Gatewood Preserve

Park Address
2800 Grays Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
For Information: 410-535-5327

Grounds open from dawn to dusk. The public may park outside the preserve gates and walk in. Do not drive past the gate even if it is open. You may get locked in.

Download the Trail Map (pdf)

The Gatewood Preserve

provides additional public access to open space for appropriate outdoor recreation such as water access, hiking, fishing and nature study and increases the protection of Battle Creek and the Patuxent Watershed. This property could be part of a trail connecting Prince Frederick to the Patuxent River.

• Water Access:
  a breathtaking view with direct access to Battle Creek. Future improvements include a floating kayak launch and/or a dedicated fishing pier. Maintenance and repairs to exiting boardwalk and modifications to improve ADA access are planned.
• Trail Network:
  Situated between two county parks, it connects 5 miles of trails at Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm to 2 miles of trails at the Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary.
• Habitat Restoration:
  The majority of the property is open field and pasture which would be restored to grassland and meadow habitats.
• Environmental Education and Outdoor Recreation:
  The residence would be converted to a nature center, offices, small classroom and public restrooms. The grounds around the house can accommodate picnic tables and chemical toilets for when the center is not open. Interpretive areas would be established in the meadows to support the Department of Parks and Recreation Natural Resources Division’s outdoor education programs. A small portion of the property would be for parking; other sections could be established for youth group camping. Barns and animal shelters would be used to house equipment required for basic maintenance of the park. The barn could house a small number of domestic animals, such as goats that would be used for interpretation, demonstration and restoration programs.

This acquisition is consistent with Calvert County’s Land Preservation, Park and Recreation Plan, the Program Open Space Annual Plan, and the Planning Visions adopted by the State of Maryland in the 2009 Smart, Green, and Growing Act.

Funding: The acquisition was made possible by partnerships between Calvert County and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, who facilitated the award of a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. Other funding sources include county Recreation Excise Tax and Localside Program Open Space.

The success of the project was the partnership between governmental agencies, the Calvert Nature Society (the nonprofit that supports the County’s nature parks) and local landowners. It demonstrated their priorities to preserve land and meet passive recreation needs.