LEONARDTOWN, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has awarded St. Mary’s County $350,000 from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund to replace playgrounds at Cecil Park and St. Clements Shores Park. The funding, part of a $12 million statewide grant allocation announced on September 22, 2025, will install new swings, slides, climbing structures, rubber safety surfacing, and multisensory features like musical play elements to create inclusive, modern play spaces for local children.
Cecil Park, at 19241 Saint Georges Church Road in Valley Lee, and St. Clements Shores Park, at 3860 Mattapany Road in Colton Point, are key community hubs in St. Mary’s County. The new playgrounds will replace outdated equipment, enhancing safety and accessibility for families in this rural region. Cecil Park, a 20-acre site along Saint Georges Creek, supports youth sports and community events, while St. Clements Shores, a 12-acre park near the Potomac River, offers trails and ties to the historic St. Clements Island. Both parks serve the county’s 115,000 residents, with upgrades expected to be completed by spring 2026.
The grant requires a 50-50 match, with St. Mary’s County covering half the $700,000 total cost through local funds. Community input, gathered via a June 2025 survey for St. Clements Shores, shaped designs, favoring inclusive features for children with disabilities. The project aligns with the county’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan to expand recreational access amid 12% population growth since 2020. It also supports environmental goals by using permeable surfacing to reduce runoff into local waterways, per the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund, established in 1964, uses offshore oil and gas revenues to support public recreation without taxpayer funds. St. Mary’s County’s award is part of a broader effort, including $3 million for Patapsco Valley State Park and $1.5 million for Baltimore’s Middle Branch Shoreline Trail. In St. Mary’s, the focus on playgrounds addresses heavy use—county parks log 50,000 youth visits annually—and enhances spaces vital to families near the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, a major local employer.
Residents can expect safer, more engaging parks that foster community ties in St. Mary’s County, known for its historic sites and waterfront recreation. The Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for the next LWCF round until June 25, 2026, for projects up to $2 million.
