Updates on Rec and Parks, Marinas, Racquet Sports and beautification

(April 23, 2021) Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Director Debbie Donahue supplied a series of updates during a public Board meeting on Wednesday night.  

Included were several departments that Donahue manages, including Recreation and Parks, Marinas and Racquet Sports.  

Donahue said Robin Hood Park recently received a new playground, and basketball courts were resurfaced and repainted. Fencing repairs should finish next week.  

Manklin Meadows Park courts will also be resurfaced, and Donahue said all parks would get “a fresh upgrade of mulch and equipment repairs.” 

The White Horse Park parking lot will be repaved on April 27 and the entrance sign will be replaced by June 1.  

Inside the community center, the gym lights will be replaced with new LED lights by June 1.  

“That is going to make for much better lighting [that is] more efficient,” Donahue said.  

Donahue said Camp Ocean Pines, the annual youth camp run by the Recreation and Parks Department, is now full. The camp is running at half capacity, per State of Maryland COVID-19 guidelines. 

“We are hoping for regulations and new information for the summer, so that we can get back to the regular full capacity,” she said.  

At the Yacht Club Marina, Donahue said many damaged deck boards have been replaced. 

“Some of them had gotten in pretty bad shape,” she said. "[And] the whole marina has been painted.” 

Donahue said the marina and the fuel docks would open May 1. All of the slips have been rented for the season and a waiting list is in place.  

On Racquet Sports, Donahue said Har-Tru (clay) court resurfacing has finished. Contractor Terra Firma should start crack repairs of the pickleball courts next week.  

She said Vista Design is working on plans for new pickleball courts and junior tennis courts.  

“The placement was in question, so they’ve been out this week doing their design work, and they’ll be giving us plans for that soon,” she said.  

Donahue has also taken over supervision of Ocean Pines’ beautification efforts. She said Public Works crews planted cherry blossom trees along Cathell Road and will plant more around the South Gate Pond. Tony Howard has led that effort and his team is working on landscaping for all of Ocean Pines.  

“There’s been a lot of mulch put out in the median of the parkway … and there will be more beautification that comes around, and different things that we’re going to work on doing for the rest of this season,” she said.  

To view a video of the report, visit https://youtu.be/kxxigQE84gs?t=937.