Imagine a vibrant new recreational park in Wicomico County, Maryland. Since the land was donated in 2019, Wicomico County's Capital Improvement Programs (CIPs) consistently promised "Connelly Mill Park," a space for leisure and recreation shaped by public input. The park was featured as a specific project to meet Goal 4 of vibrant communities in the Tri-County Council's Comprehensive Strategic Development Plan.

However, the vision for this park is facing its most severe threat yet. While the community successfully raised alarms regarding the "Safari at the Quarry" off-road events—arranged through questionable loopholes—the Administration has now revealed a far more permanent and questionable plan: utilizing the future park as a dumping ground for Wicomico River dredge spoils.

On September 10, 2025, Public Works officials proposed a plan to fill Connelly Mill pits with forest slash and encapsulate them with river dredge to generate wetland mitigation banks. This proposal ignores years of strategic planning and public expectation, effectively converting a promised recreational park into something else. This comes on the heels of the administration's previous attempt to bypass public input for the "Jeep Fest" events, establishing a troubling pattern of disregarding the property's original plan.

• We Demand Transparency: Residents deserve a clear explanation for why a promised public park is being repurposed for dredge storage. Was the public purposefully shut out of this decision-making process?
• Call to Action: Voice your concerns and demand the County abandon the dredge spoil plan and return to the original promise of a public park. Contact County Council members and attend public meetings.
• Community Benefits vs. Dredge: We must choose between improved public health and recreation, or a dredge storage dump on public land.

Below is documentation of the vision and plans for Connelly Mill Park since its donation. These include the relevant sections of the Tri-County Council Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 as well as the relevant sections of the Wicomico County Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for years 2019-present.

Update: We have compared these historical documents against the Executive's Jan 2026 statements regarding the park's status. Read the comparison here.

2022-2023

View The Full Document

2023-2024

View The Full Document

See the Tri-County Council website for reference

See the below snippets from the Proposed Capital Improvement Programs from 2019-present

• Connelly Mill Park, Master Plan:

  16 December 2019

  The County acquired the 234-acre property. Proposed funding in FY21 would be utilized to develop a park master plan that would include multiple opportunities for public input and engagement regarding the future of the property. Read more

  Fiscal Years 2021-2025

  Bob Culver
  County Executive
  December 16, 2019

  Connelly Mill Park, Master Plan: This is a new project in FY21. The County acquired the 234-acre property in 2019, which sits adjacent to the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex. While Public Works is currently utilizing the site for dirt for the landfill, a future opportunity exists to develop all or a portion of the property into a recreational park. Proposed funding in FY21 would be utilized to develop a park master plan that would include multiple opportunities for public input and engagement regarding the future of the property. The County share of the funding could come from the sale of the West Metro Core property and funds accumulated from the farming on that land.

  Connelly Mill Park, Phase I Development: This is a new project in FY23. Based on master planning efforts, the proposed project would include a Phase I development of the Connelly Mill property into a recreational amenity for the County. The County would seek Federal and/or State grant funding sources to develop the property and utilize existing County resources as matching funds. The County share of the funding could come from the sale of the West Metro Core property and funds accumulated from the farming on that land.

  View The Full Document

• Connelly Mill Master Plan - existing project

  15 December 2020

  Proposed funding in FY22 would be utilized to develop a park master plan that would include multiple opportunities for public input and engagement regarding future plans for the property. Read more

  Fiscal Years 2022-2026

  John D. Psota
  Acting County Executive
  December 15, 2020

  Connelly Mill Master Plan - existing project - The County acquired this 234-acre property in 2019 which sits adjacent to the north of the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex. While Public Works is currently utilizing the site for dirt for the landfill, a future opportunity exists to develop all or a portion of the property into a recreational park. Proposed funding in FY22 would be utilized to develop a park master plan that would include multiple opportunities for public input and engagement regarding future plans for the property. The County share of the funding could come from the potential sale of the West Metro Core property and funds accumulated from years of farming on that land. a POS land conversion from the West Metro Core property to Connelly Mill is currently under review by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

  Connelly Mill - Phase I - existing project - Based on master planning efforts, the proposed project would include a Phase I development of the Connelly Mill property into a recreational amenity for the County. The County would seek Federal and/or State grand funding sources to develop the property and utilize existsing County resources as matching funds. The County share of the funding could come from the potential sale of the West Metro Core property and funds accumulated from years of farming on that land.

  View The Full Document

• Connelly Mill Master Plan - existing project

  18 December 2021

  Proposed funding in FY24 would be utilized to develop a park master plan that would include multiple opportunities for public input and engagement regarding future plans for the property. Read more

  Fiscal Years 2023-2027

  John D. Psota
  Acting County Executive
  December 18, 2021

  Connelly Mill Master Plan - existing project - The County acquired this 234-acre property in 2019 which sits adjacent to the north of the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex. While Public Works is currently utilizing the site for dirt for the landfill, a future opportunity exists to develop all or a portion of the property into a recreational park. Proposed funding in FY24 would be utilized to develop a park master plan that would include multiple opportunities for public input and engagement regarding future plans for the property.

  View The Full Document

• Connelly Mill Master Plan - existing project

  17 December 2022

  Proposed funding in FY27 would be utilized to develop a park master plan that would include multiple opportunities for public input and engagement regarding future plans for the property. Read more

  Fiscal Years 2024-2028

  Julie M. Giordano
  County Executive
  December 17, 2022

  Connelly Mill Master Plan - existing project - The County acquired this 234-acre property in 2019 which sits adjacent to the north of the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex. While Public Works is currently utilizing the site for dirt for the landfill, a future opportunity exists to develop all or a portion of the property into a recreational park. Proposed funding in FY27 would be utilized to develop a park master plan that would include multiple opportunities for public input and engagement regarding future plans for the property.

  View The Full Document

• Fiscal Years 2025-2029

  19 December 2023

  The Connelly Mill Master Plan is suddenly excluded entirely from this CIP by Julie M. Giordano View The Full Document

• Press Release: Highlights of 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan

  4 November 2024

  Connelly Mill Park Master Plan (Scheduled for 2030) This CIP Highlight focuses on various projects across essential county facilities, including significant upgrades to the Salisbury Regional Airport, Health Department consolidation, Civic Center enhancements, and major developments in community parks. Read more

  Julie M. Giordano
  County Executive
  November 4, 2024

  Looking ahead, Connelly Mill Park is slated for a comprehensive master plan in 2030. The plan will focus on park amenities, expanding recreational opportunities, and preserving green space for future generations.

  View The Press Release

• Connelly Mill Park, Master Plan:

  17 December 2024

  The County acquired the 234-acre property. Proposed funding in FY30 would be utilized to develop a park master plan that would include multiple opportunities for public input and engagement regarding the future of the property. Read more

  Fiscal Years 2026-2030

  Julie M. Giordano
  County Executive
  December 17, 2024

  Connelly Mill Park, Master Plan: The County acquired the 234-acre property in 201 9 which sits adjacent to the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex. While Public Works is currently utilizing the site for dirt for the landfill, a future opportunity exists to develop all or a portion of the property into a recreational park. Proposed funding in FY30 would be utilized to develop a park master plan that would include multiple opportunities for public input and engagement regarding the future of the property.

  View The Full Document

• Dredge Spoils Storage Announcement

  10 September 2025

  The Public Works Deputy Director revealed the Administration's new dredge storage plan at a meeting of the NRCAC (Natural Resource Conservation Advisory Committee). This plan proposes to dump forest slash into the pits of Connelly Mill, and encapsulate them with dredge spoils from the Wicomico River. The stated purpose of this plan would be to create carbon credits and wetland mitigation banks while dealing with the Dredge Storage Crisis.

  This new dredge-dumping plan is unnecessary, fiscally reckless, environmentally questionable, and completely ignores years of public input regarding Connelly Mill Park. It also betrays the original intention of the donation and the promises made during that process.

• Capital Improvement Program Public Hearing:

  12 November 2025

  Connelly Mill Park was included in the FY2027-2031 Capital Improvement Program "Projects for Consideration"

  

  View The Full Presentation

• Connelly Mill Park, Master Plan:

  2025

  This CIP has not yet been submitted.