Ocean Pines is relaunching their Adopt-a-Park.

By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer

(July 13, 2023) The Ocean Pines Association Rec and Parks Department is looking for individuals, community groups, and businesses interested in adopting a local park.

All it takes to participate is a love of nature and an interest in helping to beautify a local park by picking up trash, planting flowers and weeding beds.

Adopters need to commit to a minimum of two years. The individual or group must commit to cleaning up the adopted park at least two times, but preferably four times a year. Adopters may also enhance the park with plantings, weeding and mulching beds and trees.

In turn, Ocean Pines will erect a sign recognizing the name of the Adopt-a-Park partner and remove filled garbage bags and other collected debris after clean-up.

The Ocean Pines Rec and Parks Department hopes to have every park adopted so that it can offer Ocean Pines residents even better experiences when they use the parks. According to the Adopt-a-Park program guidelines, adopting a park assists in the reduction of maintenance costs and builds civic pride in the parks.

Only one park has been adopted for 2023 so far. The Ocean City Power Squadron has adopted Pintail Park, according to Jessica Conaway of the Rec and Parks Department.

“The Ocean City Power Squadron does a great job every year cleaning up Pintail Park. They’ve done plantings,” Conaway said.

 “In the past, the Eastern Shore IMBA has cleaned up Bainbridge Park. They are a biking club that fixed up the mountain biking trail at Bainbridge.”

Conaway said all other parks are available for adoption. That includes Bainbridge Park, Bridgewater Park, Huntington Park, Manklin Meadows, Robin Hood Park, Swim and Racquet, Terns Landing Park, the Ocean Pines Dog Park, White Horse Park & Trail, and South Gate Pond Trail.

 “Ocean Pines has had parks and trails adopted informally in the past,” said Bill Barnard, chair of the committee. These guidelines now formalized that process.

To adopt a park, contact OP Recreation and Parks (410) 641-7052 or rec@oceanpines.org.