The new 380-foot fishing pier at Fort Smallwood Park is now open.  The previous pier was destroyed in 2003 by Hurricane Isabel, and its re-opening has been highly anticipated. In April 2006, Anne Arundel County assumed park management from the City of Baltimore, and Fort Smallwood Park became the newest regional park in the Anne Arundel County Park System. The pier will enhance the park experience for fishermen, birdwatchers, and admirers of local scenery.

>> Fishing Pier Rules

I’d like to begin this morning by offering an advance apology to all non-fishing spouses and partners.  If your significant other mysteriously disappears and their whereabouts is unknown, chances are they can be found on our new fishing pier.

On behalf of County Executive John R. Leopold, our Chief of Park Operations John Marshall, Park Superintendent Deb Yeater, and all the employees of the Department of Recreation and Parks, welcome to Fort Smallwood Park.  I am Frank Marzucco, Director of Recreation and Parks.

This is milestone day.  Today’s ribbon cutting ceremony marks the official opening of our new 380-foot Fishing Pier.  From a broader perspective, the opening of the fishing pier marks the beginning of the new Fort Smallwood Park. Anne Arundel County assumed management of Fort Smallwood Park this time last year.  Since then, the County has invested approximately one million dollars in major improvements to include the following:

• Three dilapidated buildings; two rundown picnic shelters; over hundred dead, dying or unsafe trees; and a massive amount of trash and debris were removed from the park. 
  
• All beach areas were cleaned and parking areas created.
  
• Old and damaged fencing was replaced. 
  
• A playground, two volleyball courts, two horseshoe pits, benches, picnic tables and grills were installed.
  
• The historic Cedar Pavilion was refurbished and the exterior of the historic barracks building was repaired.
  
• Major landscaping work has been done throughout the park to include improvements to the shoreline around the battery.
  
• A gatehouse was constructed and the entranceway and roadways throughout the park were repaired.

Neighbors and visitors to the Park are generous with their compliments regarding park improvements.  The following letter was received just this week.

The Residents of Rockwood Beach would like to pass on their thanks for the difference it makes with the Park Rangers patrolling the Park.  As neighbors walk thru the park, we hear constantly how they constantly keep an eye out for obedience of the Park Rules.  The families down there Sunday was evidence that the Park is back as a Family place to go after more than five decades.  Your Rangers should be commended for their work. The stories we hear about the new Fort Smallwood Park are just delightful to hear.  Keep up the Great Work. On Behalf of Rockwood Civic and Improvement Association – Gary Mewshaw

I appreciate Mr. Mewshaw’s letter and would like to assure him that the best is yet to come as we have just embarked on a year long master planning effort for the 100-acre Fort Smallwood Park and the 238-acre Harry and Jeanette Weinberg property.  County Executive John Leopold formed a Master Planning Committee to assist in developing recommendations for future use of these outstanding properties.

Maryland Yacht Club: Jerry Ackerman
Pasadena Sports Fishermen: Eleanor Bentz
Columnist, The Capital: Bill Burton
President, Pasadena Business Association: Brenda Hodgson

County Council Chairman - District 3: Ron Dillon
Maryland House of Delegates - District 31: Delegate Nic Kipke and Delegate Steve Schuh
Members of our County’s Recreation Advisory Board: Woody Bowen and Betty Jansky

Fort Smallwood was established in 1896 as part of Baltimore’s harbor defense system. The fort was decommissioned in 1927 and turned over to the City of Baltimore to operate as a park.  As I mentioned, in April 2006, Anne Arundel County assumed park management, and Fort Smallwood Park became the newest regional park in the county’s park system.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the original pier extended 1,000 feet into Rock Creek on the Patapsco River.  The pier was destroyed in 2003 by Hurricane Isabel, and its re-opening has been a highly anticipated and welcomed event.  Even though we call it a fishing pier, crabbers, birdwatchers and admirers of local scenery are sure to find it a great attraction.

>> Follow this link to view Fort Smallwood Park site.

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