parks & trails Nearly 16,000 acres of regional stream valley parkland provide open space, natural beauty, watershed protection, and recreation opportunities. Regional parks are more than 200 acres in size and offer a variety of facilities. Large portions of each regional park remain undeveloped in a natural state.
Find a Park For general information about local parks, use the Find a Park application online. Log on to www.pgparks.com and click on the “Find a Park” button on the right side of the page.
fishing & boating
regional park
Cedar Haven Fishing Area
Dinosaur Park
18400 Phyllis Wheatley Blvd., Eagle Harbor, MD 20608 Fishing is permitted along the shore; a Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing License is required.
Clyde Watson Boating Area 17901 Magruder’s Ferry Rd., Baden, MD 20613
Provides boating access to the Patuxent River. Standard boat ramp with pier and fishing area. Permit required.
Governor Bridge Natural Area & Canoe Launch 7600 Governor Bridge Rd., Bowie, MD 20715
2 miles of scenic woodland trails and an eight-acre lake managed as “catch-and release” for bass. Prince George’s Audubon Society leads bird/nature walks the 3rd Saturday of every month. Meet in parking lot at 7:30 am. Binoculars and waterproof footwear suggested. The area also provides access to the river for canoes and kayaks and is a launch site for the Patuxent Water Trail. Visitors are encouraged to check river conditions and to plan ahead. Access is restricted.
Queen Anne Natural Area and Canoe Launch 18405 Queen Anne Rd. Bowie, MD 20715
Over 2 miles of scenic woodland trails. Fishing is permitted near the old Queen Anne Bridge with parking at 18700 Queen Anne Bridge Road. Area provides access for canoes and kayaks and is a launch site for the Patuxent Water Trail.
dog parks College Park Dog Park at Acredale Community Park 4300 Metzerott Rd., College Park, MD 20740
Membership required; $30/first dog; $10/second dog. Open for new members who would like to exercise and socialize their dogs, in a half-acre fenced area. For more information, visit www.cpdogpark.org.
13201 Mid Atlantic Blvd., Laurel, MD 20708 Public programs: 1st & 3rd Saturdays of every month, 12 noon-4 pm; Call 301-627-1286; TTY 301-699-2544
Dinosaur Park preserves a rare deposit of fossils from the Cretaceous Period (115 million years ago). Join the search for fossilized remains of dinosaurs, reptiles, and ancient plants under the direction of knowledgeable paleontologists. Interpretive signs tell the story of Maryland’s dinosaurs and the industrial history of the area. Park grounds and interpretive signs can be visited daily. Dinosaur Park has plenty of history to discover! Check out our Dinosaur Park video to learn more. www.youtube.com/user/pgparksandrecreation
Patuxent River Park 16000 Croom Airport Rd., Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 301-627-6074; TTY 301-699-2544
Over 7,000 acres of natural area parklands along the eastern boundary of Prince George’s County. The park has a “limited use” policy, permitting only activities that protect the natural resources and scenic character of the river while providing compatible public recreation activities. Boat ramps, fishing piers, and hiking, bicycling and horseback riding trails, camping, canoe and kayak rentals, nature hikes, river ecology boat tours, and natural history programs. A limiteduse park with areas open for public recreation including: n
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Tour - A 4-mile, self-guided tour that connects Patuxent River Park & Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary. Educational displays, observation towers, and a wooden bridge across the marsh. Driving tour open Sundays, 10 am-3 pm; open for hikers and bicycles daily. Guided tours available by reservation.
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Jug Bay Natural Area - 2,000 acre property serves as the park headquarters. It has over eight miles of multi-user, scenic woodland trails, boardwalks, public boat ramps, fishing areas, canoe and kayak rental, group picnic facilities and primitive tent camping, history programs and river ecology boat tours aboard a pontoon boat.
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Patuxent Rural Life Museums - Museums include a late 19th century log cabin, blacksmith shop, and a 1923 Sears Catalog house. The W. Henry Duvall Tool Museum has implements, household items, and trade tools from the past. The Tobacco Farming Museum includes exhibits about the history of tobacco in Maryland. The “Working the River” museum features exhibits on hunting, trapping and fishing.
Cosca Regional Park 1100 Thrift Rd., Clinton, MD 20735 301-868-1397; TTY 301-699-2544 Picnic shelter/pavilion reservations: 301-699-2400; Field permits: 301-446-6800; Tennis Bubble: 301-868-6462; Boat House: 301-868-7561 More than 690 acres with picnic areas/shelters, picnic pavilion, outdoor tennis courts, lake (for boating & fishing), boathouse, playgrounds, equestrian & nature trail network, campsites, softball fields, baseball fields, Cosca Tennis Bubble, and Clearwater Nature Center. Athletic fields; picnic pavilion & some shelters also reserved by permit. Boathouse - Open May through October, weather permitting. Paddle boats for rent. Accommodations made for large groups with advance notice. Skate Park- Visitors are encouraged to wear personal safety equipment at all times. Park is open from dawn to dusk. Use of the facility is at your own risk.
The American Indian Village at Patuxent River Park is a replicated Eastern Woodland Village with various components giving visitors opportunities to explore the history of the Indigenous peoples of Prince George’s County, Maryland and the surrounding areas.
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Heurich Dog Park Corner of Nicholson and Ager Roads, Hyattsville, MD 20782
Heurich Dog Park is a one-acre, fenced area for dogs to play off-leash with fellow canines. The park includes separate areas for large and small dogs. Future improvements will include a pavilion for shade, agility obstacles, and a drinking fountain. No membership required.
Fairland Regional Park 13820 & 13950 Old Gunpowder Rd., Laurel, MD 20707 301-362-6060; TTY 301-699-2544 Tennis Bubble: 301-362-6060; The Gardens Ice House: 301-953-0100; Lighted field permits: 301-446-6800
More than 150 acres with: Fairland Sports and Aquatics Complex (gymnastics center, racquetball court, fitness center, Fairland Tennis Bubble, sand volleyball court, and 50-meter indoor swimming pool), The Gardens Ice House (year-round), lighted softball fields (permit required), storm water management demonstration project area, trails and play equipment.
8 • M-NCPPC, SPRING 2016 GUIDE TO PARKS AND RECREATION
NEW!
Patuxent River 4-H Center 18405 Queen Anne Rd., Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 301-218-3079; TTY 301-699-2544 Educational center open to groups by reservation. Environmental education programs, facility rentals, overnight cabins, 4-H activities, group camping, and farming programs. Canoe launch on-site.