Quiet Waters Park is a park in eastern

Anne Arundel County, Maryland Anne Arundel County (; ), also notated as AA or A.A. County, is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 588,261, an increase of just under 10% since 2010. Its county seat is Annapolis, whi ...

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. It contains and is operated by the Anne Arundel Recreation and Parks. It is open year-round. Organizations using the park include the Friends of Quiet Waters Park. As of 2010, it attracts 700,000 visitors a year.

History

The park opened on Labor Day in 1990 after a protracted political fight. Then-County Executive

O. James Lighthizer O. James "Jim" Lighthizer (born March 20, 1946) is an American lawyer, politician, and president emeritus of the American Battlefield Trust, a nonprofit battlefield preservation organization. Political career As a Democrat, Lighthizer was a ...

later said that getting the park open was "the toughest political fight in my 16 years of politics," but that it was worth it because after it opened, "everybody in the community, no exceptions, loved it." The land where the park now sits was purchased in early 1986 by developers who planned to build 250 luxury homes. When neighboring communities found out about this, the city of

Annapolis Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...

and Lighthizer intervened, and the land was purchased by the county on October 30, 1987. Some in the community felt that the land should be left untouched, but a plan for a park modeled after

Druid Hill Park Druid Hill Park is a urban park in northwest Baltimore, Maryland. Its boundaries are marked by Druid Park Drive (north), Swann Drive and Reisterstown Road (west and south), and the Jones Falls Expressway / Interstate 83 (east).Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

and

Central Park Central Park is an urban park in New York City located between the Upper West Side, Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. It is the List of New York City parks, fifth-largest park in the city, covering . It is the most visited urban par ...

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

was put in motion. The park cost $12 million to develop, surpassing the original estimate of $8 million.

Amenities

Boat launch dock and rental

Quiet Waters Park has a dock on Harness Creek where people can place their canoes and kayaks in the water. Pedal boats, row boats, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, and bicycles can be rented at the dock by the hour or day.

Blue Heron Center

The Blue Heron Center is an indoor banquet hall in Quiet Waters Park that is used for weddings, conferences, and other formal events. The facility can be rented in eight-hour increments and seats up to 150 people at 15 round and four rectangular tables. The Blue Heron Center has a landscaped terrace with fountains, a caterer's prep kitchen, and vehicle parking.

Concert stage

An outdoor concert stage on Quiet Waters Park Road is used to host free concerts and events hosted by the Friends of Quiet Waters Park. Dog_Playing_at_Quiet_Waters_Park_in_Anne_Arundel_County_Maryland

Dog_Playing_at_Quiet_Waters_Park_in_Anne_Arundel_County_Maryland

Dog beach

A dog beach is at the southernmost part of Quiet Waters Park near the South River. It is partially enclosed by a chain-link fence.

Dog park

Quiet Waters Park also has a dog park completely surrounded by a chain-link fence.

Pavilions

Quiet Waters Park includes two small and four large covered pavilions equipped with grills and picnic tables. The pavilions can be rented for parties and cook-outs.

Trails

Six miles of paved trails wind throughout the 340 acres of the park.

Visitor center

Information about Quiet Waters Park can be found at the visitor center. The center also has three art galleries: the Willow Gallery, the Garden Gallery, and the Dogwood Gallery. These display the artwork of regional and local artists.

References

Parks in Anne Arundel County, Maryland {{AnneArundelCountyMD-geo-stub