https://www.saveconnellymillpark.com/in-the-news-rss.xml Stay informed about the latest news and developments surrounding the Connelly Mill Park controversy in Salisbury, MD. Explore media coverage and community responses. https://www.saveconnellymillpark.com/bg.jpg 2026-09-06T04:00:07-04:00 info@saveconnellymillpark.com 2026-05-22T09:00:00-04:00 e67edcc4-2a5a-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2016/07/15/sandpit-robbery-delmar/87144826/ 2016-07-15T16:58:00-04:00 delmarvanow.com Deputies say an early Thursday party at the sand pits off Connelly Mill Road near Delmar was disrupted by a stickup. f24112db-2a57-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2017/10/04/wicomico-county-council-hesitates-over-offer-free-land/732037001/ 2017-10-04T13:50:00-04:00 delmarvanow.com Property on Connelly Mill Road abuts Parker Complex 55ff2c60-2a58-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.wmdt.com/2017/11/wicomico-co-council-moves-forward-with-plan-to-vote-on-acquiring-connelly-mill-road-property/ 2017-11-08T12:00:00-05:00 wmdt.com The Wicomico County Council reportedly took a consensus vote on Tuesday, in favor of taking on a Connelly Mill Road property. 61dab85e-2a53-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2017/11/09/wicomico-council-connelly-mill-road-donation/845529001/ 2017-11-09T07:00:00-05:00 delmarvanow.com The Wicomico County Council plans to move forward with accepting a donation of land valued at more than $1 million. a46b31a2-2a53-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2017/11/30/county-tables-land-donation-nod/ 2017-11-30T12:00:00-05:00 mdcoastdispatch.com Officials in Wicomico County have tabled a resolution to accept a 234-acre land donation until environmental studies could be conducted. 1d20cdd7-2a58-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2017/12/19/wicomico-county-council-nixes-offer-free-land/964822001/ 2017-12-19T12:50:00-05:00 delmarvanow.com The Wicomico County Council has decided to scrap plans to accept a land donation after an environmental study of the site showed significant lead contamination in the groundwater. a314bea1-2a58-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://baytobaynews.com/stories/citing-soil-concerns-wicomico-nixes-land-deal,29818 2017-12-20T07:56:00-05:00 baytobaynews.com The Wicomico County Council this week finally rejected the offer of 234 acres off Connelly Mill Road, based on results of soil and water testing there. The decision not to accept the donation 23888528-2a53-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://baytobaynews.com/stories/county-to-re-examine-connelly-mill-offer,30142 2018-09-11T15:44:00-04:00 baytobaynews.com As discussion continues about the county accepting a donation of 234 acres off Connelly Mill Road, there are concerns about surface mining and environmental liability. When Assistant County b8db5479-2a52-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.wboc.com/archive/wicomico-county-revisits-connelly-mill-road-land-donation/article_546b0314-7155-5231-b0aa-35dc7ddcfcf9.html 2018-10-01T12:00:00-04:00 wboc.com Wicomico County officials are looking into a 235-acre land donation they passed up on last year. 1874f86c-55dc-4c42-a58d-26a65a7a9953 https://www.wboc.com/archive/wicomico-county-revisits-connelly-mill-road-land-donation/video_5f28eda8-4853-5baf-8202-5235e40ab66a.html 2018-10-02T12:00:00-04:00 wboc.com Wicomico County officials are looking into a 235-acre land donation they passed up on last year. Weston Young says the land can be used for recreation purposes while the county uses the soil for the landfill. "We would be creating water features that for however the park manifests itself. We have would have open water whether it be kayak, canoeing, stand up paddle board, these easily could be stocked for fish". The next step would be to put together a master plan. The master plan would investigate what the county and community would like to see on the property moving forward. 1cfa3d92-2a54-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2018/10/04/wicomico-taking-another-look-at-235-acre-land-donation/ 2018-10-04T12:00:00-04:00 mdcoastdispatch.com Officials in Wicomico County are reconsidering a land donation that was brought before the county council late last year. d0eda0e6-2a52-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2018/12/27/wicomico-officials-finalize-connelly-mill-land-donation/2421594002/ 2018-12-27T12:12:00-05:00 delmarvanow.com The Wicomico County Council agreed to accept the donation of nearly 235 acres south of Delmar that abuts the north side of the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex 553ab867-2a56-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://sbybiz.org/public-meeting-set-for-west-metro-core-connelly-mill-land-conversion/ 2019-10-10T12:00:00-04:00 sbybiz.org Wicomico County Recreation & Parks officials will hold a public meeting to discuss a proposed land conversion from West Metro Core to 00ca13e3-2a59-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2021/04/29/proposed-land-conversation-for-park-project-discussed/ 2021-04-29T12:00:00-04:00 mdcoastdispatch.com County officials last week agreed more discussion was needed on a potential land conversion that would allow for future park development at 7ece2627-35f3-49f0-ae28-30293a5b02ee https://issuu.com/tcclesmd/docs/lesmd_regional_guide/24 2022-09-14T12:00:00-04:00 issuu.com Connelly Mill Park was featured in the September 2022 edition of the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland's Regional Economic Development Guide. Wicomico County to develop "Connelly Mill Property" into a regional park. The 234 acre property sits adjacent to the county's existing main hub for recreation activities and tournaments - the Henry Parker Athletic Complex, as well as the City of Salisbury's Naylor Mill Forest. Plans include providing new recreation amenities and connecting trail systems to existing Naylor Mill trail systems/Parker Athletic Complex. 19dd36d8-2d9e-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.wmdt.com/2024/04/petition-look-to-cancel-4x4-event-in-space-of-previously-proposed-public-park/ 2024-04-04T12:00:00-04:00 wmdt.com Delmar, MD Dozens of Wicomico County residents have expressed their concern by signing an online petition that seeks to cancel an off-road event on land that was at one time a proposed public park. The land in question is on Connelly Mill Road in Delmar. However after an agreement was signed between Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano... d9900d74-2d9d-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.wmdt.com/2024/04/delmar-residents-speak-out-over-upcoming-jeep-event-at-connelly-mill-rd-quarry/ 2024-04-09T12:00:00-04:00 wmdt.com DELMAR, Md. Safari at the Quarry is set to bring Jeep enthusiasts from across the region to the Maryland side of Delmar on May 4th and 5th. Mixed Feelings Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano says it could be a big boon for the local economy. “The closest place that has anything like this is three or four hours... 7a438d3c-2d9e-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://baytobaynews.com/stories/residents-of-northern-wicomico-county-community-ask-city-council-to-ban-jeep-event,133221 2024-04-19T06:00:00-04:00 baytobaynews.com Residents of a northern Wicomico County community continue to protest an upcoming Jeep-specific event planned for a nearby county-owned site off Connelly Mill Road in Delmar. daba56fd-3228-4115-aa13-17c2bd7713ce https://www.wboc.com/news/city-of-salisbury-wades-into-safari-at-the-quarry-debate/video_f505b32e-5219-5ec7-8a82-9359b92947dc.html 2024-04-22T01:32:00-04:00 wboc.com Neighbors in a community in Wicomico County community are hopeful that they could be one step closer to halting an off-road Jeep event scheduled to take place on county-owned land ac7488ee-2a51-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://wicomicoenvironment.dm.networkforgood.com/emails/wet-let-s-go-fishing-6850fcad-d31e-4832-8ec8-fcf384920b9e 2024-04-24T12:00:00-04:00 wicomicoenvironment.dm.networkforgood.com A few years ago, Wicomico County accepted the donation of a 234-acre property known as Connelly Mill, with the understanding its ecological value would be protected while creating a low-impact park for use by area residents. a91fbbc1-2d9e-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.wmdt.com/2024/04/controversy-surrounding-upcoming-jeep-event-connelly-mill-rd-quarry-continues/ 2024-04-24T12:00:00-04:00 wmdt.com The controversy surrounding an upcoming Jeep event in Wicomico County continues. Safari at the Quarry has caused an uproar among residents who say they don't want to see the event take over a property off of Connelly Mill Road. On Tuesday, Wicomico County Council President John Cannon sent a letter to County Executive Julie Giordano, demanding... 32306a3e-856d-4795-904d-3993a08108e0 https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2024/04/29/city-county-escalate-war-of-words-of-jeep-event-planned-for-delmar/73454685007/ 2024-04-29T05:28:00-04:00 delmarvanow.com Status of the Safari at the Quarry is shaky amid city, county roadblocks that continue to mount. Here's the latest in the war of words. 3014af69-a473-4501-871a-8dfd503530e6 https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2024/05/02/county-executive-doubles-down-on-jeep-event-draws-heated-hoa-response/73528576007/ 2024-05-02T05:33:00-04:00 delmarvanow.com The Wicomico County Executive has drawn the ire of the Shadow Hills HOA in her support of the Safari offroad event. Here's what to know. d73e289a-8f99-490d-b930-5fa4bbfe26ba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KxikW1Ocg0&t=1834s 2024-05-03T12:00:00-04:00 youtube.com Don Rush of PAC14's Delmarva Today talks with Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor. Don says "I can't let you go without talking about the Safari at the Quarry". Don asks Randy what the issue is here. Randy talks how his planning/zoning and legal team rendered a letter (cease and desist) that was sent to the event organizer (Brad Hoffman of Live Wire Media LLC) and copied County Executive Julie Giordano regarding the zoning issues of the Safari at the Quarry event. 56ce0ed6-2d9e-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.wboc.com/news/safari-at-the-quarry-arrives/article_d25bbf60-0a61-11ef-9917-9701ff2a89c5.html 2024-05-04T12:00:00-04:00 wboc.com After months of contentious debate, the "Safari at the Quarry" off-road Jeep event took place today at The Connelly Mill Quarry. 48b749a1-2d9f-11ef-b621-528bdbfedd12 https://www.wmdt.com/2024/05/county-executive-responds-to-safari-at-the-quarry-event/ 2024-05-06T12:00:00-04:00 wmdt.com County Executive Julie Giordano has responded to the Safari at the Quarry event held over the weekend at the Connelly Mill Quarry Site. Giordano says the event was conducted professionally, and the area saw filled hotels, packed restaurants, and happy attendees. She says Brad Hoffman with Live Wire Media "exceeded expectations" and that he and his... a42cf01c-558a-45d7-9067-23599d699a2b https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3449623653065-wicomico-county-council-proposes-resolution-to-prevent-motor-events-on-county-owned-property 2024-05-20T11:00:00-04:00 newsbreak.com Wicomico County Council is proposing legislation that would give it the power to determine the fate of events on county-owned property much like the recent Safari at the Quarry near ... 9fdd50fc-9f47-4143-abb0-95acc9ca6c06 https://youtu.be/rOOiLrUGhgw?si=Yb-pAfRMJ8Fx8GvQ&t=1116 2024-07-05T16:00:00-04:00 youtu.be Wicomico Councilmember Josh Hastings talks about how great the proposed Connelly Mill Park will be. 3eb198ad-9a57-4f77-b1aa-45ed81f0e602 https://www.wboc.com/news/a-new-attempt-to-take-the-air-out-of-motor-vehicle-events-in-wicomico-county/article_6293a5f6-43b6-11ef-a7dd-83fa03f3953c.html 2024-07-16T12:00:00-04:00 wboc.com The Wicomico County Council approved legislation on Tuesday that gives them more authority for motor vehicle events. The move follows the contentious 'Safari at the Quarry' event that took place in May. 41c75fb2-c3bf-4498-8f8e-a12903e0c708 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLIWx60Duo 2024-07-30T12:30:00-04:00 youtube.com Joe Venosa and Joe White of Open Agenda discuss Safari at the Quarry which prompted the legislation discussed in the July 16, 2024 Wicomico County Council meeting. The 2024-06 Motor vehicle legislation was passed by unanimous vote. Councilman Joe Holloway discusses his experiences with the County Council and what he sees for the future of Wicomico County in regards to the elimination of the County Executive form of government. 347ca2e6-bd2a-447f-8cc3-c3d6662bf05e https://www.wboc.com/news/wicomico-council-overrides-executives-veto-of-motor-sport-legislation/article_e83f8210-55c2-11ef-9fa1-030ee533a14f.html 2024-08-08T12:00:00-04:00 wboc.com The Wicomico County Council has overriden a veto by County Executive Julie Giordano aimed at introducing more council oversight to certain events. That legislation was crafted in response to the controversial "Safari at the Quarry," an off-road Jeep event held at a County-owned quarry near Delmar. Council took issue with what it viewed as a non-transparent process in which the Executive entered into the agreement with LiveWire Media LLC, the organizer of the event. Council approval will now be needed for motor sport events on county property as it relates to leases, licenses, permits and contracts. 3c872d7a-46c6-470e-9e3e-3879fd150f61 https://www.wmdt.com/2024/08/wicomico-co-council-votes-to-override-executives-veto-regarding-motor-sports-events/ 2024-08-08T12:00:00-04:00 wmdt.com The Wicomico County Council has voted to override the County Executive’s veto of legislation to enhance transparency and overnight on motor sports events. The County Executive has expressed concerns that the legislation could possibly shift the balance of power within county government, but the Council maintains that the primary objective is to promote greater transparency and ensure that the community’s interests are protected. f683357f-c9aa-4a43-a70c-6e85090fc672 https://www.wgmd.com/wicomico-county-council-overrides-executive-veto-to-strengthen-oversight-on-motor-sports-events/ 2024-08-08T12:00:00-04:00 wgmd.com The Wicomico County Council has voted to override the County Executive’s veto of legislation designed to enhance transparency and oversight regarding the use of county-owned property for motor sports events. The bill, which amends Chapter 22 of the Wicomico County Code, mandates that all motor sports events involving vehicles powered by combustion engines, such as automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and off-road vehicles, receive explicit approval from the County Council before proceeding. 13c5cf17-ba97-4f51-86b5-7152eeee0042 https://www.wicomicocounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/14616/24-0820-News-Release-Veto-Override-Motor-Sports-Vehicles 2024-08-08T14:00:00-04:00 wicomicocounty.org The Wicomico County Council has voted to override the County Executive’s veto of legislation designed to enhance transparency and oversight regarding the use of county-owned property for motor sports events. This legislation, now enacted, requires County Council approval for any leases, licenses, permits, or contracts involving motor sports events on county property. The Council remains committed to working with the County Executive and all stakeholders to ensure that Wicomico County continues to be a safe, transparent, and well-managed community. 9a8c6cea-a4a0-46fd-8353-017f6cc607ca https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ2huX1-tTs 2024-08-09T14:00:00-04:00 youtube.com This episode of Open Agenda discusses the County Council overriding the County Executive's veto on legislation regarding motorized vehicles on county property. It also mentions the controversy surrounding a Safari event at the Quarry. The County Council passed legislation that would put safeguards in place regarding the use of motorized vehicles on county property. The County Executive vetoed this legislation, but the County Council was able to override the veto with a 6-1 vote. One council member, James Winn, voted against overriding the veto. He argued that it was not the role of the legislature to legislate in this way. The controversy surrounding the Safari at the Quarry arose because there was no public notice or input before the event was held. cf243d64-51b0-41fe-8929-ad6e6d7f0bc7 https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/2024/08/12/motor-sports-events-get-new-wicomico-council-oversight-with-veto/74738612007/ 2024-08-12T05:00:00-04:00 delmarvanow.com In a 6-1 vote, the Wicomico County Council has clamped down on motor sports events taking place with the veto of a bill that allowed them to happen without the council's approval. fdb1aa6a-6437-4a56-ab7d-cb47903a85ca https://www.openagendawicomico.com/article/open-agenda-ep-16-safari-at-the-quarry-main-story 2024-10-11T12:15:36-04:00 openagendawicomico.com This episode of Open Agenda, titled "Ep 16 Safari at the Quarry Main Story", provides a comprehensive review of the events surrounding the Safari at the Quarry. It revisits the controversy that unfolded over the past year, starting with the initial discovery of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County Executive's office and Livewire Media LLC for the event. The episode highlights the community's concerns about the lack of transparency and public input in the approval process, and the subsequent struggles of residents and taxpayers to voice their concerns and seek accountability from the County Executive's office. It features key testimonies and speeches from community members, illustrating the frustration and powerlessness experienced in the face of an unresponsive and seemingly unchecked executive branch. 2617cb73-b612-4f19-bb33-4d0eff5c2fd8 https://www.wmdt.com/2024/11/wicomico-county-releases-highlights-of-upcoming-2026-capital-improvement-plan/ 2024-11-04T12:00:00-05:00 wmdt.com A plan for evaluation of Connelly Mill Park in 2030. The final version of the county’s 2026 Capital Improvement Plan will be handed over to council the third week of December. d26c72a5-f0ea-4c2f-b5e4-c3852360eec6 https://www.wmdt.com/2024/11/new-plans-in-wicomico-co-bring-potential-park-off-of-connelly-mill-rd-back-into-conversation/ 2024-11-11T17:14:08-05:00 wmdt.com The vision for a park off of Connelly Mill Road is included in Wicomico County's 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Park Potential Back in the CIP Residents of nearby Shadow Hills say they're excited to see the plans back in place. However, they say they're not holding their breath until the dream becomes a reality. bf8fdbb7-f33e-4e64-aaf5-adcfa682dd03 https://www.wmdt.com/2024/11/residents-voice-support-for-projects-at-cip-public-hearing/ 2024-11-13T20:00:00-05:00 wmdt.com “We would like to see it developed eventually into a park. It’s a very important ecological area.” Charles Stegman was one of a number of Wicomico County residents who spoke at the hearing, voicing support for the development of a park off of Connelly Mill Road. Stegman and others hope to see the county prioritizing it moving forward. “I think it remains to be seen. I appreciated that there [was] a huge turnout tonight.” The FY26-FY30 CIP has the development of a plan for the area scheduled for 2030. 0fc9ef8a-24fc-4ab1-801a-ab82b05d1469 https://www.wboc.com/news/park-again-proposed-for-connelly-mill-road-land/article_0038600e-a2c5-11ef-a84b-6b1318887ef0.html 2024-11-14T12:00:00-05:00 wboc.com A piece off property off Connelly Mill Road in Wicomico County is once again being proposed as a park. County Executive Julie Giordano included the proposal as part of the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP.) That piece of property has received a lot of attention lately since it was used for the controversial "Safari at the Quarry", an off-road jeep event held in May. That event drew the ire of the County Council, Salisbury City Council and some neighbors for a number of issues, ranging from noise and environmental concerns, to allegations the organizer did not receive proper permits, and the property was not zoned for an event. 5da0cd98-acc0-4e05-9df7-3439a443ac28 https://www.wboc.com/news/safari-at-the-quarry-audit-stirs-debate-in-wicomico-county/article_07ce7547-eba2-450a-90f3-9f7711d6d2fe.html 2025-05-08T12:00:00-04:00 wboc.com A recently completed audit (ordered by the Council immediately following the event in 2024) found that while the event's organizer reported a loss of nearly $1,800, the county still spent public resources supporting it. As a result, Wicomico did not receive a 10% share of any profits, as outlined in the agreement with the event promoter. 5ad93d64-32df-4e65-af82-e32f62b25b32 https://baytobaynews.com/stories/hebron-lions-club-plans-to-donate-park-to-wicomico-county,238278 2025-07-11T08:00:00-04:00 baytobaynews.com "About five or six years ago, there was a proposed land conversion to remove the restriction at the Levin Dashiell property, the state restriction, and remove that and place it over at Connelly Mill, which would restrict that to be a future park," Miller said. The Hebron Lions Club plans to donate its existing park located on West Church Street to Wicomico County, which in turn will renovate the property for town and county residents. Wicomico County Council is slated to vote on a resolution during its July 15 morning legislative session, that if passed, will transfer the property under the direction of the Department of Recreation Parks & Tourism. Gene Brown, president of the Hebron Lions Club and Hebron Charities, Inc., wrote a letter to County Executive Julie Giordano in May, saying for generations "its dedicated members have faithfully provided recreational opportunities at the park in order to benefit the community." But Brown wrote that in recent years, needs at the park have "exceeded" the club's existing capacity, "both in terms of investment capital needed to modernize the park and the human resources required to maintain such a large space." Under the proposed donation, the Hebron Lions Club requested that the county include its leadership in any future park planning or major renovations and additionally dedicate a space at the renovated park to honor the legacy and history of the Hebron Athletic Club, Inc. "While generations of children and families have benefited from the park, the park itself has aged," Director of Recreation, Parks & Tourism Steve Miller said during a July 1 work session, where the proposed donation was introduced to the council. "It's a great little park but it has seen better days, and it needs some renovation." Miller said the Hebron Lions Club intends to keep the adjacent event center and surrounding paved parking lot, which is not part of the proposed donation. The total park is roughly seven acres, but the county would receive approximately 4 and a half acres. "They would maintain owner-ship and control and the operation of that," Miller said. "But what they are asking us to take on is the park itself." It was discussed during the work session that the county could shift its focus from the potential development of the West Metro Core property located on Levin Dashiell Road over to renovating the park in Hebron instead, freeing up resources to ultimately place a park at the quarry site on Connelly Mill Road near Delmar. "About five or six years ago, there was a proposed land conversion to remove the restriction at the Levin Dashiell property, the state restriction, and remove that and place it over at Connelly Mill, which would restrict that to be a future park," Miller said. Miller said they have roughly $300,000 saved from farm leases at the West Metro Core site that would be used as leverage to get grants for either Hebron or Connelly Mill. "I think it makes a lot of sense in the fact that to renovate a park at Hebron, which would be a whole lot less expensive and less difficult to do than to start from scratch, which is what we have at Levin Dashiell, which is just a flat piece of land with no utilities, no infrastructure, no parking, no roadway, so that is a much heavier lift than to renovate an existing facility," Miller said. Councilman James Winn said the donation from the Hebron Lions Club needs to be completed first, so the county is "reassuring the people on the west side that they are taken care of." "They didn't want to be forgotten on the west side, but they were not excited about a park on Levin Dashiell Road," said Winn, who noted that he heard from citizens at public meetings, saying they would rather see the West Metro Core property stay as farmland or retained for agricultural purposes. Miller said the Connelly Mill property being flipped as a park is a "long-term project" as it is still being mined, but if the county wanted to pursue the land conversion, they could put a restriction on the property so there would be "some level of confidence." "The property is 230-some acres and the conversion does not include the pits that they are mining," Miller said. "We specifically excluded that, so that wouldn't disrupt that. I think you could plan or maybe phase (in) a park." The council asked Miller to come back with estimates on how much it would cost to renovate and maintain the park in Hebron. Miller said it would "certainly" be less expensive than starting the West Metro Core property. "I love the legacy part of this is that the Lions, for literally generations, have provided this and I think for us to be able to perpetuate this and improve it for the next generations, I think it is an important part to them and I think we can honor that and really make this something special," Miller said. 1f71438b-d1f7-4700-8026-122ff7b1389a https://www.wboc.com/news/wicomico-county-seeks-input-on-proposed-wetipquin-creek-state-park/article_8c6ff21c-cb8f-4600-b429-3cafdce48aff.html 2025-09-23T12:00:00-04:00 wboc.com County officials will host Department of Natural Resources representatives and elected state officials for a pre-meeting discussion after touring the Wetipquin Creek property and other county parks. Community members are invited to join the tours at the following times and locations: 2:30 p.m. Connelly Mill Property (29645 Connelly Mill Road, Delmar) 3:15 p.m. Pemberton Park (5561 Plantation Lane, Salisbury) 3:45 p.m. Pirate's Wharf (4701 Whitehaven Road, Quantico) cb253da5-dbd1-44e1-9795-2a61f23342e9 https://www.wmdt.com/2025/09/a-new-park-in-wicomico-county/ 2025-09-26T12:00:00-04:00 wmdt.com Officials visited the Connelly Mill property, Pemberton Park and Pirates Wharf Park before holding a community meeting on the West Side, where residents asked questions and shared concerns. 5975828a-fe08-45d9-a014-9de33959463a https://www.commonsenseeasternshore.org/momentum-builds-to-save-connelly-mill-park-community-leaders-and-state-officials-unite-around-vision-for-wicomicos-central-park 2025-10-08T10:30:42-04:00 commonsenseeasternshore.org What began as a grassroots campaign to preserve a parcel of local land has become one of the most inspiring community movements on the Eastern Shore. Led by residents James and Mikele Dahlen and Holly Campbell, alongside dozens of volunteers, the Save Connelly Mill Park effort reached a significant milestone last week as Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz toured the site with local and state officials to explore opportunities for partnership and permanent protection. c00c5743-9af1-450c-af24-3ab6eb42f47d https://www.delmarvapublicmedia.org/local-news/2025-10-29/wicomico-county-eyes-connelly-mill-park-land-for-dredge-dump 2025-10-29T09:34:00-04:00 delmarvapublicmedia.org Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz was on the Eastern Shore recently to visit three potential locations for parks to be created in partnership with Wicomico County. Among these is the Connelly Mill sand quarry site on the north side of Salisbury. But the county has revealed other plans for this environmentally sensitive site — to turn it into a dumping ground for some 400,000 cubic yards of dredge spoils from the Wicomico River. This has turned Connelly Mill into an environmental battleground. Delmarva Public Media's Kevin Diaz has the story. 32b9f471-e5b0-46f0-a67e-0aeb682294fd https://www.wboc.com/news/wicomico-county-considers-delmar-site-for-dredge-spoils-raising-concerns-about-future-park-plans/article_8359903e-b867-46b5-a274-958f5b4833fb.html 2025-11-04T18:00:00-05:00 wboc.com County leaders are searching for a new location to dispose of dredge material from the Wicomico River. A potential site is now sparking concern among neighbors. e8872f8b-dc36-4096-ad79-569dca82c50e https://www.wmdt.com/2025/11/wicomico-county-cip-hearing/ 2025-11-14T12:00:00-05:00 wmdt.com On Wednesday night, County Executive Julie Giordano held a hearing to discuss several initiatives, including projects at Connelly Mill and Mason-Dixon. 9b8af1b0-8e03-4c49-b0b5-118d11021d50 https://www.openagendawicomico.com/article/open-agenda-tv-s2-e68-muckraking-in-wicomico-where-to-dump-the-dredge-spoils 2025-11-14T12:00:00-05:00 openagendawicomico.com Our guest on this episode is Mikele Dahlen of “Save Connelly Mill Park,” who explains the conditions under which the County accepted the donation of this environmentally-valuable site, a portion of which is presently being used to mine sand for use at the landfill. b4b12c32-c5d0-407a-9220-ebb459203df1 https://www.sierraclub.org/maryland/lower-eastern-shore/blog/2025/12/wico-wake-connelly-mill-park-plan-endangered 2025-12-05T12:00:00-05:00 sierraclub.org "Save Connelly Mill Park" is a grassroots movement to keep the Connelly Mill Quarry from becoming a noisy, polluted ATV raceway and a dump for toxic river dredge material. These 234 acres of forests, creeks, wildlife and a stunning lake were donated to Wicomico County "with the express intent of becoming a public park after a period of responsible dirt excavation." That "period" is over and the County leadership has already attempted to create the raceway. The legally promised park, which will protect the headwaters of the Wicomico River and the vital Paleochannel aquifer, stands vulnerable to profiteering, privateering, and callous commercialism. fdd671e7-9f28-4b45-9bc9-3ec340724e9b https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/connelly-mill-property-fuels-fight-214400264.html 2026-01-18T18:44:00-05:00 yahoo.com A 235-acre county-owned tract known as Connelly Mill has become the center of a bitter dispute in Wicomico County, pitting residents who say the land was promised as a future regional park against County Executive Julie Giordano, who says the park concept was shelved before she took office and that redevelopment will take years. Opponents accuse Giordano of abandoning a long-standing plan to 96f69d42-2764-43f0-b7fa-a3ab3d0fe12d https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/01/18/connelly-mill-property-fuels-wicomico-fight/ 2026-01-18T18:44:00-05:00 baltimoresun.com A 235-acre county-owned tract known as Connelly Mill has become the center of a bitter dispute in Wicomico County, pitting residents who say the land was promised as a future regional park against b98c3179-481f-4cc1-9b57-5bd4530e58d3 https://www.wboc.com/news/wicomico-county-moves-forward-with-potential-connelly-mill-public-park/article_00d5c01a-17e1-4bb3-93b6-23cb09c6dcb0.html 2026-05-22T09:00:00-04:00 wboc.com A future public park in Wicomico County is moving one step closer to reality after county leaders approved a proposal tied to the Connelly Mill property.