Waterworks Park
City of Annapolis and Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Resilience Authority Announce Winning Bid for Work at Waterworks Park
ANNAPOLIS, MD - The City of Annapolis and the Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County have selected Beatty Development Group as a strategic partner to enhance the environmental and recreational amenities available to the community at Waterworks Park, a City-owned property on Defense Highway managed by the Annapolis Department of Recreation and Parks. The group was selected after a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) bid process.
Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley saw potential at the Waterworks site back in 2019 when Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) cut more than 11 miles of hiking/biking trails into the park, making connections to a network of trails at Bacon Ridge Natural Area and beyond.
“Connecting the trails and making Waterworks a hiker/biker destination in the area was an idea that was brought to us by MORE. I am so glad we got to say ‘yes’!” said Mayor Buckley. “The trails were well utilized during the pandemic when people were actively seeking open space, but we’ve always been aware we could do more with this gem of a site. I thank Director Johnson for her drive and the Resilience Authority for their partnership on this project.”
Goals for the master development include the restoration of the natural landscape, the preservation and adaptive reuse of existing historic structures, and identifying opportunities to enhance the visitor experience. The City of Annapolis and the Resilience Authority will work with Beatty to develop a strategy for renovating the historic pump house building at the entrance to the park. The team also aims to collaborate with key stakeholders to explore opportunities for further programming and maintenance of public spaces in the area.
“The beauty of this park is in the natural character of the existing site,” said Max Beatty, principal at Beatty Development Group. “The design concepts will aim to restore the native ecosystem, preserve the architectural history, and improve the functionality of Waterworks Resilience Park as a destination for a broader range of local community members.”
Beatty Development Group is a well-known developer in the region, leading several large-scale initiatives in Baltimore City, including the 27-acre Harbor Point along the Inner Harbor and the redevelopment of Baltimore Penn Station in partnership with Amtrak. The Beatty team has tapped long-time collaborator iO Studio (notable projects include: Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in Cambridge and the National Arboretum in Washington, DC) to serve as the lead landscape architect for Waterworks Resilience Park. The two firms have a successful record of working together to create positive outcomes, most recently on the 9.5-acre waterfront public park system located at Harbor Point.
“We are committed to balancing the park's natural amenities with future development, ensuring thoughtful growth that preserves its beauty while enhancing access and enjoyment for generations to come, said Roslyn Johnson, Director of the Annapolis Department of Recreation and Parks.”
“The Beatty team have presented a thoughtful process to ensure that not only existing users are heard, but also to engage those who may not yet be aware of Waterworks Park as a unique natural resource,” said Matthew Fleming, Executive Director of the Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. “By prioritizing climate resilience in the design, operations, and programming, we are excited to work with the City in establishing the region’s first Resilient Park.”
For more information, visit the Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.
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About Waterworks Park: The 600-acre site was, at one time, a source of the City’s drinking water. The reservoir was retired from supplying municipal drinking water more than a century ago when the City moved to getting water from an underground aquifer. Visitors can hike, bike, fish, picnic, bird-watch, and more. The park is currently open to the public from sunrise to sunset. Admission is free.
Hike/Bike Trails: In 2019, Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) volunteers cut hiker and biker trails within the park to make it more accessible and usable. The public can ride or hike into the park and access more than 11 miles of trails. Learn more.
Solar Park: To the west of the existing Waterworks Park and reservoir is a 55,000 panel solar farm that sits on 80 of the 600 acres. The solar farm sits on the site of a former landfill and until a few years ago was the nation’s largest solar farm on a brownfield. Due to security and public safety concerns, the solar park is not accessible to the public.
