Tuckahoe State Park To Host Dedication Ceremony Commemorating Area Landowners

Public Invited to Attend

Queen Anne, Md. (October 7, 2009) — On Saturday, October 10, 2009, officials from the Maryland Park Service (MPS) will officially pay tribute to the Dean families of Queen Anne’s and Caroline counties who, by deeding their farmlands to the State of Maryland more than 45 years ago, were fundamental in the development of Tuckahoe State Park. To commemorate their actions, a new sign recognizing the family’s generosity will be unveiled at the campground entrance. The dedication ceremony will begin at 12 p.m.

“Thanks to the foresight of the Department of Natural Resources and families like the Deans of Queen Anne’s and Caroline counties, this pristine area along beautiful Tuckahoe Creek has been preserved in its natural state for future generations of Marylanders to enjoy,” said Ranger John Ohler, Park Manager of the Tuckahoe State Park Complex. “More than 80,000 people visit Tuckahoe State Park each year to enjoy the area’s quiet beauty, which would not be possible had it not been for the extraordinary partnership entered into by the State of Maryland and the leadership and citizens of the Mid-Shore area.”

In 1964, the state began to purchase the agricultural lands that would later become Tuckahoe State Park. Local families and community leaders such as Senator Robert P. Dean and Caroline County Commissioner Charles T. Dean were instrumental in recognizing the potential and importance of creating a state park along the Tuckahoe Creek. Today, Tuckahoe State Park encompasses nearly 4,000 acres and has an annual visitation of over 80,000 people.

Tuckahoe State Park, a stream-and-valley park divided by Tuckahoe Creek, features a unique composition of streams, fields, forests, wetlands and 60-acre lake, making for a tremendous diversity of flora and fauna. More than 15 miles of trails over gentle terrain are open to hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians, and an array of fishing, paddling and hunting opportunities are also available to visitors of all ages. In addition, over 16,000 guests stay in Tuckahoe’s campground each year.

Park staff offer a wide variety of programs including Adventure Day camps, Junior Rangers programs and other youth and adult nature programs. Tuckahoe is also the home for the Upper Shore’s highly-acclaimed “Scales and Tales” environmental education program that uses live non-releasable birds of prey and reptiles to promote stewardship of our wildlife and other natural resources. For more information about Tuckahoe State Park, contact the park office at (410) 820-1668.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov