THE FUTURE OF CONNELLY MILL PARK IS IN JEOPARDY!!!

Local Community Under Siege: County Executive Overrides Residents' Concerns

The fate of the long-awaited Connelly Mill Park hangs in the balance due to the County Executive's unilateral decision. Donated in 2019, the property was envisioned as a park space after extensive public input. Stakeholders like the Wicomico's Natural Resource Conservation Advisory Committee, Department of Recreation Parks & Tourism, local non-profits, residents, and nearby neighborhoods actively participated in shaping the park's future. Now, their voices are silenced, leaving them wondering if the County Executive's decision respects the community's vision and the years of invested effort.

Over a year since this petition was created, the voice of everyone who has signed has had a tremendous effect in protecting and preserving Connelly Mill Park. Through our collective advocacy, the private for- profit off road vehicle events have been stopped and many local and state officials have been working hand in hand to get the original plans back on track.

Of particular note, Councilman James Winn and Director of Recreation Parks and Tourism Steve Miller presented a plan that would confer a Program Open Space designation to Connelly Mill from another piece of land that no longer suits the communities wishes or needs for recreational development. This transfer of designation would ensure that Connelly Mill Park would have a concrete future.

Another victory came on September 23, 2025 when Maryland’s Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources , Josh Kurtz, toured Connelly Mill as a potential State Partnership Park site. He was joined by Senator Mary Beth Carozza, Delegate Barry Beauchamp, Council President John Cannon, Vice President Jeff Merritt, Councilman James Winn, Director Steve Miller and many members of the public advocating to save Connelly Mill Park. A booklet was presented to Secretary Kurtz outlining the importance of this place and the dedicated efforts of the community to protect it. The following day, this booklet was also presented to Governor Wes Moore. None of this would have been possible without the strength of our community and all of us who have raised our voices together to preserve this precious public land!

While we are incredibly encouraged by these positive events, a new threat looms on the horizon. Advocates for Connelly Mill Park recently attended a Wicomico Natural Resource Conservation Advisory Committee Meeting and learned of a plan by the Executive Branch of the Wicomico government to ship forest slash (wood debris) and river dredge (mud from the river bottom) to Connelly Mill and begin to fill the very water features that were to form the core aspects of the proposed Park.

While this plan was presented as a “green initiative” to sequester carbon and generate carbon credits to be monetized for the County, it does not account for the 26 to 40,000 dump trucks it would require to haul only the dirt and the incalculable number of trucks it would take to haul the forest slash. The carbon created in this process would be 1,000 times greater than that of simply barging the dredge away for shoreline restoration projects.

This plan also ignores the fiscal nightmare this would create, with preliminary figures of somewhere near 10 million dollars to truck the river dredge to the site alone. The market for carbon credits is not fixed and is, according to many, in decline. The equipment necessary to undertake this project would be incredibly costly and the likeliness of any return far from assured.

At the same time, the promise of the original vision for Connelly Mill Park with its twenty acre lake would be destroyed. There is also deep concern for potential toxins in the river dredge that would be used to fill the lake and the pits which could leak into the Paleochannel which is the water supply for the entire City of Salisbury and beyond! Also at risk are the homes in the neighborhoods adjoining the property.

Advocates for Connelly Mill Park are tired of the original vision coming under attack time and again! This vision was created through proper public process with all stakeholders participating with their elected officials to make a plan that served the highest and best use for this land while protecting our vital natural resources. We are not asking for anything new, we simply want the promise to be fulfilled and the original vision to be protected. We have sent a letter to the Wicomico County Council  asking that legislative action be taken to end the constant threats and enshrine the community’s original vision. Please read the letter below and join us! Public lands belong to all of us!

 

Dear Members of the Wicomico County Council,

I am writing as a dedicated advocate for the Save Connelly Mill Park movement, following the encouraging tour of the site by state and local officials on September 23, 2025, to consider Connelly Mill as a state partnership park.

To support this effort, we have produced a booklet detailing the land's history and our community's work to bring the original park vision to life. This booklet was presented to DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz on-site and to Governor Moore at the Tawes Crab and Clam Bake the following day. We plan to follow up with them and other officials to highlight this amazing place and the community's support for it. A PDF version is attached for your review. We urge you to read it and take action to protect the original vision for Connelly Mill Park.

As you know, this 234-acre property has a long-established plan to become a treasured public park. This original vision, formed upon the donation of the property in 2018, is a testament to what can be accomplished when the Executive and Legislative branches of our government work in concert with taxpayers, environmental groups, and stakeholders in a transparent and inclusive way. Years of public input are documented in the minutes of countless meetings. Yet, for the past year and a half, the future of this precious place has been under threat.

Developing Connelly Mill Park would grow our economy, protect the Paleochannel and other vital natural resources, and promote the physical, mental, and social well-being of our entire region. Located less than five miles from Salisbury's urban center and boasting unique topography, these 234 acres are poised to become the Central Park of Wicomico County. The harm of losing this asset—or the plan so responsibly developed for it—would be irreparable. A significant cost of this loss would be the blow to public trust in our government. If a plan made with proper procedure and public input can be swept away, how can citizens trust the process? How can donors trust that their gift will be honored, or adjacent landowners trust the promises made to them? How can constituents feel their participation matters if their efforts can be overturned without discussion?

Our community understands what is at stake and has bonded together to protect this vision. A broad coalition including environmental agencies, recreational groups, mental health providers, and many impacted citizens has attended government meetings, written letters, made phone calls, and stood up for Connelly Mill Park when it was recently removed from the Capital Improvement Program. An online petition was signed by 1,265 people, with comments expressing strong community support.

The potential of this property to serve the community is unrivaled. While containing unique features like high elevations, old-growth forests, and the creeks that form the Wicomico River's watershed, the property is also within five miles of downtown Salisbury and contained within the City limits. This proximity offers invaluable access to greenspace for urban residents, providing an equity of access that is otherwise unavailable without traveling much greater distances to parks like Pirate's Wharf.

Reversing plans for Connelly Mill Park would send a chilling message that public input can be disregarded, that donor intent can be ignored, and that the promises made to the community are not binding. This would cause long-term damage to the public's trust in their government.

We urge you to take legislative action to protect the original vision for Connelly Mill Park.

 

 

 

 

SAVE THE PARK! STOP THE SAFARI!!

Request Safari at the Quarry and the MOU be terminated immediately and restore the Connelly Mill Park to public development funding initiatives.

READ THE REAL FACTS!!

FACT #1: Connelly Mill Park is a STUNNING 234-acre Natural Oasis slated to become a Public Park in upcoming years. It has now been taken from “Public Purpose” and was signed over in September 2023, by County Executive Julie Giordano, for use by private entity Live Wire Media and Events. The owner Brad Hoffman has a 90% profit stake in the venture called “Safari at the Quarry, The Ultimate Off-Road Park Experience”. The contract she signed, called the “MOU” (Memorandum of Understanding) allows mostly unrestricted use of the property for Live Wire Media to conduct Off-Road 4 Wheel Drive events for Jeeps, Quads, Open Wheeling, Broncos, etc. Use would be limited to those with a 4x4 vehicle and the financial ability to pay the entrance fees from $95-$160. The Public Park development for the use of ALL CITIZENS has thereby BEEN TERMINATED.

FACT #2: The land was DONATED to Wicomico County in 2019 with endorsement by the Wicomico County Natural Resource Conservation Advisory Committee (“NRCAC”) and input from neighboring residents of Shadow Hills with the intended use to be excavation for fill dirt for the County landfill, and development as a “low impact park.”

While the “borrow pits” used for excavation are a small portion of the land, the rest currently features expansive trails perfect for walking or bike riding, a 22-acre lake perfect for kayaks & boats, undisturbed forests, creeks & wetlands, and is home to abundant wildlife. The surrounding creeks are connected to Leonard’s Mill Pond and the Wicomico River. See NRCAC letter excerpt at the end of this document.

FACT #3: Connelly Mill Park is situated off Connelly Mill Rd, in Delmar, MD, and is comprised of 3 Tax Parcels located within the corporate limits of the City of Salisbury but is owned by Wicomico County. The parcels are all landlocked, accessible only via a 50’ right-of-way dirt road off of Connelly Mill Rd. They are also bordered by the adjacent active railway. Of significant importance is the location directly adjacent to Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex off Naylor Mill Rd, the ideal expansion to a currently owned Wicomico County Park.

FACT #4: The Connelly Mill Park project was added to the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy “CEDS” plans for years 22/23 and 23/24 as a project that supports Goal #4 entitled “Vibrant Communities.” CEDS are presented annually by the Tri-County Council to the Federal Government for special federal funding sources to be used towards development.

This very exciting opportunity for the land to soon receive funds has NOW BEEN TERMINATED.

Between October ’23 and January ’24, after the Executive signed the MOU with Live Wire, the Park was officially REMOVED from the CEDS for submission for funding. HOW? We are unsure, however, Mrs. Giordano sits on the CEDS committee and inclusion of the park for federal funds would surely not align with the agenda to build an Off Road Park. Removal request was initiated shortly after the MOU was signed. Suffice it to say, a lot went into bringing Connelly Mill Park to the point of inclusion in the CEDS - incredible time, resources, and the passion of people who care about the community and who understand the positive economic impact of parks. This is why Goal #4 exists to begin with.

FACT #5: The County Executive has also eliminated Connelly Mill Park from the Wicomico County Capital Improvement Plan, “CIP,” and by doing so, has demonstrated outright contempt for the aspirations of Wicomico County residents and taxpayers. This action appears to have been done without input or knowledge of the County Council. 

FACT #6: Per the MOU, Wicomico County is entitled to “10% of the net profit from each event.” Net profits, can be losses, particularly when loosely defined and lacking accounting or audit oversight, as is the case in the MOU. Many events produce losses in the early phases. Many ventures loose money without financial oversight.

FACT #7: Mrs. Giordano’s claim that the event is “just for one a weekend” is grossly untrue. The signed MOU spans 364 days and describes 4 weekend events. It DOES NOT restrict additional events. The Safari at the Quarry Facebook page boasts “We are going to build a community of 4x4 culture around this amazing facility” as videos play of Jeeps driving through trails, and OFF trails directly through the natural tall grasses home to many wildlife creatures. The promotional website SafariattheQuarry.com ‘About’ page quotes “Dream It. Build It. Grow It.” The ‘Home’ page quotes “The Ultimate Off-Road Park Experience in Delmar, MD” and “Creating memories of a lifetime in a natural outdoor setting that is fun for all in Delmar, MD.”

FACT #8: Mrs. Giordano and/or her representative’s claim that the event is “just like 200 hundred jeeps” is grossly untrue. The flyer available on SafariattheQuarry.com ‘Vendor’ page solicits vendors for the May 4th & 5th event by stating “We are expecting 400-500 vehicles, over 1,000 spectators/participants.” Additionally, livewiremediaevents.com ‘About’ page boasts how Mr. Hoffman’s company Live Wire Media became the driving force behind Ocean City’s Jeep Week and that it “is now recognized as one of the nations most successful Jeep festivals with over 1,700 registered Jeeps and over 10,000 spectators.”

FACT #9: Facts 7 & 8 are sufficient to establish Intent to build and grow a thriving 4x4 facility, not a weekend event. This intent is also supported in the MOU under responsibility of the Event Organizer #23 to “Produce a schedule of events for EACH YEAR” and coincides with the necessity to have the PARK REMOVED FROM PUBLIC USE AND FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENT. It seems obvious a weekend event with 200 jeeps would not warrant analysis of economic impact, plans for hotels and restaurants, setting up Vendor tents and investing County money in preparing the land.

FACT #10: Mrs. Giordano claims that the event will not include ATV’s and that it will be a “quiet event.” While the 1 st event is slated for Jeeps only, “Quads at the Quarry” is event #3 on the MOU. This claim is misleading at a minimum, as quads are loud 4 wheelers referenced in the MOU. 

FACT #11: The MOU places responsibility on the County taxpayers for many expenditures related to this 90% Private Profit venture. Expenses include, but are not limited to, personnel hours, police support for traffic control, roll fencing, manpower and equipment to assist with event setup, and marketing support. Additionally, County manhours and equipment have already been utilized clearing & widening trails for the events. Plans still exist to build an obstacle course. Who will pay for this? Who will clean it up? Surely contaminants may exist in the soil after many vehicles crawl through it.

MANY FACTS REMAIN UNDISCOVERED Thus, we urge you to stand with us against this outrageous abuse of executive power…. !!!! PLEASE ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE PETITION BELOW !!!!! SAVE THE PARK! STOP THE SAFARI Let's ensure that Connelly Mill Park is preserved and becomes accessible to all Wicomico County residents as has always been intended!

Who are we? We are Citizens just like you! We pay taxes and expect our government to operate with fair and equitable “Public Purpose” that provides the Greatest Benefit to the Greatest Number of People.

As residents of Wicomico County, MD, we are committed to improving the overall quality of life on the lower Eastern Shore. This can be achieved by expanding recreational opportunities, preserving rapidly disappearing wild areas, and ensuring that all area residents can enjoy these precious resources. Embodied in these values is the creation of Connelly Mill Park near Delmar.

Excerpt from Letter presented to Wicomico County Council on November 7, 2017

(available publicly in the meeting minutes)

with conditions of support from the Wicomico County Natural Resource Conservation Advisory Committee “NRCAC” regarding accepting the donation of the land:

“We would like for you to accept this letter as an understanding of full and complete support of the NRCAC for the proposed donation. Providing enjoyment and use of the property with a low-impact development plan would provide not only additional recreational opportunities for the County, but, equally as important, protection of the Paleo aquifer and of headwaters of the Wicomico River. Our committee is in full support of the acceptance of the property and willing and able to provide insight and recommendations on a responsible, low impact use on the property. We also will be sending a letter to Mr. Bob Culver, County Executive, expressing our support for acquisition and donation acceptance. Many thanks for your leadership, and for your consideration of our recommendation in this matter.” Judith Stribling, Committee Chair

MORE BELOW

We consider these acts EGREGIOUS and propose that the MOU does not serve the citizens of Wicomico County:

The Safari endeavor:

• Does not utilize County land for “PUBLIC PURPOSE” at large, rather serves as a DETRIMENT to the public.
• Wastes and contaminates an otherwise ideal Public Park.
• Jeopardizes the Paleo Channel, our public water source!!
• Creates and promotes an unsecured dangerous site which also serves as an active mining site.
• Has site issues including being landlocked with no public roads and
  access via a 50’ right of way on a dirt lane across a private property.
• Presents jurisdiction conflicts with Law Enforcement being County owned but in the City of Salisbury.
• Presents jurisdiction conflicts with Fire Support. Delmar Fire Dept. services Connelly Mill Rd, yet the property is in the Salisbury limits, outside Salisbury Fire Department area.
• Presents difficulties for Police and Fire vehicles to adequately access the site due to difficult terrain and lack of roads.
• Poses significant risks to public safety including high risk of fire to the 6’ tall ignitable grasses, surrounding forestry and the large housing community a few hundred feet away. A Fire Chief confirmed engines and related parts can get hot enough to ignite on contact.
• Presents possible destruction of a large natural ecosystem.
• Note: Hundreds of thousands of Jeeps have active recalls for engine fires, who will monitor this for compliance before driving through trails of tall grass?
• Note: The property has a long history of illegal access and use, concealed from view. This will continue to rise as and already has increased since advertising began. This is an abuse of valuable police time and effort.

!!!! PLEASE ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE PETITION !!!!!

For more information please visit https://www.saveconnellymillpark.com