Sandy Point State Park
Sandy Point from the Bay Bridge
Map showing the location of Sandy Point State Park
Map showing the location of Sandy Point State Park
Location in Maryland
LocationAnne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Nearest cityAnnapolis, Maryland
Coordinates39°00′59″N 76°24′06″W / 39.01639°N 76.40167°W / 39.01639; -76.40167[1]
Area786 acres (318 ha)[2]
Elevation13 ft (4.0 m)[1]
DesignationMaryland state park
Established1948[3]
AdministratorMaryland Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteSandy Point State Park

Sandy Point State Park is a public recreation area on Chesapeake Bay, located at the western end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.[4] The state park is known for the popularity of its swimming beach, with annual attendance exceeding one million visitors.[5] The park grounds include the Sandy Point Farmhouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6] The historic Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse stands in about five feet of water some 1,000 yards (910 m) east of the park's beach.[7]

History

In 1948, the state purchased the site of a ferry landing that had served the Chesapeake Bay Ferry System on its run across the bay to Kent Island at what is now Matapeake State Park. The park opened in 1952 with racially segregated beaches and bathhouses which led to litigation in 1955. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the park to become integrated in Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City v. Dawson, which ultimately extended the Fourteenth Amendment to state beaches and other recreational facilities.[8]

Activities and amenities

The park offers swimming beaches, fishing, crabbing, hiking, wildlife viewing, nature center, picnicking, marina store, and boat rentals. The adjacent Corcoran Woods forest preserve includes four miles (6.4 km) of hiking trails. The historic Sandy Point Farmhouse may be viewed from the main park road and is not open to the public.[6]

In January, the park hosts the annual Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge, where participants run into the Chesapeake Bay to raise money for Special Olympics.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Sandy Point State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ↑ "DNR Lands Acreage" (PDF). Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Maryland State Park History". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Sandy Point State Park". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Sandy Point State Park: The fastest-growing town in Maryland". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. June 20, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "The Sandy Point Mansion". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ "The Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Juanita Jackson Mitchell (1913-1992)". Maryland State Archives. October 2001. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  9. ↑ Cooper, Rachel. "Maryland Polar Bear Plunge". Trip Savvy. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
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