Spring Open House At Fort Frederick State Park

Big Pool, Md. (March 21, 2011) — The Maryland Park Service and the Friends of Fort Frederick State Park Inc. will host a Spring Open House at Fort Frederick State Park from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 27.

Visitors will have a chance to explore the park’s many facilities including the restored fort and reconstructed barracks, two museums and the new Nature Canter. Current park volunteers will be on hand to educate visitors and encourage new volunteer sign-ups.

There is no admission charge during the event and light refreshments will be served at the CCC museum by the Friends of Fort Frederick. Food, gift, and souvenir items will also be available for sale at the park store located near the fort. Disabled access is available; however, most of the event activities are situated on grassy areas that may present difficult rolls or walks. Please dress for inclement weather or hot sunny days.

The Friends of Fort Frederick State Park Inc. is a 501C(3) organization comprised of many volunteers who assist the park with programming, special events, maintenance, and operations. The group raises funds through donations and fundraisers and provides financial support to the park for the purchase of needed supplies and equipment.

The Fort Frederick State Park Complex includes Fort Frederick State Park, Western Maryland Rail Trail and the Woodmont Natural Resources Management Area.

Fort Frederick is located off of Route 70 exit 12 at State Route 56, in Big Pool, MD. For more information about the Artillery Weekend or other Fort Frederick activities, please call the park at 301-842-2155 during the office hours of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Maryland State Parks not only provide great outdoor recreation for Marylanders and visitors, they are also a great asset to State and local economies. According to a recent study, conducted in partnership with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland Office of Tourism Development and the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, Maryland State Parks have an estimated annual economic benefit of more than $650 million. In 2010, visitors directly spent more than $567 million locally — $25.56 locally for every dollar the State invests in State Parks —during their visits. And 94 to 95 percent of visitors had their expectations met or exceeded during visits.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million 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 11 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