Sandy Point State Park
History
In 1948, the state purchased the site of a ferry landing that had served the Chesapeake Bay Ferry System on its run across the bay to Kent Island at what is now Matapeake State Park. The park opened in 1952 with racially segregated beaches and bathhouses which led to litigation in 1955. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the park to become integrated in Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City v. Dawson, which ultimately extended the Fourteenth Amendment to state beaches and other recreational facilities.
Activities and amenities
The park offers swimming beaches, fishing, crabbing, hiking, wildlife viewing, nature center, picnicking, marina store, and boat rentals. The adjacent Corcoran Woods forest preserve includes four miles (6.4 km) of hiking trails. The historic Sandy Point Farmhouse may be viewed from the main park road and is only open to the public on special occasions.
In January, the park hosts the annual Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge, where participants run into the Chesapeake Bay to raise money for Special Olympics.
References
- ^ "Sandy Point". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "DNR Lands Acreage Report" (PDF). Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ "Maryland State Park History". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- ^ "Sandy Point State Park". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ "Sandy Point State Park: The fastest-growing town in Maryland". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. June 20, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ "The Sandy Point Mansion". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
- ^ "The Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
- ^ "Juanita Jackson Mitchell (1913-1992)". Maryland State Archives. October 2001. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Maryland Polar Bear Plunge". Plunge Maryland. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
External links
- Sandy Point State Park Maryland Department of Natural Resources