Bi-partisan paddling opens park
St. Mary's Commissioners Dan Raley (D. Great Mills) left, and Larry Jarboe (R. Golden Beach), right, prepare to launch the new canoe and kayak launching ramp on the upper reaches of the St. Mary's River at Great Mills.  Jarboe proposed using the site of an old apartment building which had been purchased with federal flood assistance funds in order to prevent further flooding after years of repeated evacuations of the residents.  The occupants of the building were given assistance in relocation to new housing and the land left after the demolition of the building was quickly becoming a collection site for old cars. Jarboe proposed that an access point for recreational use be implemented and the county commissioners dedicated the new park, likely the lowest cost park ever constructed, on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006.  ST. MARY'S TODAY photo