A popular venue for events in Solomons could take on a bit of different look over the next few years, according to a concept plan unveiled Tuesday during the weekly meeting of the Calvert County commissioners.
Stacey Hann-Ruff, Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center director, along with consultant Scott Scarfone of Mahan Rykiel Associates presented an update of the facility’s master plan process.
Hann-Ruff, who was hired over 20 years ago to oversee the garden, told the board there are plans to expand the facility from 30 to 50 acres.
The existing 30-acre tract was donated to the county in 1991 by developer Francis Koenig and his wife Ann Marie. Hann-Ruff said an adjacent 20-acre parcel owned by the Koenig Foundation will be paired with the existing site.
“We’re looking at the two properties as a whole campus,” Hann-Ruff said, adding that the consultant’s presentation is “a vision of that whole 50-acre campus.”
“It’s not going to happen overnight,” Scarfone said.
In a memo to the commissioners, Linda M. Turner, deputy county administrator, said, “The foundation employs the staff of Annmarie and seeks out grants and donations to support the payroll budget and fund special projects. The many activities and programs of Annmarie are supported by Ann’s Circle Inc., a 501©(3) nonprofit organization whose board consists of residents drawn from the Southern Maryland community. Ann’s Circle offers a membership package with a variety of attractive benefits. Membership is open to all.”
Just over a year ago the commissioners, by consent, gave the green light for county government staff and Annmarie Garden officials to proceed with realigning the organization into county government, using Calvert Marine Museum as a model.
In August 2022, the facility’s master plan process was started.
“We want the community to have ownership of this garden,” Hann-Ruff said.
A new building that would rival in size the existing John Dennis Murray Arts Building, which is 15,000 square feet, is part of the expansion vision. Dubbed the Welcome Center, it would be constructed near St. John Creek.
Scarfone told the commissioners a lot of engineering and design work would need to be done for the building before any construction could be started. He said the structure would likely cost more than $10 million.
Hann-Ruff also noted the project would be extra arduous since it will be “near water, in the critical area.”
The garden director added that “grants and events” along with “memberships and classes” have proven to be effective methods for raising funds.
“I know the garden has been struggling,” Commissioner President Earl F. “Buddy” Hance (R) told the presenters, adding that “maintaining” a new structure is more important than “building” it.
Hance also advised the presenters that each county government park has a master plan and many of those plans are uncompleted “because of costs.”
Scarfone said one of the “core objectives” the current draft contains includes “more of a focus on the water.”
The consultant said a bulkhead at the creek would be removed and replaced with a living shoreline, the parking lot would be “sustainable” as a pervious surface, plus enhancements would be made to the children’s garden, where the play area would be expanded.
“It’s such a gem in the county,” Commissioner Catherine M. Grasso (R) said of Annmarie Garden.
“It would be a destination,” Commissioner Mike Hart (R) said of the expanded facility.
According to the current fiscal year budget, Annmarie Garden received a $1 million allocation. That amount was recommended last March by county government staff as a “place holder” for the center’s planned assimilation into the county government structure.
The proposed fiscal 2025 budget has Annmarie Garden receiving $366,498, which was its fiscal 2023 allocation.
Most Popular
Comments / 0