Indian Head's boardwalk strolls closer to completion

Planned 1,200-foot walkway awaits permits

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

The town hopes to begin construction on the boardwalk this fall.

"The design phase is completed. We are waiting on permits [from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state's Critical Area Commission],"said Town Manager Ryan Hicks.

Town officials expected the permit from the Soil Conservation District this week.

The town has been waiting six months for the necessary permits.

When asked about the expected completion date, Richard Parks, zoning administrator, said "yesterday" and chuckled.

The town anticipates the project will be completed in late 2010.

The boardwalk will consist of a 12-foot-by-1,200-foot elevated wooden structure with handicapped access. It will be elevated 12 feet to prevent shading the plant life in the water, Parks said.

It will feature six observation areas, benches and informational signs detailing the ecosystem.

There will also be a living shoreline with vegetation to stabilize erosion instead of bulkhead structures which are potentially damaging to the environment.

Initially, the 10-acre parcel belonged to River Watch developers. However, because of the critical area and the topography, the land was undevelopable, Mayor Ed Rice said.

The town traded land under the water tower, now known as Riverwatch Commons, for the waterfront property, he said. The developer also contributed funds for the project.

The project is expected to cost $2.5 million.

According to the town's comprehensive plan, the boardwalk is funded by the State Highway Administration's transportation enhancement program and town funds.

The goal is to extend the boardwalk farther east as development continues along the water.

Bonnie Bick of the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club said public access to the waterways surrounding Indian Head is incredibly important.

"It's part of their heritage," she said, adding that "Indian Head's best future is related to becoming a destination of heritage tourism."

Rice compared the boardwalk to the Indian Head Rail Trail.

"It's going to bring people in from other areas that will hopefully develop the need for additional restaurants and services," he said.

The boardwalk will be treated like a park and close at dusk, he said.

spoynor@somdnews.com