Maryland Park Service Leadership Meeting Notes
From July 8, 2026
Virtual
Attendees: Angela Crenshaw, Rachel Temby, Jonas Williams, Kenneth Miller, Rebecca Jones, Andrew Hangen, Mark Spurrier, Mary Ironside, Dana Paterra, and Sarah Milbourne
Director Angela Crenshaw opened the meeting at 9:02 am.
Director Update with Angela Crenshaw
Hiring
The Hiring Freeze Exemption for the long term contractual Park Technician Supervisor for the Historic Trades Corps was submitted.
A staff member was hired to help move our hiring paperwork in Human Resources and they are doing an amazing job.
Jaime Gutierrez started today (July 8) and he will work with the Bilingual Team in parks.
Reminder - If Barb or I reach out about hiring, please move quickly so we can lower our vacancy rate.
6 Park Openings in 2026
Catoctin Furnace - Done
Freedman’s State Park - Done
Wetipquin Creek State Park - July
Savage Highlands State Park - August
Wills Mountain State Park - September
Holly Beach Farm Natural Resources Management Area - October
The agenda for the upcoming Fall Managers Meeting was discussed.
Deputy Director Update with Rachel Temby
Holiday weekend/peak summer operations - Outstanding effort by teams across the state to persevere through difficult conditions throughout the busy holiday weekend!
Heat - Staff have been taking care of themselves and each other (water, liquid IV, frequent AC breaks, avoiding heavy work in high heat). Teams largely ran with ‘High Heat Procedures’ for full shift/day over monitoring heat index hourly. Please continue to be attentive to the acclimatization period for all staff.
Crowds - Excessive heat reduced visitation in some areas, and reservations helped keep numbers in check in others (some potential adjustments to current Day Use reservation/POS systems were flagged for discussion). Teams have done a tremendous job working through changes. There were several water rescues, searches, medical incidents, and law enforcement issues throughout the weekend. Special shout out to our phenomenal lifeguards!
Storms and Facility Impacts - A water main break at Sandy Point closed the park for Sunday through Monday, our team worked quickly to repair; the Hammerman gate house narrowly escaped damage,the Gunpowder Falls SP team worked all morning to clear trees; there were many trees down and power outages impacting several parks (Soldiers Delight [vehicles damaged], Susquehanna, Elk Neck, Patuxent/Freedmans, Tuckahoe, Gambrill), and several boat accidents.
Communication - Dashboard updates have been a significant help managing real-time notifications, and new parks/areas were added on the fly this weekend as needed.
Partner Unit updates
Natural Resources Police (NRP) Updates
Promotions
Lt. Col. Brent Trautman appointment (Deputy Superintendent - Field Operations Bureau, Support Services Bureau, Special Services Bureau, Community Partnerships and Employee Development Bureau)
Major Chris Morris appointment (Assistant Superintendent - Administrative Services Bureau, Communications Center, Strategic Planning Division, Legal Affairs, Congressional Funding Coordination, Strategic Planning & Organizational Development, Interagency & Public Relations)
Most promotions are effective today, a new NRP contact list has been requested.
We are exploring replacement batteries and some new radios through MITDP (Maryland Information Technology Development Project) funding, including a handful of APX NEXT radios for MPS leadership team/statewide use, and transfer of some inventory from NRP (APX6000 & APX8000).
We are working to finalize initial deployment locations for 16 Axon cameras as a pilot program and meeting with Axon this week to explore trailer options for mobile deployment. These cameras are intended to enhance visitor safety and overall park security through high resolution/real-time monitoring to improve response through rapid alerts, and sync directly with NRP’s body worn cameras and associated database.
Very productive meeting recently with LASOS (Linking All So Others Succeed), a Harford County organization assisting 20,000+ members by providing critical resources needed to support successful integration into American society for non-native English-speaking residents. Several opportunities to promote safety and stewardship messages in partnership with MPS/NRP emerged through discussion, and next steps were identified to enhance shared goals.
Land Acquisition and Planning’s Lisa LaCourse retired last week. Housing Review Committee (HRC), Next Best Use toolkit (NBU), and ongoing leasing matters are expected to experience temporary delays while the Land Acquisition and Planning team stretches to cover those duties. Staff are advised to bring urgent lease concerns directly to Regional/Program Managers for elevation and resolution.
Updates from Information Technology Services
Reminder that all staff must complete the required Security Awareness Training; compliance metrics are reported to the State House.
The Department of Information Technology (DoIT) requires the InTune application to be installed on all DNR phones; approximately 100 out of 700 active cell phones have initiated the transition so far.
Tawes Teams phone transition has encountered a few hiccups (voicemail interruption, headset delays, dial out requirements). There is no set timeline for transitioning field locations to Teams yet, in recognition of the more complex set up and handset needs of field offices. Field teams should avoid disconnecting existing landlines to transition to mobile phones right now, as DoIT will not cover costs after migration as they do beforehand.
The Office of Outdoor Recreation published the Ebike press release on July 1. Staff should continue to reference the Internal Guidance document and raise questions or concerns as needed.
Multiple efforts with the Office of the Attorney General are ongoing - Policy work, litigation, use agreements, affiliated foundations, commercial activities, etc.
Ranger School planning is underway. Many thanks to the dean team & visiting deans for accepting roles and stepping up to lead the 2027 class! Staff are asked to please support Ranger School needs and requests as quickly and thoroughly as possible to ensure success.
Program Planning with Jonas Williams
So far this year, 310 projects have been submitted. The “New PIF” development continues to progress.
Key Projects
We are continuing to collect potential property disposals for consideration by the Office of the Secretary. Having an exhaustive list will allow us to move through the process as Land Acquisitions and Planning become clearer. Park Management teams should feel free to go directly to the Disposal Master List or use this form to submit properties. If you have any questions, reach out to the Planning Team.
The Regenerative Agriculture program continues to move forward through lease development and discussions with the Department of Agriculture. We’re still hoping to post our first opportunity by the end of the summer.
Cultural/Historic Resources Team
Work continues on Preservation MD-led projects.
The South Mountain House Historic Structures Report has been finalized, with efforts shifting to feasibility studies and a public meeting.
Plans for the Rock Run Mill at Susquehanna SP are being reviewed.
Freedman’s SP Master Plan is moving along, we’ve been impressed with the selected firm thus far.
Interpretation
Statewide Programs- Please continue promoting Miles for Maryland & America in Miniature. Contact Melissa Acuti if you need/want a park-specific flyer for America in Miniature.
The next monthly newsletter will need trail recommendations from park staff, please reach out with your favorite hikes to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
Naturalist Field Day- PD, Potluck & Picnic- Thanks to Rocky Gap for hosting! Registration is now open on the Training Calendar. This event is open to classified staff, seasonal staff, and volunteers. The fun day will feature professional development sessions, guest speakers from the Park Service, Kevin Dodge (Garrett College), as well as a potluck picnic. Please see the Training Calendar for more detailed information, the potluck sign-up, and the itinerary. The RSVP deadline is August 5th.
The Maryland State Fair is coming up, where the Department will be featuring an MD 250 theme.
Please consider helping out with a shift at the fair. The Park Service booth will need help staffing over the following dates: Aug. 27-30, Sept. 3-7, Sept. 10-13. Save the dates and reach out to Melissa Acuti for more information.
Girl Scouts Love State Parks- Activities can take place over two weekends this year: September 12-13 and 19-20. Scout troops/councils may reach out to parks asking about opportunities. Consider offering some programs for scouts in your parks during these weekends if you have capacity. Please add your events to this spreadsheet by August 15.
Volunteers
The new volunteer system launched last week, and things are going well! Reach out to Carly Brukiewa for continued support as we all learn the new system.
Maintenance
Wayne Suydam is retiring after 40 years with the Maryland Park Service, including 10 in the Planning Division. We wish him well as he starts a new adventure!
Administration with Kenneth Miller
The Park Recon budget and revenue tracking application is progressing.Training is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14 at 1pm, and St Clair will send the invite. DNR IT is currently moving the application to a new server, with the final release date to be determined.
MPS will continue to honor all previously issued Universal Disability Passes (UDPs) for free day-use entry into state parks. Newly issued UDPs will only apply to mobility impairments for hunt-from-vehicle provisions. The department is continuing its review of the UDP and considering its authority and options to provide an alternate accessibility pass for free entry into state parks moving forward.
All Supply and Material Lists are due to Nakia Johnson on or before July 17th.
PEPs are due to Barb Knisely by July 30, 2026.
May and June Post Stay Survey comments will be distributed soon. Starting in July, managers will receive comments monthly, and leadership discussed ways to ensure safety concerns are shared on a more frequent basis.
Camping reservation system MITDP funds were discussed.
Currently, Chief 360 and the NIOSH (Heat Index) apps have been approved by DoIT for installation on mobile devices. Currently, Myers is working on getting other training apps approved.
The Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) clinician was briefly discussed. We will be using NRP’s clinician moving forward.
Staff need to attend registered training sessions. Increased no-shows have forced last-minute cancellations due to minimum size requirements, affecting those who already arrived. If you cannot attend, please notify the lead trainer and your supervisor in advance to prevent others from traveling unnecessarily.
Conservation Corps with Rebecca Jones
MCC and Historic Trades Corps recruitment underway; lots of great candidates through DSCI, thanks especially to Annie’s public outreach efforts.
We met with E&C to discuss partnering on critical maintenance projects with the Historic Trades Corps.
We will circulate a fact sheet to MPS about the new Historic Trades Corps program and follow up with a request for Parks to express interest in projects, support, and other kinds of collaboration to launch the program. We are also interested in some visible projects to celebrate both the launch of the program and America’s 250th.
Regional Reports
North Central Region Report with Andrew Hangen
We would like to determine which State Park campgrounds are inspected by the local health departments. Please let your regional manager know if your campgrounds are inspected. If they are inspected please share if there is a fee and how much it is.
The campground upgrades at Elk Neck State Park are being delayed. The contractors are having difficulty procuring large electrical transformers. Other interior work cannot proceed until this is complete. Hopefully the project will be complete this fall.
Please update your park hunting web pages this month. The 2026-2027 hunting guide and the Free Public Hunting Permit regulation packet are now online. Your individual park website should not conflict with the information provided by Wildlife and Heritage.
South Central Region Report with Mark Spurrier
Following several incidents involving faulty building materials, a regional meeting about trail bridge standards, maintenance and construction will be held for park managers to review staff responsibilities for care and maintenance of existing bridges, liability for staff and specifications for new construction.
The Kenyan Independence Day celebration is scheduled for this Saturday, July 11th at the Hammerman Area of Gunpowder Falls State Park. Gunpowder staff has requested additional support for the event. If someone is interested in helping contact Ranger Mike Hook directly (michaels.hook@maryland.gov).
A discussion about the status and storage of historic firearms was held. Several parks have weapons in storage that are no longer being used for interpretation or display. These firearms are not considered part of the same inventory as weapons used for wildlife management and are not under the responsibility of the Park Service armorer, Adam Poe.
Southern Region Report with Mary Ironside
St. Clement’s Island access continues to decline. Portions of piers and the passenger landing areas are not usable. The Service may receive political pressure to start construction from the St. Clement’s Hundred and other local officials.
Park septic fields continue to fail at Cedarville, impacting another camp loop. Engineering & Construction is reviewing the issues and park staff are attempting temporary repairs. Septic tanks will have to be pumped out weekly.
Discussed either relocating the original Point Lookout Fog Bell Tower (that currently lives in St. Michaels) or constructing a replica.
Blind Visitor trail accessibility-RightHear: There is an application available that provides an audio description of surroundings, orient themselves, navigate unfamiliar areas, and real-time information about their location. The RightHear application is costly. Research will be done to seek other opportunities for these types of services.
Eastern Region Report with Dana Paterra
Preparations are underway for the acquisition celebration event at Wetipquin Creek State Park, alongside ongoing planning and trail mapping to avoid significant archeological sites. Interest from the press has also prompted the development of a draft media advisory and press release.
At Assateague State Park, seasonal staff losses due to moving, alternative employment, and injuries have stretched the experienced beach patrol crew thin, particularly as they manage responding to needs at Assateague Island National Seashore. A huge shout out to the entire beach patrol team for going above and beyond to adjust standard procedures in order to cover additional miles again this year.
At Shad Landing, the Department of General Services is working on a Termination by Default letter to release the current contractor, allowing the State to address warranty issues independently. To reopen the pool next year, stakeholders are exploring solutions, including hiring a third-party contractor for lifeguard and/or operating service. Regional Manager Paterra will coordinate a meeting with appropriate team members and include Park Manager Thomas and Regional Manager Milbourne so that Dan’s Mountain can consider similar options.
Western Region Report with Sarah Milbourne
Discussed the digitization of Deep Creek Lake Natural Resources Management Area Permits for 2027.
Discussed the removal of the Rappelling Tower at Sideling Hill Creek State Park.
Consecutive native cankerworm defoliation events in 2023–2024, combined with prolonged drought conditions, caused widespread tree mortality throughout Deep Creek Lake State Park. In coordination with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Forest Service, park staff submitted a Project Review for a commercial salvage harvest to reduce wildfire risk, remove hazardous trees, and recover timber value before further deterioration. Planning has been working with the park team to support this effort and a meeting is scheduled to review the project.
Planner Aaron Levinthal visited Western Maryland to meet with park staff, share resources, and tour park sites. His visit was well received, with key discussions focused on identifying Indigenous resources that can help interpret sites where specific historical information is limited, brainstorming ways to support Fort Frederick in researching and documenting lesser-known history and cultural resources, and planning a fall/winter training to teach staff how to document cemeteries using the Sideling Hill Cemetery as a model site with all the elements needed for successful hands-on instruction.
Rocky Gap’s Manager Puffenberger, Planning teammates Williams and Chandler, and Regional Manager Milbourne met with Engineering & Construction (E&C) and the Department of General Services (DGS) to conduct the 50% design review for the campground improvement project. During the review, it was determined that the available budget will not support the original design as proposed. To preserve the overall vision of the project, the team agreed to identify value engineering opportunities and include selected amenities as bid alternates, allowing them to be added if additional funding becomes available. The group also determined that prioritizing electric and water service at more campsites provides greater value than increasing the number of full-hookup (septic) sites, given the availability of campground dump stations. Ultimately, providing electric and water service to more campsites was identified as the most cost-effective approach and the amenity most desired by visitors.
Meeting was adjourned at 1:49 pm.
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