Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is bringing more meadows, restored wetlands, and native plants to a new public waterfront park in St. Michaels! ESLC is pleased to announce that we have received funding through Maryland DNR’s Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund to support ecological restoration work at a former industrial waterfront property located right on the public nature trail in St. Michaels. These conservation-focused improvements are part of a broader vision for a new public waterfront park that will include a mix of passive recreation, gathering spaces, and access to the water for the entire community.
The future of this property was once uncertain. Situated along the shores of San Domingo Creek, the site could have become a privately developed waterfront destination for the enjoyment of a few. Instead, ESLC worked alongside the Town of St. Michaels, local leaders, and community members and a different path emerged: one that balances public access and ecological restoration.
The Town’s acquisition of the property was made possible through Maryland’s Program Open Space, a longstanding investment that helps communities preserve treasured places while expanding opportunities for public recreation and access. San Domingo Creek Park is a powerful example of that vision in action.
Through this grant, ESLC will help establish native pollinator meadows, expand and enhance surrounding wetlands, and plant native trees and shrubs. Together, these restoration practices will support wildlife habitat, help reduce nutrient and sediment runoff into San Domingo Creek, and improve the site’s natural resilience to flooding and sea level rise.
Just as importantly, the project creates new opportunities for people to connect with the Choptank River and the Chesapeake Bay. In a county where public waterfront access is limited, San Domingo Creek Park will offer a place to walk along the shoreline, observe birds and native plants, fish from the dock, gather with neighbors, or simply spend time by the water.
