The Park on the Magothy River Where History and Environmentalism Meet

There's a little nugget of a gem on the Magothy River in Pasadena, Maryland that combines history and environmentalism.  No, it's not Eagle Cove School (however, yes, it's true, these both also describe our li'l academic gem).  Rather, it's Anne Arundel County's "Future Site" of the historic Beachwood Park.

Right now, Beachwood Park is a nice, unassuming, wooded plot of land, that is about 65 acres.  With it, it holds a hidden pieces of history lying beneath the fallen leaves.  Yet, it was alive in the  mid 1940's to the early 1960's. Then, Beachwood Park was a fabulous, family-centric fishing hole and beach resort--primarily for the African American community of Anne Arundel County. 
With the assistance of the Magothy River Association, the plans for Beachwood Park are for it again to be a great place to hit the river via kayak, picnic, go for a hike, or catch a fish or two.
As Laura Kang, Eagle Cove School's Head of School wrote in a parent/faculty email today: 

"The 4th and 5th graders had a great session yesterday with Dr. Joyce Jennings, whose grandfather owned the land right next to Beachwood Park, which was an African-American owned beach in the 40s and 50s. She essentially spent her summers there. Hearing her memories of the riverboat cruises, the merry-go-round, learning to swim, picnics in the pavilion, games of chance and hearing such greats as Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, James Brown perform was so interesting. Best of all, she put the history of Beachwood Park in the larger historical context of African-American history from the late 1600s on. She also was in the first class to integrate Pasadena Elementary. She is a retired Baltimore City school principal who now is a caseworker with disabled children in PG County. The students all took notes and will do a short write-up that we will use as a basis for future signs for a history/nature trail in the park."

To see "Part 1" of  Kaitlyn Carr's Pasadena Patch article which ran today, click the link below to see her article entitled  Eagle Cove School Helps Preserve Beachwood History.

Soo.... if you are hungry this Saturday, February 25th and are near the Pasadena Peninsula here in Anne Arundel County, check out Angels Food Market and the Eagle Cove School/Magothy River Association Bake Sale from 9:30--1:00. In addition to the Bake Sale, Paul Spadero of the Magothy River Association will have an interactive gizmo that teaches about local environmental issues.  Now, as for the food....I've seen the growing collection of goodies and I've got to say: there's going to be a motherload of taste sensations!!
For more historic information about Beachwood Park, check out the following:

• The City Paper's Beachwood Park Memoirs (5-18-2011)
• The Capital's "Hometown Annapolis" Environmental Group Hopes to Revitalize Beachwood Park (11-30-2011)
• Anne Arundel County's Recreations & Parks Cartop Boat Launch and Fishing Spot - Beachwood Park (Future Site)

Double image from http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/TOP/2011/11/30-20/Environmental-group-hopes-to-revitalize-Beechwood-Park.html,; map from Google Maps