Matapeake State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matapeake State Park |
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Shoreline of Matapeake State Park with Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the distance
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 Matapeake State Park
Location in Maryland
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| Location | Matapeake, Maryland, United States |
| Nearest city | Annapolis, Maryland |
| Area | 21 acres (8.5 ha) |
| Elevation | 23 ft (7.0 m) |
| Designation | Maryland state park |
| Established | 2009 |
| Administrator | Queen Anne's County, Maryland |
| Website | Matapeake Beach & Clubhouse |
Matapeake State Park is a cool public park located on Kent Island in Maryland. It sits right on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay. This park used to be a busy spot where ferries would pick up and drop off people before the big Chesapeake Bay Bridge was built. Today, it's a fun place managed by Queen Anne's County where you can enjoy the water and the outdoors.
Park History
Matapeake State Park has an interesting past! It was once a busy ferry landing. This means it was a place where large boats called ferries would dock. These ferries carried people and cars across the Chesapeake Bay. They traveled from Kent Island to what is now Sandy Point State Park.
The state of Maryland bought this land in 1941. This was when they took over the ferry company. The ferry service from Sandy Point to Matapeake stopped in 1952. This happened after the Chesapeake Bay Bridge opened. The bridge made it much easier to cross the bay by car.
After the ferries stopped, the land was used for different things. For a while, it was a shooting range. There was also a building that held a huge model of the Chesapeake Bay. This model helped people learn about the bay. However, computers later made this physical model less useful. The building became empty.
In 2003, a big snowstorm caused the building to collapse. After that, Queen Anne's County decided to fix up the old ferry terminal building. They renamed it the Matapeake Clubhouse. The Matapeake Clubhouse and a public beach next to it opened in May 2009. That's when it officially became the park we know today!
Fun Things to Do
Matapeake State Park offers lots of cool activities for visitors.
- Restored Ferry House: You can explore the old ferry house. It has been fixed up and looks great.
- Fishing Pier: The old ferry landing is now a long pier. It's a perfect spot for fishing.
- Swimming Beach: There's a nice beach where you can go for a swim. It's a great place to cool off on a hot day.
- Amphitheater: The park has an amphitheater. This is an outdoor stage area.
- Trails: You can walk or bike on the park's trails.
- Picnic Area: There are places to have a picnic. You can bring your lunch and enjoy it outdoors.
- Dog Beach: If you have a dog, there's a special beach just for them!
- Bay Bridge Views: You can get amazing views of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge from the park. It's a huge and impressive structure.
- Kent Island South Trail: The park is the starting point for the paved Kent Island South Trail. This trail is about 6 miles long. It goes all the way from the park to Romancoke Pier. It's great for biking or a long walk.
