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:22,640 station across from Christophers, that property was being looked at as a 469 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:29,040 community center. Didn't happen. So today I um I took a look at at the 470 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:36,240 2040 plan online. It is easy to access. Um, and of the items that are listed 471 00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:43,520 there, um, one of the items is, uh, boat access, a ramp, right? And there were 472 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:48,880 two, I think, in the whole county, but now I guess there's still one, but it's 473 00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:54,640 hanging on by a thread, by a a little thread. So, the county council isn't 474 00:41:52,240 --> 00:41:59,680 paying attention to the 2040 plan when they vote on things. They're not paying 475 00:41:57,280 --> 00:42:04,560 attention to South County. I don't think our representative was really 476 00:42:01,359 --> 00:42:09,440 representing what the people in in our part of the county want in terms of of 477 00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:14,000 being able to to have a community center, whether we're doing arts, we're 478 00:42:11,839 --> 00:42:19,920 doing education, we're bringing in speakers, we're having book clubs or 479 00:42:16,720 --> 00:42:24,960 whatever. Um, I will say that I think there's a lot of frustration with the 480 00:42:22,240 --> 00:42:31,920 park next door because we finally got some attention 481 00:42:27,040 --> 00:42:36,400 to bring a project into this area and in my view it was really mismanaged. 482 00:42:34,720 --> 00:42:45,040 There's a whole lot of asphalt out there. I I all I see is a parking lot. 483 00:42:39,920 --> 00:42:50,160 Um, so I think I have um I'm a little skeptical. The next project I saw coming 484 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:54,800 was the sidewalk. I don't know if you know the sidewalk project. There's a 485 00:42:52,240 --> 00:43:00,079 sidewalk that's being going to be built apparently between the library around 486 00:42:57,359 --> 00:43:05,520 the corner and down to the bridge. It's going to include parts of a bike path, 487 00:43:03,119 --> 00:43:10,160 but there are no other pieces to it. There's no place for those bikes to go 488 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:14,720 after they are able to ride that threequarters of a mile. 489 00:43:12,640 --> 00:43:21,520 Um, there are a lot of people in I ride bikes and it's dangerous. So, just 490 00:43:18,160 --> 00:43:27,920 having a shoulder would be helpful. A whole group of bikers went by when we 491 00:43:23,920 --> 00:43:33,359 were coming into the library and it they were in a single file. They were paying 492 00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:39,040 attention, but their shoulder is less than three feet wide. So, it's dangerous 493 00:43:36,160 --> 00:43:43,839 for us to get outside. Maybe we need to be indoors to do our activities down 494 00:43:41,119 --> 00:43:50,160 here. But one thing I would suggest is I'm not sure your survey reflects what 495 00:43:47,520 --> 00:43:54,720 I'm hearing in South County. If you had 5,000 respondees, there are 600,000 496 00:43:52,720 --> 00:44:00,160 people in the county. That's less than 1%. So, I would encourage you to to get 497 00:43:58,560 --> 00:44:03,839 out there and get some more people giving you input. 498 00:44:01,520 --> 00:44:07,599 » I I I believe me, I I share that thought. We we wish that more people 499 00:44:05,680 --> 00:44:11,359 came out. Thank you so much for your comments. We I I do appreciate that. 500 00:44:09,520 --> 00:44:16,400 That I'm glad we got all of that on on the record, your contribution. Thank you 501 00:44:13,520 --> 00:44:21,599 for coming tonight and and and being a part of that. Have Have we had everybody 502 00:44:19,520 --> 00:44:24,079 up that that wanted to add to their comments? 503 00:44:22,640 --> 00:44:26,880 » I'd like to add something else when everybody else is done. 504 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:28,560 » Is there is there anyone else? >> Okay. 505 00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:30,400 » Does doesn't look like you're going to have a fight on your hand, so come back 506 00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:36,400 up. >> Nobody else wants to. So, we're working 507 00:44:34,160 --> 00:44:42,960 with the county currently on five sites of reclaiming 90 acres of lost march 508 00:44:39,440 --> 00:44:50,160 lands down here. The plan is that three sites are in development or in design. 509 00:44:48,400 --> 00:44:55,599 The plan is to make those bird sanctuaries and maybe on the BMS have 510 00:44:52,880 --> 00:44:58,560 walking trails. Are y'all in the loop on that or not? 511 00:44:57,040 --> 00:45:03,200 » Are are do you have plan to build trails? Are we talking about bird 512 00:45:00,400 --> 00:45:06,000 watching on on these this new claimed marsh areas? 513 00:45:03,920 --> 00:45:09,280 » Well, for for the purposes of of developing our plan, we're hearing 514 00:45:07,599 --> 00:45:11,760 people say they want those kinds of things. 515 00:45:09,839 --> 00:45:13,680 » This has been going on for years. I I don't know. 516 00:45:12,079 --> 00:45:15,680 » And now we finally have money to do this. 517 00:45:14,160 --> 00:45:18,880 » Which which county agency are you working with? 518 00:45:16,480 --> 00:45:20,319 » We're working with department uh public works. 519 00:45:19,440 --> 00:45:23,359 » Public works. >> Public works. 520 00:45:21,040 --> 00:45:27,359 » Okay. Well, we can certainly follow that. Follow up with that. That's not 521 00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:31,680 But if we want bird sanctuaries and they're talking about bringing back the 522 00:45:28,720 --> 00:45:37,040 marsh bird habitat, we should we should be working planning now. And if we're 523 00:45:34,480 --> 00:45:43,680 talking about building walking trails over by Franklin Manor and and Kan, 524 00:45:41,119 --> 00:45:48,400 those should be in plan now because uh materials are starting to to move. Uh 525 00:45:46,640 --> 00:45:51,040 but I have a feeling that none of that's happening and it'll be a lost 526 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:54,160 opportunity. >> Okay. All right. Good. Thank Thank you. 527 00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:56,160 Thank you for that addendum. We appreciate that. 528 00:45:55,359 --> 00:45:59,440 » One more. >> One more. Go ahead, sir. 529 00:45:58,891 --> 00:46:03,839 [clears throat] >> Uh, and this is not about the long range 530 00:46:01,359 --> 00:46:07,680 plan. This is about your short-term need for input. And you said, you know, you 531 00:46:05,599 --> 00:46:12,240 wish you had better input from the public. 532 00:46:09,280 --> 00:46:15,599 Can you take that sign, laminate it, and put it in front of the Discovery Village 533 00:46:13,920 --> 00:46:18,400 boat ramp? >> Is it? Yes, we can certainly look at 534 00:46:17,920 --> 00:46:21,599 that. >> That would be an excellent idea. If you 535 00:46:20,079 --> 00:46:25,680 really want to reach the Boers, >> I know they were put out in Alison, is 536 00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:29,440 it at Discovery Village? >> Yeah. 537 00:46:27,599 --> 00:46:32,400 » Okay. Okay. Well, this week. All right. >> So, done. 538 00:46:30,240 --> 00:46:35,440 » That's right. Good. Good. Done. Done. Now, all you need to do is put out a 539 00:46:33,920 --> 00:46:38,800 sign that tells people where Discovery Village is, and you might even get even 540 00:46:37,839 --> 00:46:44,359 better response. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. 541 00:46:45,839 --> 00:46:53,040 » I'm Jennifer Grryer. I've lived in Tracy's Landing for 25 years, raised 542 00:46:50,240 --> 00:46:59,599 family here. They went to all Antaronda County Public Schools. Um, I visit the 543 00:46:56,480 --> 00:47:04,079 South County Recreation Center often to play pickle ball. So, that's answering 544 00:47:02,000 --> 00:47:08,079 that first question up there. I love going over to Jug Bay um to launch a 545 00:47:06,319 --> 00:47:12,480 kayak. So, I'm going to PG County to launch kayak um until the deal warf 546 00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:17,520 came. So, that's that's been a nice improvement um closer to home. I really 547 00:47:15,839 --> 00:47:21,200 like the suggestion of better connectivity through deal. Um I'd love 548 00:47:19,680 --> 00:47:26,400 to be able to ride my bike here to the library. It's not safe to do that or to 549 00:47:23,839 --> 00:47:31,440 the new um deal park perhaps to walk my dog. Um 550 00:47:29,520 --> 00:47:36,240 I think there's a a missed there's there's likely going to be a big missed 551 00:47:33,440 --> 00:47:40,240 opportunity if if the county doesn't seriously reconsider keeping Discovery 552 00:47:38,640 --> 00:47:46,880 Village. a lot of the comments you've heard tonight about um the the potential 553 00:47:43,839 --> 00:47:51,440 for that site to support a broad spectrum of recreational opportunities 554 00:47:49,119 --> 00:47:56,960 for for so many different people with different interests, I think it's really 555 00:47:53,520 --> 00:48:02,640 one that should not be overlooked. Um, and as far as an activity or program 556 00:47:59,839 --> 00:48:06,800 that the county could consider adding, something that we tried out at Puxent 557 00:48:04,800 --> 00:48:12,000 Wildlife Refuge that was really popular is we partnered with Buoie State 558 00:48:08,640 --> 00:48:16,800 University to get kids on the water who had never paddled before and and had 559 00:48:14,319 --> 00:48:21,839 never experienced being on the water. So, with all of the miles of shoreline 560 00:48:19,040 --> 00:48:26,720 in this county, um there are a lot of people, not just youth, but but people 561 00:48:24,400 --> 00:48:30,160 who probably would love an onwater experience who haven't had that 562 00:48:28,480 --> 00:48:35,119 opportunity. And I think that would be something that again Discovery Village 563 00:48:32,400 --> 00:48:40,960 has a lot of opportunity um to offer that. And one last point, um pick back 564 00:48:38,400 --> 00:48:45,680 to pickle ball Gailsville um to have lights there at those courts. I I'm 565 00:48:43,200 --> 00:48:49,440 driving down to Dunkerk District Park to play pickle ball where there's good 566 00:48:47,520 --> 00:48:54,160 lighting and bathroom facilities at the outdoor courts. So Gailsville has 567 00:48:52,240 --> 00:48:57,359 courts, but they could definitely use some some improvements and enhancements. 568 00:48:56,319 --> 00:49:00,480 Thanks. >> Thank you. That's that's great. Thank 569 00:48:58,720 --> 00:49:05,200 you. I appreciate that. Covered a little bit of everything there. Okay. Have I 570 00:49:02,880 --> 00:49:10,000 have I heard from everyone? It's Yes, ma'am. Please. 571 00:49:06,319 --> 00:49:17,760 Um I would just like to understand how the survey transacts to an evaluation 572 00:49:14,480 --> 00:49:23,920 and then to a vote. Is it by the number of comments you receive or your uh parks 573 00:49:22,240 --> 00:49:28,079 evaluation that goes to the county council? How does it work to get an 574 00:49:26,400 --> 00:49:32,880 action point? >> Very very good question and and let let 575 00:49:30,559 --> 00:49:38,720 me respond to that. All of the public input from the survey, the comments from 576 00:49:36,079 --> 00:49:43,040 this evening, the comments that we get on the draft, there is a planning 577 00:49:40,720 --> 00:49:49,119 consultant who takes all of this information and puts it together for the 578 00:49:46,160 --> 00:49:54,480 county and formulates a plan that responds to these comments. We get lots 579 00:49:52,640 --> 00:50:01,119 of requests either through the survey or these comments for boat ramps, water 580 00:49:57,680 --> 00:50:08,079 access. So that's going to be flagged as a priority in our plan. The challenge 581 00:50:05,040 --> 00:50:13,440 then comes in executing that plan, finding the property, getting the budget 582 00:50:11,040 --> 00:50:19,119 support from county council to move those projects forward. But all of this 583 00:50:15,839 --> 00:50:24,319 public input will contribute with the mapping analysis and the equity analysis 584 00:50:21,920 --> 00:50:29,839 that I spoke of. All of that will come together to guide the Department of 585 00:50:26,880 --> 00:50:35,119 Recreation and Parks in our planning for what facilities we need to acquire, 586 00:50:33,119 --> 00:50:43,040 build, or improve. >> Okay. So, if South County residents did 587 00:50:38,480 --> 00:50:50,319 not receive the survey or had less of uh knowledge of it, so to speak, would that 588 00:50:46,800 --> 00:50:56,640 um would that harm us in in having some of our wishes uh presented? Well, not 589 00:50:54,319 --> 00:51:02,800 necessarily. It's it's not a it's not a contest. It's not a number of votes. 590 00:50:59,359 --> 00:51:08,640 » So, no. So, it's it's we we look at the request that that come in in any of the 591 00:51:05,920 --> 00:51:12,960 public engagement and all of that is considered. Everybody in the county had 592 00:51:10,800 --> 00:51:18,640 the same opportunity. There were there were over 600 signs put up on county 593 00:51:16,000 --> 00:51:24,800 property in South County, in North County. It was posted on the internet. 594 00:51:21,599 --> 00:51:29,440 It was posted in the county executives newsletter, in your county council 595 00:51:27,119 --> 00:51:34,400 members communications. So, we really put a lot of effort. We 596 00:51:31,839 --> 00:51:40,000 even paid for advertising to get the word out so that that people would 597 00:51:36,880 --> 00:51:44,160 participate. Unfortunately, somebody made reference to the numbers earlier. 598 00:51:42,319 --> 00:51:49,280 There's 30,000 people in South County and 14 of them found their way here this 599 00:51:46,160 --> 00:51:54,160 evening. We we I wish we could hear from all 30,000 because those are all the 600 00:51:51,760 --> 00:51:59,119 people. They're paying taxes. That's who we work for. We're trying to develop a 601 00:51:56,400 --> 00:52:05,599 recreation and park system that that those people, all of them can be proud 602 00:52:02,079 --> 00:52:10,720 of. So, thank you for coming out tonight. I wish there were more of you, 603 00:52:07,680 --> 00:52:14,559 like I said earlier. So, yeah, we we try and we want to hear and we're going to 604 00:52:12,640 --> 00:52:19,040 keep listening. this we have a couple of more of these listening sessions and 605 00:52:16,640 --> 00:52:23,920 then there will be other opportunities and is there anybody else I I'll I'll 606 00:52:21,520 --> 00:52:29,920 move on here so I I can I can wrap this up and I'll share this with you. Uh what 607 00:52:26,640 --> 00:52:34,720 what's next? Uh the question you just asked processing the feedback from the 608 00:52:32,400 --> 00:52:39,920 surveys from this meeting and from our other listening sessions we'll be 609 00:52:36,960 --> 00:52:45,839 developing a draft plan between now and the end of December. And then when that 610 00:52:43,119 --> 00:52:51,359 draft plan is completed, we'll be posting it for public review, hard 611 00:52:48,240 --> 00:52:59,119 copies in libraries and senior centers online for people to look at. But here's 612 00:52:54,319 --> 00:53:06,640 the thing to do. Those those 29,816 people who are not here tonight, please 613 00:53:01,839 --> 00:53:09,640 tell them to go to send an email to lpprp2027ount.org. 614 00:53:10,480 --> 00:53:20,319 work. That's the gateway to provide input. You can go to recreation and 615 00:53:17,200 --> 00:53:24,720 parks and just put in LPPRP or long range plan and you'll end up at the page 616 00:53:22,640 --> 00:53:30,720 that will will allow you to link to this, but but go tell the people that 617 00:53:28,240 --> 00:53:35,839 aren't here tonight that they still have the opportunity. The Department of 618 00:53:32,800 --> 00:53:41,040 Recreation and Parks wants to hear their voices. So please, please don't miss 619 00:53:39,200 --> 00:53:46,240 that opportunity. This whole presentation will be posted 620 00:53:43,119 --> 00:53:51,599 on the department's website and our friends here from Arundle TV are 621 00:53:48,240 --> 00:53:58,240 recording this. It'll be available on YouTube. If you look for Arundle TV, 622 00:53:55,839 --> 00:54:03,119 tell your friends and neighbors, please look at that. fast forward to almost the 623 00:54:00,880 --> 00:54:09,480 end of the presentation and get that email address and and share whatever 624 00:54:05,680 --> 00:54:09,480 comments you have. 625 00:54:10,000 --> 00:54:17,280 Thank you once again for taking time to be here tonight for sharing some 626 00:54:14,880 --> 00:54:22,480 thoughts. I I heard some great ideas here tonight, things that we hadn't 627 00:54:19,200 --> 00:54:27,880 necessarily heard in other places. Enjoy the rest of your evening. 628 00:54:24,640 --> 00:54:27,880 » Thank you.