Dunkirk District Park Playground to be Replaced

By Kathy Knotts 

Playground enthusiasts will have to temporarily find a new set of slides and swings to enjoy while the playground at Dunkirk District Park is demolished. 

The Calvert County Department of Parks & Recreation is tearing down and rebuilding the playground at the park off Route 4 over the next five to six weeks, weather permitting. The new playground will be built around the theme “Chesapeake Bay: Above and Below Water” and pays homage to recognizable Calvert Marine Museum attractions, including the Drum Point Lighthouse and the William B. Tennison, a sailing bugeye converted to powered buy-boat. 

Three design proposals were submitted for the playground and a public survey received over 600 responses from the community. A follow-up survey then narrowed down specific aspects of the two most popular designs and from the more than 195 responses a vendor was selected. Thurmont-based Playground Specialists met with CCPR staff onsite in late November for a walkthrough to finalize the design. 

The second phase of the project includes construction of a splash pad, and a new tennis and pickleball complex. The existing playground is to be demolished beginning June 28. The playground will be closed for the duration and will reopen after construction is complete.