Myrtle Point slated for visitor's center, extra kayak launch and roads

Myrtle Point Waterfront Park will be getting a new look in the near future.

At their Sept. 24 meeting, the St. Mary’s County commissioners approved a budget amendment in the amount of $28,084 and increased the park’s property survey project to support the design of a new visitor’s center and activity areas.

A delay in site work has significantly impacted the project schedule, delaying the schematic design phase by three months, according to county officials.

“What is required in order to move the project forward is going to be an additional survey,” Interim Recreation & Parks Director Jessica Hale said, adding that 20 acres of the park is being set aside for recreational development, which would include a second kayak launch for access to Mill Creek. There is already a kayak launch which accesses the Patuxent River.

She added the new survey will also look at erosion and water access, foliage, the proposed visitor’s center, the new kayak launch, parking and other amenities.

The 192-acre California park has two miles of shoreline and 7.3 miles of hiking trails.

Commissioner Mike Hewitt (R) noted the walk to access Mill Creek is about a mile and wondered how kayakers would get their watercraft to the water.

Recreation & Parks Project Manager Christie Bishop said a road would enable kayakers to drive down to the water’s edge, put their boats in the water and then park elsewhere.

“There will be a few ADA spots to park near the beach and to allow for emergency vehicles,” she said, “but it will be limited parking [in that area].”

She added the “majority [of the parking spaces] will be at the hub at the proposed visitors center.”

Hewitt asked if the county was changing its whole plan of the park being passive in nature with the addition of a visitor’s center?

“No, sir. It’s still very much passive in nature,” Bishop said. “The visitor’s center is really more of an area where you could have education, maybe environmental education, you could have special programs.”

Bishop pointed out the 1999 master plan had sports fields and when the department redid the master plan in 2005, it did away with some development, including a proposed amphitheater.

“The plan to do this park is still five or six years out, is that correct?” Commissioner Eric Colvin (R) asked.

“We’re currently doing all the design work now,” Bishop said. “My plan is to have construction money in the [fiscal] 2027 budget.” That budget goes into effect in July 2026.

The commissioners also approved a Land Water Conservation Fund Grant application on behalf of the Department of Recreation and Parks for $350,000 to assist with the construction of playgrounds at St. Clements Shores Park and Cecil Park.