ANNAPOLIS (September 12, 2011) — All Maryland’s State Parks are now open after several areas were closed to clean up from flooding associated with Tropical Storm Lee. Some parks may still be in the final stages of clean-up and visitors are cautioned that some trails could be muddy or blocked by fallen trees. In addition, certain buildings and other facilities may be temporarily unavailable while park staff repairs water damage.
“Our dedicated Maryland Park Service staff has, for the second time in as many weeks, restored all State Parks to a safe and relaxing condition for our visitors,” said Maryland Park Service Superintendent Nita Settina. “Having just recovered from the damage caused by Hurricane Irene, we immediately responded to the latest flooding event to ensure that our State Parks are open and available to the public for what we hope to be vastly improved weather conditions as we go into the fall season.”
One of the hardest–hit areas was the Torrey C. Brown (TCB) Rail Trail, formerly known as the Northern Central Trail, in Northern Baltimore County. A portion of the trail between Phoenix Road and Glencoe Road was flooded by the nearby Big Gunpowder River. The Sparks Bank Nature Center experienced flood damage and will be closed while repairs are made. Other portions of the trail suffered erosion from flash flooding. Although all areas are passable, trail users are advised to exercise the proper caution and to heed any warnings posted of compromised trail conditions ahead.
MPS will update the status of the State Parks at dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands. Park visitors can also contact MPS customer service at 1-800-830-3974 for updated information.