Not Too Keene

Well, Anne Arundel County Parks and Rec. are up to their same old tricks again. You may remember these folks from such bungled ballfield efforts as the Smith Farm on the Broadneck Pennisula. Dennis Callahan and pal Jack Keene are once again intent on trying to jam playing fields in the wrong place, when a far more intelligent alternative exists elsewhere. In the case of the Smith Farm, the old Nike site existed, flat and cleared only a few miles away. In the current case, where Callahan and Co. are trying to put fields on the environmentally sensitive Franklin Point Park, 477-acres of pristine wilderness in Shady Side, a dry, flat, and underutilized, site exists nearby.

Delegate Bob Costa (R-Deale), is seeking funds from the State to do a feasibility study examining the option of putting fields at the capped Sudley landfill site. Re-developing landfill sites into open space parks and fields has been done all across the country, and truly represents smart growth, taking advantage of an otherwise "wasted" resource.

The creative solution proposed by Costa also has the support of the president of the Shady Side Boys and Girls Club, Pete Medhurst, who originally supported efforts to puts fields at Franklin Point.

Perplexingly, though, County Executive Owens, and Jack Keene seem to have major reservations about even exploring the viability of the Sudley site. Let's hope they get on board with Costa's plan and drop the environmentally-irresponsible idea of putting fields at Franklin Point.

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.

Those concerned about preserving quality of life in Anne Arundel County need to make their voices heard, in letters to the local papers, at public hearings, and in their political and activist clubs. Two important events coming up this week could use your attendance.

On Tuesday, December 2, there will be a meeting at Shady Side Elementary on the planning for a Franklin Point Park. If you'd like to see this 486 acre piece of waterfront land remain a natural area, show up at 7pm and make your feelings known.

On Thursday, December 4, an event, Managing the Impact: Annapolis Transportation Projects, will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the Annapolis city council chambers. The event will focus on discussing strategies for easing congestion - staggered commutes, ride sharing, public transit and signs.