Franklin Point Park

Last night, December 2, the Franklin Point Park (FPP) planning meeting was held at Shady Side Elementary [a general map of the area]. It was well-attended with about 30 participants, comprised of equal parts planning committee members and the general public. The plan actually includes 5 separate recreation areas, four of which are smaller than the 447-acre Franklin Point parcel and are located on the northern portions of the peninsula.

There seemed to be general consensus around the uses described by the planning company, ERM, for the 4 smaller parks, but disagreement over the proper course of action regarding whether or not the plan for FPP should include athletic ballfields. Several residents thought that upgrading existing fields on one of the smaller parcels would address the athletic needs of the community, while a couple of others disagreed, contending that the student population at Shady Side Elementary has increased recently (a situation which, based on recent data, is not occurring) [in 1998, the school had 556 students, in 2000, the school had 473 students, in 2003, it had 459 students; this represents a 17 percent decrease in enrollment from 1998-2003].

However, even if the elementary school-aged population in the area hadn't been declining for the past six years, which it appears to have been, one wonders about the virtue of placing athletic fields adjacent to one of the most environmentally pristine pieces of land in south Anne Arundel County.

The next planning meeting is January 13th, at Shady Side Elementary.