[Thursday, July 17] The Charles County Resilience Authority, in partnership with the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism, and the Department of Planning and Growth Management, is proud to announce the award of a $438,000 grant for the construction of the Waldorf Elite Gymnastics Stormwater Pocket Park.
The grant was awarded through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. The Fund provided $29 million in funding to 27 ecological restoration projects for Fiscal Year 2026. Projects were selected based on their ability to improve water quality, enhance resilience to climate impacts, and improve habitats, as well as considerations for environmental justice.
The project serves a dual function: storing and treating stormwater runoff from rain events while also providing access to natural, shaded greenspace during drier conditions. The future stormwater park will complement the Sunshine Art Park at the front of the facility.
“Creating the Stormwater Pocket Park will enable kids to get outside and play in shaded, natural green space, and it will enhance climate resilience and environmental justice in the middle of Waldorf’s overburdened communities,” said Stacy Shaefer, Director of the Charles County Resilience Authority.
The Waldorf Elite Gymnastics Stormwater Park previously received an $83,801 grant in 2024 to develop a design and engineering plan for creating underground stormwater facilities and a pocket park on unused, asphalt-covered areas of the property.
Construction of the entire project is scheduled to begin in the fall and is expected to take approximately three months.
