Homeport HEADS UP

[Lisa]

Hello all,

The county requested a feasibility study for a rowing facility in Homeport Farm Park. It looks like a re-run on steroids of last year's failed $1.2 million project on Harness Creek in Quiet Waters Park. The rowers will use the park from 4:30 am to 9 pm every day and have regattas on the weekends. I believe the general public will be pushed out of Homeport, the only usable public water access point on the South River. Lots more info at the editorial linked below.

IF you want to KEEP using Homeport Farm Park please email County Executive Steuart Pittman fy23-budget-comments@aacounty.org and OPPOSE the rowing facility in Homeport Farm Park. Remember to include your first and last name and snail mail address so he knows you are a real person. If you want to double down email your County Councilmember as well! Find your Councilmember's email address HERE: https://www.aacounty.org/departments...ber/index.html

It's an election year! Tell them you don't want a rowing facility in Homeport Farm Park!

Setting aside the question of why the county wants to spend so much money for a rowing facility for small private clubs . . .

Editorial opposing rowing facility in Homeport Farm Park:
https://www.annapoliscreative.com/op...-the-disabled/

Thanks

Lisa

[yakscientist]

Thank you Lisa! I just wrote in. For anyone that's looking to do the same, you could use my general wording as well.

To Steuart Pittman,

I am a frequent kayak fisherman and as there is already a lack of cartop boat access along the South River, dedicating Homeport Farm Park to any sort of rowing club is a bad idea. All the rowing clubs that would use this area already have dedicated usage in nearby marinas, whereas kayakers do not. Daily usage of Homeport Farm Park during most of the daylight hours on the weekdays, and regattas on the weekends, would make it virtually impossible for kayakers, or other cartop vessel users to utilize Homeport Farm Park. Please work to increase not decrease water access to cartop boat users, and explore other options for the rowers. Also please utilize all means necessary, including frozen funds already allocated for such goals, to create new cartop boat access points along the South River and other tidal areas across AA County. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and though I am not a resident of AA County, I do frequent many of the areas there (and support many local businesses) throughout the year as I kayak fish year round.

[Lisa]

Thank you! The rowing clubs are doing a BIG email blitz to the county to get the rowing facility in Homeport Farm Park. We need to email blitz back if we want to keep using Homeport .

Turns out the Homeport FY23 feasibility study is less of a feasibility study and more of a rubber stamp. Rec & Parks is sneaking the rowing facility in Homeport Farm Park through the budget by hiding it in the new boat ramp account. From last week's Per Rec & Parks presentation to the county Planning Advisory Board, construction of a multi million dollar rowing facility in Homeport Farm Park is planned for FY24.

EMAIL ASAP County Executive Steuart Pittman fy23-budget-comments@aacounty.org AND District 6 Councilwoman Lisa Rodvien lisa.rodvien@aacounty.org and tell them how much you love using Homeport and to NOT fund and NOT put the rowing facility in Homport Farm Park. (Homeport is in County Council District 6.) If you live in Anne Arundel County please also email your Councilmember. Find your Councilmember here: https://www.aacounty.org/departments...councilmember/

Annapolis Creative editorial against rowing facility in Homeport Farm Park: https://www.annapoliscreative.com/op...-the-disabled/

Remember to include your first and last name and snail mail address so they know you are a real person. Attach a pic of your yak if you're feeling fancy

Thanks

Lisa

[Lisa]

Update:

Hello all,

We encouraged the county's closer examination of the Homeport Farm Park deed. The rowing facility proposed for Homeport is at a hard pause, and probably dead.

Just like in the monster movies, though, we're not going to assume it's dead for good until someone cuts off its head. No victory laps!

Good news for the weekend!

Good work everyone.

Lisa