Today, Harford County announced the purchase of a large Chesapeake Bay waterfront land parcel with future plans for a public park. 
The property, named Belle Vue Farm, includes a mile of coastline and 60 acres of land in the Critical Area. The purchase was made possible through a collaborative effort between Harford County, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Harford Land Trust, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The property, which has been a target for County acquisition for several years, was finally sold for $6,270,000. Funding for the purchase comes from a mix of state and local Program Open Space (POS) funds.
From coverage in Patch:
Operated by the same family since well before the American Revolution, Belle Vue Farm was the only undeveloped and unpreserved area of privately-owned Chesapeake Bay shoreline in Harford County. The land is rich in natural and cultural resources and is contiguous with public parkland at Swan Harbor Farm to its north and Eleanor and Millard Tydings Park to the south. It was the missing puzzle piece to a total of 1,250 acres of preserved land on the Oakington Peninsula, including a total of two and a half miles of coastline.
“We are beyond excited to finally acquire the crown jewel of the Chesapeake Bay coastline in Harford County,” County Executive Barry Glassman said. “I would like to thank our funding partners in the State of Maryland, the U.S. Army, and especially the nonprofit Harford Land Trust for their tireless efforts. Together we will preserve this Harford County and Maryland treasure for generations to come.”
From the Baltimore Sun:
Director of Harford County’s Parks and Recreation Kathy Burley said the acquisition of Belle Vue lets the county be a bit more ambitious in its master plan for the entire 1,250-acre area, which has yet to be formed. The county’s parks and recreation department will handle management and planning on the property.
“Our first step is getting that master plan,” she said after the announcement. “We want to make sure we are doing this in a thoughtful way.”
For more information, view coverage on Patch, The Daily Record, and the Baltimore Sun.
