The Gatewood Preserve provides additional public access to open space for appropriate outdoor recreation such as water access, hiking, fishing and nature study and increases the protection of Battle Creek and the Patuxent Watershed. This property could become part of a trail connecting Prince Frederick to the Patuxent River.
This acquisition is consistent with Calvert County’s Land Preservation, Park and Recreation Plan, the Program Open Space Annual Plan, and the Planning Visions adopted by the State of Maryland in the 2009 Smart, Green, and Growing Act.
Gatewood Preserves offers a breathtaking view with direct access to Battle Creek. Future improvements include a kayak launch and/or a dedicated fishing pier.
FUTURE PLANS: Maintenance and repairs to existing boardwalk and modifications to improve access.
FUTURE PLANS pending funding and staffing: The residence would be converted to a nature center, offices, small classroom and public restrooms. The grounds around the house can accommodate picnic tables and chemical toilets for when the center is not open. Interpretive areas would be established in the meadows to support the Department of Parks and Recreation Natural Resources Division’s outdoor education programs. A small portion of the property would be for parking; other sections could be established for youth group camping. Barns and animal shelters could be used to house equipment required for basic maintenance of the park. The barn could house a small number of domestic animals, such as goats that would be used for interpretation, demonstration and restoration programs.
The acquisition was made possible by partnerships between Calvert County and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, who facilitated the award of a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. Other funding sources include county Recreation Excise Tax and Localside Program Open Space.
The success of the project was the partnership between governmental agencies, the Calvert Nature Society (the nonprofit that supports the County’s nature parks) and local landowners. It demonstrated their priorities to preserve land and meet passive recreation needs.
Chronolog stations are a citizen science tool that helps make gradual environmental changes visible. Because long-term monitoring is often costly and complex, Chronolog offers a simple, collaborative solution: crowd-sourced time-lapse photography. By connecting communities with land stewards, Chronolog creates visual records of change in important natural areas. The mission is to engage people with nature in an interactive way and to document environmental change for scientific research.