Planned waterfront park in Charles secures federal funding

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced earlier this spring that the Popes Creek Waterfront Park Living Shoreline Design was one of 22 recipients of funding through the federal Coastal Zone Management Act.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources submitted the project and secured $120,865 in funding to be awarded to the Resilience Authority of Charles County. The park is slated to be built on the site of the former Gilligan’s Pier Restaurant in Newburg and will provide access to the water along with aiding in the restoration of shoreline and habitats.

“It’s too early to tell within the design process of any portions of the former Gilligan’s restaurant will be repurposed or completely torn down,” Sam Drury, deputy director of the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism, said in a statement to Southern Maryland News.

The Popes Creek Waterfront Park Living Shoreline Design project will utilize nature-based solutions to mitigate sea level rise, erosion, and storm events to ensure the park’s long-term health.

According to a summary of the project, the design “effectively demonstrates equitable climate resilience grounded in the connection between healthy biodiverse ecosystems and healthy human communities.”

Native marsh plantings will aid in shoreline stabilization, create habitats for aquatic organizations, provide aesthetically pleasing features and improve water quality. The design also features vegetated headlands to reduce erosion.

The improvements to the shoreline intend to protect the Future Popes Creek Waterfront Park, which will sit on 17 acres of waterfront property and include amenities such as a boardwalk and bike trail, wetland fishing and crabbing areas, a nature center and other outdoor activities.

The focus of the nature center developed at Popes Creek would be to blend environmental education and the heritage of the waterways to incorporate recreational elements, according to Drury.

“We are still in the planning and design phase for many of the elements. Our first recreational feature will be a 1.5-mile trail constructed on the former railway, which is just north of the waterfront park, and we hope to be completed in 2025,” Drury said.

“The ongoing collaboration between the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism and the Charles County Resilience Authority highlights our dedication to creating resilient and accessible public spaces,” Stacy Schafer, executive director of the Resilience Authority, said.

Pope’s Creek Waterfront Park will be the first county park that will be able to provide direct recreational access to the Potomac River.