2013 Wicomico County Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan Wicomico County, Maryland
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2013 Wicomico County Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan Wicomico County, Maryland August 2014 Final Draft Wicomico County Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Salisbury – Wicomico County Department of Planning, Zoning, and Community Development Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Advisors Urban Research and Development Corporation Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., County Executive R. Wayne Strausburg, Director of Administration Wicomico County Council Matt Holloway, President, At‐Large Bob Culver, Vice President, At‐Large Sheree Sample‐Hughes, District 1 Stevie Prettyman, District 2 Gail Bartkovich, District 3 John Hall, District 4 Joe Holloway, District 5 Wicomico County Salisbury/Wicomico Recreation & Parks Commission Planning Commission Allen Brown, Chairman Bob Janeski Charles “Chip” Dashiell, Chairman Tom Bowden Shawn Johnson James W. Magill, Vice Chairman Brian Adkins Jimy Reid Scott Rogers Amy Cockey Cathy Townsend Newell Quinton John Groutt Teena Workman James McNaughton April Jackson Leslie Wright Gail Bartkovich, County Council Representative John Hall, County Council Representative Tim Spies, City Council Representative Tim Spies, City Council Representative Gary W. Mackes, Director John F. Lenox, AICP, Director Andrew P. Wisk, Deputy Director Lori A. Carter, Deputy Director Pamela Oland, Deputy Director Keith D. Hall, AICP, Chief Wicomico County Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism Staff Salisbury‐Wicomico County Department of Planning, Zoning, and Community Development Staff Final Draft August 2014 Funding for this project was provided by Maryland’s Program Open Space Administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2013 Wicomico County Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan CONTENTS PAGE CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................... i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................. vii INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1–1 Purposes of the Plan ........................................................................................................1–1 Local Preparation of the Plan ..........................................................................................1–4 Public Participation ..............................................................................................1–4 Relationship to the Comprehensive Planning Process ....................................................1–5 Recreation and the Quality of Life ..................................................................................1–6 Economic Impacts ................................................................................................1–6 Social Benefits .....................................................................................................1–6 Environmental Benefits ........................................................................................1–7 Personal Benefits ..................................................................................................1–7 FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................ 2–1 Physical Characteristics ...................................................................................................2–1 Critical Areas, Wetlands, and Floodplains ..........................................................2–1 Woodlands and Natural Areas .............................................................................2–2 Development Pattern ............................................................................................2–3 Demographic Characteristics ...........................................................................................2–5 Population ............................................................................................................2–5 Income..................................................................................................................2–7 Current Planning Policies ................................................................................................2–7 Agricultural / Resource Conservation Objectives ................................................2–7 Natural Resource and Sensitive Areas Protection Objectives .............................2–7 Open Space and Recreation Objectives ...............................................................2–8 Open Space and Recreation Policies ....................................................................2–8 i 2013 Wicomico County Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan PAGE RECREATION, PARKS, AND OPEN SPACE ............................................................ 3–1 Goals and Support ............................................................................................................3–2 Needs Analysis.................................................................................................................3–5 Land .....................................................................................................................3–6 Facilities ...............................................................................................................3–8 Bikeways and Walking Trails ........................................................................................3–13 Heritage Tourism ...........................................................................................................3–15 Water Access .................................................................................................................3–17 Programs ........................................................................................................................3–17 Tourism ..........................................................................................................................3–19 Finances .........................................................................................................................3–21 County Priorities ............................................................................................................3–22 PLANNING AREAS .................................................................................................... 4–1 Tri-Town Planning Area ..................................................................................................4–3 West Side Planning Area .................................................................................................4–5 North Planning Area ........................................................................................................4–7 Central Planning Area ......................................................................................................4–9 South Planning Area ......................................................................................................4–13 East Planning Area .........................................................................................................4–15 AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION ................................................................ 5–1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................5–1 Background and Goals .....................................................................................................5–1 Current Implementation Program ....................................................................................5–6 Preservation Areas ...............................................................................................5–6 Easement Acquisition Mechanisms .....................................................................5–6 Wicomico County Agricultural Land Preservation Program ...............................5–7 Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation ........................................5–8 Maryland Rural Legacy Program .........................................................................5–9 Maryland Environmental Trust ............................................................................5–9 Funding for Easement Acquisition ....................................................................5–10 Land Use Management Authority ......................................................................5–10 Farming Assistance Programs............................................................................5–12 Implementation Program Evaluation .............................................................................5–13 Funding ..............................................................................................................5–13 Land Use Management Tools ............................................................................5–13 ii 2013 Wicomico County Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan PAGE Program Performance ........................................................................................5–14 Effects of Potential Development on Land Markets ..........................................5–15 Farming Assistance ............................................................................................5–15 Summary ............................................................................................................5–16 NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION ...............................................................