By Greg Ellison

(Dec. 23, 2021) After bringing two new members aboard, the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Committee reviewed top priorities for 2022 during its meeting last Monday.

Committee Chair Patti Stevens said new members William Barnard and Roy Foreman were welcomed on Dec. 13.

“Roy was introduced and Bill Barnard was on the phone,” she said. “He wasn’t able to join us because they just got approved on Saturday, so he didn’t know ahead of time to plan for it.”

Stevens said Foreman, who is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City, had served on the committee in past years.

“He brings a little bit of history,” she said.

In addition to reviewing their annual report for 2021 before turning it over to the board of directors, committee members also discussed goals for 2022.

Among the areas of focus next year is the redevelopment of playgrounds.

“We want to focus on making them accessible and inclusive for kids of all ages, as well as for adults,” she said.

Stevens said the hope is to install exercise equipment for people of varying abilities to stay fit and build strength.

“The first priority is redevelopment and replacement of the playground equipment at Bainbridge Park,” she said.

Stevens said the committee is working with Recreation and Parks Director Debbie Donahue to develop a work plan for next year that would include “what the site preparation would need to be and budget estimates from the playground equipment manufacturers, as well as exercise equipment manufacturers.”

Committee members are planning to ask the board for a budget allocation for the preliminary planning and design of the playground.

Stevens said the next priority for 2022 is installing an easy-access kayak launch.

“We’ve been working on reviewing and researching this for six to eight months,” she said. “It would allow people with limited strength or ability to easily launch a kayak.”

The committee studied comparable facilities in Belle Isle, Virginia and St. Michaels.

“Both of which have floating recreational piers and a kayak launch that has rollers and handrails,” she said.

Stevens said the committee considered a number of sites before looking intently at Pintail Park.

“There’s already a parking lot there and Porta-Johns,” she said. “It has a bulkhead, which would have less environmental impacts than if you put it near a wetlands area.”

The committee also favored Pintail Park for its central location.

“It’s almost dead in the middle of the community,” she said.

Committee members concluded the park was underutilized and that its proximity to calm waters could prove advantageous.

“It’s a calm body of water and that makes it good for launching if you’re a less-experienced kayaker,” she said. “It gives you access out to the bigger water.”

The third area of focus for committee work in 2022 is improving walking and biking trails to enhance safety and improve accessibility.

“To continue working with Ocean Pines, the county and state to improve crosswalks and consider where sidewalks and walking trails can be added or improved to make it safer to walk and bike for people of all ages and abilities in the community,” she said.

Stevens highlighted ongoing work to improve crosswalks on Cathell and Manklin Creek roads.

“If we can make our communities safer for people to walk for fun and recreation, but also to do their chores and errands, then we’re all healthier and safer in our community,” she said.

Stevens also noted Foreman was enthused to learn of plans to improve Bainbridge Park.

“He was really pleased to hear us talking about the plans for redevelopment of the playground at Bainbridge Park, which he said was a priority five or six years ago, but it never really moved forward,” she said.