We welcome your opinions and letters — with name and address. We will edit when necessary. Include your name, address and phone number for verification. Mail them to Bay Weekly, P.O. Box 358, Deale, MD 20751 • E-mail them to us at [email protected].
Access Decreased at Sandy Point State Park
Dear Bay Weekly:
I am writing to add some history to your editorial “Our Pay-As-You-Go Parks” (Vol. XII, No. 24: June 10).
In October, 1993, a decision was made to match $4.1 million in state funds with a $1.5 million federal grant to “help increase public access to the Bay” at Sandy Point. The money went into building and paving, including the construction of pavilions with playgrounds and the paving of the gravel parking lots at East Beach. This, with fencing and additional parking, rendered this portion of Sandy Point suitable for groups only, with no access for the general public.
Several years ago, the price of general non-group entrance was raised from a per-car to a per-person fee. (Like all the paving, not sound environmental policy!) Now, as you point out, the per-person-in-a-car price is $5, and this high price limits families and individuals to the South Beach. You pay much more for much less!
I was recently at Sandy Point off season and was surprised to find that the price had risen from $1 to $3. As there was no warning, I had to hastily find the change (the gate being automatic off season). This must have represented an impossible dilemma for the driver ahead of me, to the extent that he decided to leave the park, thus forcing all the cars behind him to back up so that he could turn around and escape.
This was dangerous for everyone involved. At least for safety’s sake, the state should clearly post its prices at the park’s entrance and preferably also on Route 50 at the turnoff. This way, visitors not able or willing to pay these prices or, at times, without exact change, could decide to go elsewhere, perhaps to Calvert Cliffs State Park!
—Mary Baer, Annapolis
Family Values Hits the Spot
Dear Bay Weekly:
Great article Louis Llovio wrote for Father’s Day [“Family Values,” Vol. XII, No. 25: June 17]. I got all weepy. I hope he doesn’t forget his Bay Weekly readers when he wins the Pulitzer.
—Andrea McGovern Galo, Chicago
Department of Corrections
You’ll need to plan ahead for the Lawn Mower Race posted in the Highlights section of 8 Days a Week in Vol. XII, No. 25 [June 17]. The event will be held Saturday, July 24.
