To the dedicated advocates who have worked so hard to Save Connelly Mill Park… we have great reason to celebrate!

On Tuesday, May 19, following the recommendation of Recreation Parks and Tourism Director Steve Miller, the County Council reached a consensus to move forward with a Program Open Space land conversion that could permanently protect all but 55 acres of the 234-acre Connelly Mill Park!

None of this would have been possible without the amazing community that came together to protect this precious place. Our progress is the result of collective action, including:

• Gathered over 1,300 petition signatures
• Ran effective letter campaigns and email communications with elected officials
• Organized successful tabling events and hosted two pivotal town halls
• Countless advocates showed up for County Council meetings, Open Work Sessions, Capital Improvement Program hearings, and participated in many other public forums

Through these actions, we achieved incredible milestones:

• Procured backing from the Mayor of Salisbury, the County Council, the City Council, the NRCAC, Wicomico Environmental Trust, Friends of the Nanticoke, Sierra Club, and other community leaders to protest the Safari at the Quarry and ensure no further destructive events were held
• Restored Connelly Mill Park to the Capital Improvement Plan AND the Tri-County Council Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
• Secretary Josh Kurtz of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources toured Connelly Mill and discussed possible opportunities for Partnership Parks on the property
• Demonstrated the downfalls of the dredge spoil storage plan and offered viable, constructive alternatives resulting in the County Council affirming that Connelly Mill Park could not be used in such a manner
• Showed overwhelming support for the park through the County’s official Land Preservation Parks and Recreation Plan(LPPRP) five-year survey
• All culminating in the final consensus to move forward with the land conversion on May 19, 2026!

But our work isn't over yet. Here are our next challenges and steps:

We must ensure the 55-acre mining area excluded from this land conversion has a reclamation plan and is included in the final park plans.

We need to make sure the land conversion is officially approved and finalized by the County Council.

We are entering a very exciting new phase! Upon State and County approval of the land conversion, a Park Master Plan Process will open to all county residents. We MUST stay engaged and attend every phase of its development to shape this precious public asset!

We were all a part of something generational, transformative, and amazing through this fight. Through our collective efforts, we worked to secure a lasting legacy for our children and grandchildren. These efforts will ripple out across generations to bring better physical, mental, and social health while protecting our natural resources and becoming an exceptional economic driver for our entire region!

We did this together. Let's bring this dedication, passion, and joy into the next phase of our journey as we work to shape the direction of what will surely become one of Wicomico County's most cherished public spaces!

Thank you all for everything you have done to bring us to this moment!