Discovery Village

02/04/2023

Much improved access at Discovery Village launch. Good job AA Recreation & Parks

03/13/2021

Your gift can help plant millions of water-filtering oysters.

12/12/2020

Some very neat history.

You have probably heard of the Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay, the site of our country's newest National Marine Sanctuary. But did you know Baltimore has its own skeletons in the river?

If you were to take a journey up Curtis Creek, a small river that feeds into the Patapsco, you will get a glance at Baltimore's behind-the-scenes maritime industry, including operating shipyards like the U.S. Coast Guard Yard & Smith Shipyard. What you will also find are the remains of a bygone era. Too obsolete to sail vessels were towed up the creek & left to let nature reclaim them.

What makes the Curtis Creek hulks especially interesting is that the vessels are all from different eras of our maritime history. The creek is the final resting place of a sidewheel steamer, a concrete ship, World War I-era wooden freighters, at least two schooners including the four-masted WILLIAM T PARKER, & countless unidentifiable wrecks.

For anyone looking for an adventure, the area is accessible by kayak.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Norman.

Waterfront Partnership Blue Water Baltimore Visit Baltimore Chesapeake Conservancy

08/28/2020

Submit your photos online or by mail for the chance to win a number of exciting prizes! Instructions, rules, and other details are available on our website.
https://dnr.maryland.gov/Pages/photocontest.aspx

08/26/2020

03/19/2020

Do you know what a watershed is?

A watershed is a land area that captures rainfall and other precipitation and funnels it to a particular body of water. When it rains in a watershed, the runoff flows downhill to a creek, stream, or river. All of the runoff ends up in nearby waterways without prior treatment in many cases.

Since stormwater comes into contact with litter, gasoline, oils, brake pad dust from our cars, pesticides, waste from our pets and many other toxins along its journey, stormwater is a significant source of pollution to our waterways.

Did you know, Anne Arundel County consists of 12 primary watersheds and hundreds of sub-watersheds, which includes over 1,700 miles of streams, and all of them discharge directly into the Chesapeake Bay? Therefore, the activities that occur anywhere in Anne Arundel County have a direct impact on the Chesapeake Bay.

Do you know which watershed you live in? If not you can find out using the link below to learn which one you do live in. You can also learn more details about all the watersheds in our amazing County!

https://www.aacounty.org/departments/public-works/wprp/watersheds/

03/17/2020

Launch a boat!

| Finally some good news this week ! Local schools are out for two weeks, but all Anne Arundel County Parks will be open. Better still, the County is waiving entry fees starting 3/16

We are all breathing a collective sigh of relief here at AAFA, that there is actual hope for surviving two weeks of home learning. Add in trying to work from home on a modified schedule and entertaining children. SMILING 🤡 SMILING. Just keep smiling 🤡........

On the brighter side, this gives families a chance to spend some time enjoying outdoor activities. There are so many ways to use the time to disconnect from social media and reconnect with each other. In addition there are hundreds of different ways to enjoy our County's natural resources.

Here are a few of Holly's favorite things to do at area parks:

Take a walk

Fly a kite

Visit the farm animals at Kinder Park Farm

Check out local wildlife

Learn the history of each park

Have a picnic or BBQ

See giant ships make their way up and down the
Chesapeake Bay

Look for sea glass

Scavenger Hunt

Bike ride

Bird Watch

Enjoy a light breeze and the sunshine

Walk the beach

Visit fisherman and crabbers on the pier

Launch your boat

Keep in mind that even though parks are outdoors, play areas and other heavy traffic zones could still carry germs. Since everyone knows Anne Arundel County is well stocked up on hand sanitizers and cleaning wipes, please use them ! That's what you bought it for right ? Please wash your hands, and practice recommended routine hygiene when visiting park facilities.

A local company specializing in the cleaning of public areas, Back In Time Pressure Washing, says the County never responded to his offer to provide cleaning services on play sets at schools and parks. The owner is a fan of AAFA and even posted that he would provide cleaning and disinfecting of play areas at no charge. Could someone from Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks or County Executive Pittman's office please contact us and we can help get you connected ?

09/24/2019

Did you know that Discovery Village is home to a living shoreline along the West River? Learn more about living shorelines with the link below.

During this interactive evening, Stewards and property owners will explore the benefits and functions of living shorelines, as well as the process of installing this practice from design to maintenance. Weather permitting, the class will include a tour of the new living shoreline at Arlington Echo.

08/29/2019

Don't miss the beautiful sunset views of the Rhode River during the Chesapeake Music Festival! The concert is only a few weeks away, so get your ticket today! Tickets and more information at http://www.arundelrivers.org/news/chesapeake-music-festival/
Photo courtesy of Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

08/27/2019

Chesapeake Bay Magazine is an independent regional magazine, bringing you the best of the bay—boating, food, nature, events, and culture—since 1971.

08/23/2019