Wicomico County leaders discuss west side projects with residents
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – “Hot topics” were on the table at a town hall held on projects being worked on in the west side of Wicomico County, says County Executive Julie Giordano. The County Executive was approached by Director of the Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism Steve Miller on those efforts. The pair decided to host a town hall to inform residents who live nearby.
Cove Road Beach
During the discussion, residents raised questions about plans to rehabilitate Cove Road Beach in Bivalve.
“There were a lot of people that were really upset about it,” said Giordano. “So, that’s why I found it so important to bring [the Maryland Department of Environment] down [in the future] to explain to people what their thoughts are on this, and how we’re trying to save the beach, not keep them from utilizing it.”
Over the years, erosion has eaten away at the sand. “From aerial shots, we were seeing the beach receding, and erosion occurring. Naturally, we called the experts in, and one thing that they told us to do was have these rock formations out there, to have the waves break there, as opposed to the shoreline,” said Giordano.
However, Giordano says residents have their reservations about that plan, after seeing the results of a similar effort at Cedar Hill Marina. “It turned it more so into swamp, marsh area. They don’t want that to happen to Cove Road [Beach],” said Giordano.
Other residents floated the idea of using sand to fill in the shoreline. “You have to be very cautious about the sand. It can’t just be sand from anywhere. It has to be from that same environment,” said Giordano.
A DNR visit is slated for April 17th. Giordano says DNR representatives will do a site visit at Cove Road Beach, and hold another town hall discussion immediately thereafter.
“We have people that are really upset, and they’re passionate about this place. So, I think they’re ready,” said Giordano. “But, we felt it imperative to bring the state down so they could hear it from them, and not just from us.”
Pirate’s Wharf
Another topic of discussion: the ongoing efforts to revitalize a once-abandoned farm field in Quantico into a park.
In April of 2020, ground was broken and the first saplings planted on the property. The big vision, said county leaders back then, was to create a park complete with walking trails and water access. They floated a soft opening date of the fall of 2021.
However, more than three years later, no visible trails are there, and saplings stand just a few feet high. Meanwhile, Giordano says residents point out other areas that they say could use some development.
“We have people saying we have these vacant properties here, why aren’t you developing them? It’s kind of a catch 22. You’re trying to please both sides. We know, obviously, it’s going to take more manpower to keep Pirate’s Wharf open, ready, and available for people,” said Giordano.
At the town hall meeting, Giordano says it was suggested that the property may be opened to the public later this year.
West Metro Core
One of the bigger projects that the county is working on, is the West Metro Core project.
In 2021, Wicomico County Council unanimously approved amendments to the Fiscal Year 2022 capital budget, and Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2022-2026 to boost funding for the project. $100,000 was set aside for development of a park master plan on Levin Dashiell Road.
Century Engineering will present a draft master plan for the 100-acre property on April 25th at Rockawalkin Community Hall in Hebron.
