Wood Duck Park grabs attention at OPA meeting
By Bob Lassahn

Although an election and a referendum on a new community center loom large on the horizon, the primary issue that occupied the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) Board of Directors at their May 18 meeting was clearly Wood Duck Park. During the public comments portion of the meeting a total of 13 persons took the podium, with 11 of them making some reference to the tiny triangle of land.

Various individuals and groups have requested the marking of public access points to the park. A local resident, Janet Kelly (now a candidate for the board) made a request to open pedestrian easements and local kayak enthusiasts have asked that public access points be clearly marked. The board referred a larger question of park development to a committee. When the committee report was submitted at the board’s April meeting it was suggested that Wood Duck Park should be developed with amenities such as vehicle access, parking, a gazebo, boardwalks and a fishing/crabbing pier.

Residents living adjacent to the park oppose any development and describe the area as a very wet strip of land best suited to remain in its present state. Those desiring access to walk in the area or launch kayaks are asking for public access points to be adequately marked and cleared as necessary to allow unrestricted passage. None of the parties making the requests seem bent on the kind of development suggested by the parks committee report.

During the “Old Business” portion of the agenda OPA General Manager Dave Ferguson provided a cost estimate of approximately $75,000 for the recommendations by the parks committee concerning Wood Duck Park. Since the nature of the area would require a wetlands study and various permits he estimated the time required to complete the project to be 120 days for permitting and an additional 90 to 120 days to complete the work.

Board member Skip Carey introduced a motion to maintain Wood Duck Park as it currently exists, or simply do nothing. Member Tom Sandusky seconded the motion and the following discussion clearly pitted members Heather Cook and Mark Venit against it. When the question was called it failed on a two/two tie between Carey/Sandusky and Cook/Venit, with Board President Dan Stachurski abstaining.

Venit introduced his own motion, seconded by Cook, calling for a meeting with the community, specifying specific dates when access points should be opened and calling for a survey of the property. Stachurski eventually persuaded Venit to accept an amended motion that provided a plan for the park to be developed by the OPA administration and a public hearing on the plan when it becomes available. Stachurski commented it would be easier for concerned parties to assess what is suggested with something that is visual. The amended motion carried with only Carey voting in opposition.

The question of Wood Duck Park is effectively on the back burner, but it continues to simmer and at some point will require action. The definition of  “park” is  “n 1: a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property; 2: a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area.” Obviously the board will ultimately need to decide how that translates to what will become of this 1.75 acre tract of open space known as Wood Duck Park.

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Check out the following stories in this week's print edition of The Courier:

*Profiles of OPA candidates
*ReMax opens new Ocean Pines location
*Memorial Day tribute