2005 Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan Wicomico County, Maryland February 2006 The Wicomico County Council adopted this plan on ___________ as a guide for land preservation and recreation in Wicomico County. Wicomico County Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Land Preservation, Parks, And Recreation Advisors Urban Research And Development Corporation Donald R. Marushak in association with Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Allentown, Pennsylvania Wicomico County Council Anthony S. Sarbanes, President/At Large Charles Dashiell, Vice President/At Large Edward T. Taylor, District 1 Stevie Prettyman, District 2 Gail M. Bartkovitch, District 3 Marvin R. Long, District 4 Larry W. Dodd, District 5 Wicomico County Salisbury/Wicomico Recreation Commission Planning Commission Ed Urban, Chairman Bill Hearn Corrine Les Callette, Chairman Frank Gordy, Vice Chairman Kim Moreno Donald Bounds, Vice Chairman Ralph Cordrey Trent Molnar James Magill Mike Delano Barthine Sells Glen Robinson Jimy Reed Mike Dunn Marvin Long Bob Janeski Tony Sarbanes Lynn Cathcart Tim Emge Mike Mercer Scott Rogers Gary W. Mackes, Director Jack Lenox, Director John E. Terrell Jr., Deputy Director Wicomico County Department of Recreation and Parks Staff Salisbury-Wicomico County Department of Planning, Zoning and Community Development Staff Funding for this project was provided by Maryland’s Program Open Space administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Wicomico County Department of Recreation. Parks, and Tourism expresses its appreciation for the cooperation and assistance that the following agencies and groups extended to our consultant and us during the preparation of the 2005 Wicomico County Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan. Chesapeake Bay Foundation City of Salisbury Delmar Recreation Council East Side Recreation Council Friends of Pemberton Historical Park Local businesses Mardela Recreation Council Maryland Department of Natural Resources Maryland Department of Planning Pemberton Historical Park Advisory Board Salisbury Advisory Council on Youth Activities Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Salisbury-Wicomico Dept. of Planning, Zoning, & Community Development Salisbury and Wicomico County Planning Commissions Sharptown Recreation Council The Nature Conservancy Town of Delmar Town of Fruitland Town of Hebron Town of Pittsville Town of Sharptown Town of Willards U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service West Side Community Center Advisory Board West Side Historical Society Wicomico County Agricultural Preservation Board Wicomico County Council Wicomico County Public Schools Wicomico County Recreation Commission Wicomico County staff Wicomico County Tourism Board Wicomico Environmental Trust Wicomico Equestrian Center Advisory Board Wicomico Historical Society 2005 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 ..........................................................................................1–3 Public Participation..............................................................................................1–4 Relationship to the Comprehensive Planning Process ....................................................1–5 Recreation and the Quality of Life ..................................................................................1–5 Economic Impacts................................................................................................1–6 Social Benefits.....................................................................................................1–6 Environmental Benefits........................................................................................1–6 Personal Benefits..................................................................................................1–6 County Accomplishments ...............................................................................................1–7 Growing Older: The Importance of Maintenance .........................................................1–10 Funding Challenges.......................................................................................................1–11 Definitions Used in the Plan..........................................................................................1–12 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 Planning Areas.....................................................................................................2–5 Population ............................................................................................................2–5 Age.......................................................................................................................2–7 Gender..................................................................................................................2–7 Income..................................................................................................................2–8 Current Planning Policies ................................................................................................2–9 Resource Conservation Objectives ......................................................................2–9 Natural Resource and Sensitive Areas Protection Objectives .............................2–9 Open Space and Recreation Objectives .............................................................2–10 Open Space and Recreation Policies..................................................................2–10 i 2005 Wicomico County Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan PAGE RECREATION, PARKS, AND OPEN SPACE............................................................ 3–1 Goals and Support............................................................................................................3–2 Needs Analysis.................................................................................................................3–6 Land .....................................................................................................................3–6 Facilities...............................................................................................................3–9 Greenways, Bikeways, and Other Linear Corridors ......................................................3–13 Heritage Tourism...........................................................................................................3–14 Water Access.................................................................................................................3–15 Programs ........................................................................................................................3–16 Finances .........................................................................................................................3–17 County Priorities............................................................................................................3–20 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