Piney Run Park

Piney Run Park[1] is a nature park in Sykesville, Carroll County, Maryland. The park encompasses 550 acres of fields, forest and open spaces, features over 5 miles of hiking trails, a 300 acre lake and many sports and recreational facilities. Prior to being a park, this land was a private farm.

The Piney Run project was initiated in 1964 to provide southeastern Carroll County with a future water supply, a site for outdoor recreation, and for protection from flooding. Construction of a 73 foot high earthen dam began in 1973 and was completed 16 months later. This created the 300 acre lake that is used for boating, fishing and wildlife conservation. A portion of the 500 acres surrounding the lake has been developed for recreational use. The remaining land is conserved in it’s natural state. The lake is 50 feet deep at the lowest part, just in front of the dam.

Piney Run Park officially began operations in 1976. At this time, the only building in the Park was the entrance station. The Park Manager had his office at that location, and all Park business, including rental of boats, occurred there.

Piney Run Nature Center

The Piney Run Nature Center is operated by the Carroll County Department of Parks and Recreation. The Center offers environmental education, summer camp and birthday party programs.

The Nature Center was completed in 1981 and is staffed by the Park Naturalists and volunteers. It offers programs throughout the year to a variety of school, youth and community organizations. Birthday parties, summer camp, conservation programs, wildlife exhibits, and specialized classes are available to the public. Along with our exhibits there is a children’s room for exploration and learning and we are home to a number of native animals. The first annual apple festival was held at Piney Run Park in 1986 and continues to this day.

References

  1. ↑ "Piney Run Park". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2011-08-16.

Coordinates: 39°23′53″N 76°59′10.46″W / 39.39806°N 76.9862389°W / 39.39806; -76.9862389

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