Wood Duck Park focus on advisory committee review

By Bob Lassahn

A triangle of land, slightly less than two acres in size and located in the Wood Duck section of Ocean Pines has been getting some considerable attention of late. Identified by a group of kayak and canoe enthusiasts as a prime launch area they approached the Ocean Pines Association with a request to open up and adequately mark park access. Although Mike Howell of Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks apparently believed the project was feasible, the administration delayed movement on the request. They have not been vocal about their reasons, but there are obviously some issues to be resolved.

During the April 20 Ocean Pines Association (OPA) Board meeting Barbara Kissel of the OPA Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee delivered a long-delayed report on potential park improvements the committee was tasked to provide. Completed in February 2005 her formal presentation to the board was bumped from several agendas.

The lead item in the report focused squarely on Wood Duck Park and was the most detailed of all recommendations contained in the document as reviewed by Ms. Kissel. The report suggested that all access easements into the park (a total of five have been identified) should be opened, wet areas filled to within about 15 feet of the shoreline where a wooden walkway should be constructed and a fishing/crabbing pier installed. Two of the access points were identified as being suitable for vehicles and the report suggested these should be improved with six parking spaces provided. A gazebo, benches and landscaping rounded out the recommendations.

Director Tom Sandusky raised the question if the parks report was in some way driven by the request for access point identification from the canoe and kayak group. Board President Dan Stachurski commented that while the report might reflect on some of the issues raised by the group it was in no way driven by their request. According to Stachurski the report was requested by the board to look at all Ocean Pines parks and to seek ways to improve their value to residents.

During the public comments portion of the meeting Wood Duck Park access was again an issue. Janet Kelly, a resident of the Wood Duck section also requested the public access points to the park be marked and identified so Ocean Pines residents might enjoy the area. She commented that the simple question of access was becoming clouded. (See Ms. Kelly's letter to The Courier on page 4).

It was later discussed that some of the access points to the park have been planted over, fencing erected and buildings may even encroach on the areas. OPA General Manager Dave Ferguson commented to the board that the matter of opening up the public access seemed reasonably simple, there were some issues to be looked at closely before proceeding, likely involving consultation with legal counsel. On a motion by Director Heather Cook the parks were included as a topic in an OPA space needs meeting to be held on May 2 at 9 a.m. in the OPA Board Room.

Other items discussed by Ms. Kissel included some improvements to Bridgewater Park in Section 11. Recommendations for the area, geared toward small children, are to correct drainage, cut back trees and install picnic tables, benches and swings.

The lake area to the north of Cathell Road was noted as a site for a walking path to the library, complete with an educational nature trail. A walking path, recommended by the committee and already under construction around the larger Southgate pond would have a bridge area along the narrow section by Ocean Parkway to better separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The series of park areas in Section 10 were identified as areas to be linked into a continuous walking/biking trail, although the poor drainage and numerous ditches would be problematic.

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