Improvements Coming to San Domingo Creek Park in St. Michaels

Image Courtesy of Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

ST. MICHAELS, Md. – The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) will soon receive funds to transform San Domingo Creek Park into a waterfront commons.

The funding, secured through Maryland Department of Natural Resources’s Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, is set to support ecological restoration work at a former industrial waterfront property located right on the public nature trail in St. Michaels. Officials say the conservation-focused improvements are part of a broader vision for a new public waterfront park that will include a mix of passive recreation, gathering spaces, and access to the water for the entire community.

The Town’s acquisition of the property was made possible through Maryland’s Program Open Space, a longstanding investment that helps communities preserve treasured places while expanding opportunities for public recreation and access. The funding for San Domingo Creek Park was part of Governor Wes Moore’s announcement last week on $31.5 million in DNR grants being awarded across the state.

“The Chesapeake Bay is the centerpiece of our tourism and seafood industries in Maryland,” said Governor Moore. “It’s a key part of our cultural identity and the place where countless family memories are made. These new investments represent our commitment to continuing to improve the Bay, its surrounding watershed, and the rivers and streams that connect our communities.”

Through this grant, ESLC will help establish two acres of native pollinator meadows, expand and enhance surrounding wetlands, and plant native trees and shrubs. Together, these restoration practices will support wildlife habitat, help reduce nutrient and sediment runoff into San Domingo Creek, and improve the site’s natural resilience to flooding and sea level rise.

To see a full list of projects funded through the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, click here.