South River Farms Park Is Open

[bunnielab]

I hike and shore fish there fairly often, but have still yet to even find the launch point. The parking situation is a pain, as the "open" hours are very limited. However, lots of people park outside the gate in weekends and after hours, but it would be a very long distance to lug a kayak.

[baitball]

Thanks for the gouge Drew.
I guess I'll be looking to launch elsewhere.

[PigPen]

Carrs is a good launch for wind protection. Be mindful of the road it's not as straight looking as the map says and there isn't much signage until you drive into the water. I need to take a hiking trip out there just to see how much of a haul it is because I really liks the south river. I was able to negotiate a $10 launch fee from one of the marinas on turkey pt because the winds were worse than predicted at BTB and I wasn't going home without fishing.

[baitball]

Carrs is a good launch for wind protection. Be mindful of the road it's not as straight looking as the map says and there isn't much signage until you drive into the water. I need to take a hiking trip out there just to see how much of a haul it is because I really liks the south river. I was able to negotiate a $10 launch fee from one of the marinas on turkey pt because the winds were worse than predicted at BTB and I wasn't going home without fishing.

I would rather not pay to launch, but in a pinch that's always an option.
Do you recall the name of the Turkey Point marina?

[Lisa]

Hi all,

There isn't a plausible kayak launch at SRFP - yet. A bunch of us who've been all over that park think a launch onto Brickhouse Cove off Selby Bay is the best option. It's a straight flat shot from the existing road/parking lot to the water through some no-big-deal woods. From there you could go from Selby Bay to Ramsey Lake or the South River. I hope the consultant that the county hired agrees with us.

As far as timing, the first controversy over funding for improved public water access on the Mayo peninsula just popped up this week. Steve Schuh, County Executive, put $410,000 in the FY17 budget for improvements at Beverly-Triton to support public swimming at better cartop boat access: more parking, a bathhouse with facilities, a better launch for kayaks so it's easier to get across the beach, etc. Commonsense stuff.

The neighbors don't want the parks open and are trying to block that funding. Their county councilman, Jerry Walker, will ask the County Council to take the Beverly-Triton money out of the budget on Monday 6/9/16. There are 7 county councilmen and if we don't get 4 votes for "fund public swimming and cartop boating at Beverly-Triton" on Monday the funding will get cut from the budget.

Lisa

[Big Mike]

Boy the people around Annapolis have some serious issues (or perhaps the waterfront people). Puts some of the New England states to shame as far as public access on public land.

[MD Dore]

Lisa, thanks for bringing this to our attention. I live in Walker's district. He will be getting a call and email from me.

Viking Profish Reload
Hobie Outback

[rob-kayak]

Thank you Ms. Lisa and your group for continued efforts.

Personally, and well this is just an opinion...
The Bev Triton area is just fine as it is... except swimming for the people would be cool.. obviously at people's own risk.

I believe there is a benefit to "semi" primitive access to areas such as Bev Trition.
I can't imagine any kayaker that can't handle the short walk back and forth... and the drop off is just fine.

In my opinion... I think that money could be best spent on other access areas.

Sandy Point State Park is very well suited for everything you desire at Bev Trition, and can handle the traffic.

The South Rivers Farm Park.. which this thread is about... is a much better well spent option for development.
It really surprises me this has not come to a reality. Except that maybe that it is super prime real estate.. and other "things" are lurking in the shadows.

Obviously you are more familiar with the area... and looking at the maps, as I have done for years... encompassed in the park is Scriveners Road.

A few years ago when I started exploring the Chesapeake... I discovered this road.
It's been a couple of years since I went down there... and the "shed" project that was expected to be removed and allow other access previously mentioned...

When I did go there.. I didn't want to upset anybody.. and I wasn't too sure if it was "kosher". Nobody said anything to me.. but that didn't make it correct.
And I'm a big advocate for respecting the "rules". Thusly... just because nobody said anything doesn't necessarily make it correct.

But looking at Google Maps... Scriveners Road, all the way to the end, is well inside the park.

From the discussion here, about SRFP... and I do know of the pier that is mentioned on the beach... and from the discussion here...
At SRFP, you are attempting access... across the big field and the woods, way before the turn in the road past the storage facilities on Scriveners Road.

Yet... in "theory," you can drive all the way down Scriveners Road... to a great access point right on the South River.

Maybe, and possibly, the actual boundaries of SRFP... doesn't include the road all the way down road of Scriveners... to the water.
Google Maps has it in the park.

I am sure most kayakers would love to be able to access down Scriveners... don't need bath houses, and concrete ramps.
A nice clean port-a-potty is wonderful.

I am confused with that which has been proposed with the access to the pier, along Scriveners Road before the turn past the main storage facilites, across the big field, and through the woods.
Going all the way down Scrivener's, puts you right on the water, and it's a really cool area in shaded trees.
You must know where I speak of... all the way down where the flag pole is.

None the less... I, and everybody, so much appreciate your efforts.
Thank you very much.
Rob.

p.s. When I did venture down Scriveners... I always carried out a bunch of trash from others that "used" the area.

[Lisa]

[QUOTE=rob-kayak;130694]Thank you Ms. Lisa and your group for continued efforts.

Personally, and well this is just an opinion...
The Bev Triton area is just fine as it is... except swimming for the people would be cool.. obviously at people's own risk.

<snip>

For a public swimming beach you need water quality testing (easy) and running water and facilities (not as easy). The money in this year's budget is for a Beverly-Triton bathhouse with showers and toilets so the beach can legally be opened to public swimming. The limited parking is already full on nice weekends and more parking is needed. I would also like to see a bigger turnaround near the water and a separate path so people aren't walking on the gravel road where the cars drive.

I love Beverly-Triton Beach Park - it's the prettiest park in Anne Arundel County - and believe it can be improved to support public swimming without hurting the park.

The county bought this land for a public park for 3.1 million dollars in 1983 so a developer wouldn't build 3,000+ condos on it. The neighbors begged the county to buy the land for a public park. Then the neighbors changed their tune and blocked the county from opening this public park to the public that paid for it for 30 years.

Lisa

[Lisa]

Lisa, thanks for bringing this to our attention. I live in Walker's district. He will be getting a call and email from me. snip

Thank you. It would be wonderful if more people let the County Council know that they support public swimming at Beverly-Trition Beach Park. The emails for the County Councilmen and their assistants are below:

peter.smith@aacounty.org linda.harris@aacounty.org, john.grasso@aacounty.org rbrooks@aacounty.org dfink@aacounty.org patrick.mulford@aacounty.org andrew.pruski@aacounty.org david.helmecki@aacounty.org michael.peroutka@aacounty.org phil.reeder@aacounty.org ctrumbauer@aacounty.org jhayes-williams@aacounty.org jerry.walker@aacounty.org, pscarbro@aacounty.org

Please email all of them and tell them how you enjoy Beverly-Triton Beach Park and ask them to support the long overdue improvements required for public swimming at Beverly-Triton.

The county paid 3.1 million dollars for Beverly-Triton in 1983, more than 30 years ago. The neighbors begged the county to buy the land so a developer couldn't build 3,000 condos. Once the county bought the land, the neighbors changed their tune and blocked the county from opening the park to the public for 30 years.

The community of Beverly Beach also has *exclusive use* of 1/2 mile of county owned beach and parkland, a county-owned boat ramp AND a county-owned marina for a total of $1,001 a *year*. Despite that sweetheart deal, that special privilege, Beverly Beach and other water privileged neighborhoods want to block public swimming at Beverly-Triton Beach Park. They want to keep the public from swimming at this public park.

There was a Master Plan for the park in 1997. It was never followed. It is being updated. The modest improvements in the FY17 budget are for a bathhouse with showers and toilets and changing facilities, more parking, an improved kayak launch, a small children's playground and a sensible picnic pavilion. These improvements are in line with the Master Plan.

Thanks

Lisa

[colinkelly]

I live in Triton and the park is backed up to my home. I can assure you that our desire to not have the "improvements" Schuh seeks are far from "waterfront arrogance". Those of us who actually reside here realize the impact that the traffic and other issues that accompany this plan will have on OUR community. The trek from the lot to the water is not lengthy, unless you put your yak on your back. This plan is detrimental to those of us who live here, and Triton has already become the dumping ground when Sandy Point is full and closed to entry. There is no need for any changes at all when it comes to the park as it applies to us in this community and what we need it for. We live here and want you, and others to enjoy the park, but turning it into a full blown miniature Sandy Point is a horrible idea and is not supported by the majority of us who will actually be impacted by the changes. It is my sincere hope that Councilman Walker succeeds in derailing this effort.

[Lisa]

"That a stunning 340-acre stretch of undeveloped bay front in a county with thousands of sand-starved residents has remained virtually unused for so long is a testimony to the power of exclusion."

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/199...n-anne-arundel

Lisa

[colinkelly]

NO one here has done anything to "exclude" anyone. As a matter of fact, as a resident who had our formal "community beach" washed away during Isabel, it was a welcome sight when it was opened up without permit requirements. Your citing of quotes from those who have no concern for those of us who live and raise our children in this community has no bearing on the issue. In fact of matter, the quote itself is factually untrue and merely serves to spark feelings that we are just a bunch of selfish locals who want to shun all. The BULK of that property is unusable as it is mostly overgrown forest and tide ponds and swamps. The strip of beach is open, there are restrooms available, and there is open access already. We actually have a tiny beach access that is ours alone- but that is not the point of the opposition. Schuh's desire to open the door to the Governorship on the backs of small communities is repugnant and similar to the one we just finally got rid of. I will reiterate, that the park is open for those of us in this specific community (kayak access is wide open, and, for that fact, so is beach access) and all others, so the need to make it a Sandy Point lite is wholly unnecessary.

[DonV]

The problem here is that the park is funded on the backs of all AA County residents. If the local community would like to keep and develop the park to their liking it could have well purchased the land and developed a community park. As far as improvements I most likely agree with you that limited improvements would be best but we are back to the problem that it is decision that all residents of all of the county will have a say in. It's hard to argue that park funded by the larger community that already has an exclusive section carved out for local residents should have very limited access. Limited parking, facilities and access can make the park of no benefit to them. I can well see that the majority of residents of the overall county would like to see way more access to the very limited amount of AA County waterfront parkland.

[colinkelly]

First- so that all are clear, Beverley and Triton are separate locations. I will concede and agree that the Beverley Park is inaccessible to all. I only specifically address Triton- as I have no personal knowledge of Beverley. Triton is WIDE OPEN. The ONLY restrictions have to do with bikes being ridden inside and the inability to swim (though, I am sure we all know how accurately that rule is followed. Triton is at the end of a single road at the end of a peninsula, that road being Triton Beach road. It is a public road, but is already in poor shape and is already used as a dump zone. The current parking has been expanded to facilitate greater use and there are clean and serviced porta-johns already available. I am on the same page as all of you when it comes to access, the concern of the community is the expansion and marketing of the park as a sort of alternative to Sandy Point. Current use has gone up tremendously since the removal of the requirement for a Park Permit- even as a resident of the community, I was still required to obtain a permit at that time and it kept me out.

So, this being made to sound like some sort of community wall to stop you all from coming to Triton is absolutely fraudulent and incorrect. Come on down, put your kayak in, paddle around, catch some fish. I will be happy to join you- all of you. But what I do ask is that you understand for a second that communities surround these areas and we raise our families in them- so there is more impact and more to consider than just some struggle to open up parkland. I want to get my kayak out there as well. The "exclusive" section you speak of for us in Triton is about a 20 foot strip of beach, that is inaccesible to kayaks because we are unable to get the boats around the corner of the observation deck and down the stairs- so your access is my access as well.