The Town Council Reviews Opportunities to Impact Town Citizens Lives by Investing in a Longstanding Recreational Amenity
October 5, 2023 (Chesapeake Beach, MD) – During the October 3, 2023, Town of Chesapeake Beach work session, the Town Council initiated the process of reconceptualizing the Chesapeake Beach Water Park. The twenty-eight-year-old park has provided generations of fun but has surpassed its useful life and requires significant improvements. However, the Town Council is not discouraged by the investment required in the park and instead is using it as an opportunity to engage the public to rethink the recreational amenity, and the purpose that it serves. With a focus on fostering wellness, and a sense of community, at the center of the Town there was a sense of excitement from the Town Council as they visualized what this change could mean for Town residents. "This is a fantastic opportunity to create a modern, fun, safe, and sustainable aquatic center for our citizens, right in our town," stated Council Vice President Charlie Fink.
Mayor Patrick "Irish" Mahoney expressed his excitement about reconceptualizing the park into the Chesapeake Beach Aquatics Center, by stating, "What better way is there to provide a sense of community and wellness than through recreational amenities for all ages? From a place for children to learn to swim to aquatics activities for seniors, we need a place in the center of Town for all residents to cool off, socialize, relax, read, and even telework".
The Town of Chesapeake Beach conducted a community opinion survey from July to August of 2023. Through the survey, Town residents expressed their strong desire to utilize the park as a community amenity, which is accessible and affordable, instead of a tourist attraction. Additionally, Town residents have communicated disapproval of offsetting the cost of out-of-Town residents' use of the park.
The Town Council is using this feedback to chart a new course for a community amenity that is both fiscally responsible to the Town taxpayers and maintains local employment. The expected capital improvement costs for a new aquatic center with interactive features range from $3,000,000 - $5,000,000 +; however, the Town Council emphasizes the importance of using funds for redeveloping the space, rather than patching failing infrastructure, and operating the park in its current unsustainable condition, which would lead to a significant financial loss and added liability to the Town taxpayers.
The Town is committed to continual engagement of Town citizens during the process. The Town of Chesapeake Beach will release a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to potential bidders for a Design–Build project in the coming month to further establish the design of a new park. During this process there will be continued community outreach providing public participation through a variety of strategies, such as stakeholder meetings, workshops, focus groups and social media platforms. The Town will continue to keep citizens informed during monthly Town work sessions, Town meetings and Town notices on opportunities for engagement.
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