(2/28) A new 152-acre recreational park will be created between Emmitsburg and Thurmont by Frederick County on land recently acquired by the county from Mount Saint Mary’s University.
County Executive Jan Gardner and Mount St. Mary’s President Timothy Trainor announced the proposed establishment of the park on February 25. The 152-acre park-site adjoins the university’s sports complex on the east-side of U.S. 15, straddling Motter’s Station Road.
University President Trainor said, "We are pleased to have offered the 152.7 acres for this regional park … and are deeply appreciative of the county’s partnership in our shared commitment to expanding access to sports and recreational opportunities and fostering the growth of youth-sports in Northern Frederick County."
The total purchase-price for the land is $857,000, of which the State funded Program Open Space is providing $807,000. The remaining $50,000 will be coming from county recordation fees.
Gardner stated, "We are excited to be moving forward with a regional park in the northern part of Frederick County," adding, "County parks attracted over three-million visitors last year, a 44-percent increase over the year before. The purchase of this land will help us to meet a growing demand for space to recreate and provide much-needed park amenities in northern Frederick County."
The parcel in which the new park will be located is currently zoned as agricultural and features both forest and open land. A conceptual design-graphic provided to the media depicts over ten sports fields, of which three are ballparks, six soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, a dog park, walking trails and other features for active and passive recreation. The current design will utilize existing open space, preserving existing forested areas.
The development of the park will be a multiyear effort. A Master Plan Advisory Committee will be formed to develop a blueprint for the property. The committee will include representatives from local recreation councils and sports leagues, civic associations and neighboring property owners. Final approval lays with the county’s Planning and Parks and Recreation commissions.
The land involved in the new park has some interesting ties to local history.
Located among the 152.7 acres is the Elder Family Cemetery, also known as the "Elder Burying Grounds." Among the interments is that of William Elder, who was buried at the cemetery in 1775, and both of his wives are buried in the cemetery, as well. Elder has been credited for established the first Catholic Church in portion of Maryland.
Additionally, in the area where there is what became an "artificial" lake on the land as the result of a man-made mishap. In the 1920s, where the pond is now located, was a 90-foot-deep limestone quarry, operated by Daniel Roddy. At some point, workers at the quarry penetrated a major aquifer (source for groundwater), resulting in a torrent of water which rapidly began to fill the quarry so fast that the workers barely escaped. To this day, all the equipment which was in the quarry at that time - remains at the bottom and viewing the drowned equipment has been a goal for many years for local-scuba divers, who swim to the bottom to see the vintage equipment.
