Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
What To Do with Holly Beach Farm?
Last week, Chesapeake Bay Foundation President & CEO Hilary Harp Falk announced that the foundation would begin the process of transferring stewardship of the Holly Beach Farm property, which was acquired with $9 million in public funding. The controversial property, a vast peninsula of protected habitat just south of the Chesapeake Bay bridge, has been in CBF’s stewardship for the past 20 years. The acquisition terms of Holly Beach Farm included language for public recreational use. Under CBF’s control, however, the gates have been mostly closed, the property inaccessible to the general public. Only a handful of students are granted access each year for educational programs. To CBF’s credit, the property has remained environmentally protected from any development.
But the agreement between the State of Maryland and the National Park Service for the use of the federal Chesapeake Gateways and Watertrails Program funds toward the acquisition specifically states that the property “shall be maintained in the public trust for preservation/recreational use in perpetuity.” More recently, the lack of public access has made headlines and has ignited more than the few county residents who remember the original terms of acquisition. Public officials have joined the call to open the gates; even pitching the idea of the National Park Trust purchasing the property to make it part of the Chesapeake National Recreation Management Area—a plan that was rejected by CBF’s board earlier this month.
The timing of Falk’s more recent announcement coincides with the pressure placed upon CBF to open the gates, and, at a time, when public outcry for increasing water access for all citizens seems to be at an all-time high.
What do you think about public and recreational access of Holly Beach Farm and who the next steward of this property should be? Or should the property remain mostly closed to the public, in an effort to protect it’s sensitive environment?
Here’s what you said:
Absolutely I believe in public access. The pandemic showed how folks were crammed into existing parks. It could be done in such a way to prevent damage of being overrun.
Elizabeth Fisher, Easton
Such a treasured property. Hopefully there can be a way for it to be shared with more citizens.
Cherrie Wanner Doggett, Washington
Yes. Definitely open to public. I have lived nearby 40 years and didn't know about property or access to even the private school I worked at in Annapolis for 25 years. Wow. Thats sad!!!
Janice Jiles
I think that access should be opened up to the public. 1 because more access to the Bay is needed. And 2 because such access was a condition of the funding in the first place. Do what is right CBF!
Randy Blasdell, Columbia, PA
Sandy Point State Park is less than one mile from this property and provides access and opportunity for all to enjoy the Chesapeake Bay waterfront and participate in outdoor activities of many kinds. The necessary improvements, access, and resources for large groups as well as individual visitors are already in place there for walking, boating, swimming, fishing, etc. Holly Beach Farm is a unique opportunity to preserve undeveloped nature for the purpose of educating small groups of people, young and not as young, about the Chesapeake Bay and best practices for preserving aspects of the natural environment. IN other words, the resources required to expand access to Holly Beach Farm would be better spent on maintaining and improving the existing waterfront recreation resource of Sandy Point State Park. In summary, public funding is not an unlimited resource and it seems obvious that spending funds to "develop" the resource of Holly Beach Farm for public use must be taking funds from the ongoing maintenance and improvement of Sandy Point State Park. This is not an either/or decision. We can and should have both types of public lands - recreational and educational.
Peter McKenna, Annapolis
It should be opened for recreation. Too few places are open.
Jean Radeackar, Annapolis
Holly Beach Farm should be transferred to the state as a park. CBF is unable to maintain the property. CBF woods are inundated with huge invasive vines killing off mature trees and the shorelines are eroding. Please open up this property to the public in a way as to not disrupt the neighborhood- via boats and walking trails.
Gail Hulme, Annapolis
Property should be developed for day use by the public. Do not understand why CBF has not done the above.
Kent Wilkinson, Kent
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