Poll: What Should Happen to the Essex Skypark?
The county has expressed plans of forcing the 70-year-old airport to move in order to plant trees and address environmental issues.
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Baltimore County officials have recently expressed its desire to clear the site of the 70-year-old Essex Skypark.
Vince Gardina, director of the county’s department of environmental protection and sustainability, said the county wants to clear the 40 acres of the skypark in order to plant trees, improve water quality along Back River, replace forests destroyed by other development in the county and help to mitigate other pollution issues along the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
But, members of the Essex Skypark said the airport is an Essex institution that does not negatively impact the environment and is something that the local residents want to remain in their community.
What would you like to see happen to the Essex Skypark? Take our poll and leave your comments below.
Wayne Croft
10:15 am on Monday, January 30, 2012
What makes Gardina think that planting trees would improve water quality in Back River? The water quality of this sewer will always be tied directly to the quality of the discharge of the sewage treatment plant. What little runoff comes from the paved airpark will never upset that mix either to the good or detrement.
Joan Wood
1:05 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
This has nothing to do with planting trees............it's all about which developer can make the most money...........there are no environment issues.............and as you drive down the main road there are trees as far as you can see. Sounds like Vince got an offer he could not say not too. This property is an essensial part of Eastern Baltimore County History.........it should be promoted and enjoyed by all.............after-all............IT IS THE LAST ONE IN ESSEX! When was the last time you took a ride in a place and didn't need a full pat-down, take everything out of your poctkets or basically get naked? This airport is run by Local guys and gals............they do all the maitance, cut the grass, clean uo the trash etc............PLUS! they pay Baltimore County $12;000 rent and get nothing got it...........tell Baltimore County, and Vince Garnina.............you tried this on us once before............it was called 509.........it didn't work then and it won't work now!
Keith Roberts
7:10 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
The 580+/- acre Skypark Property was purchased with "Rural Legacy" funds. The Rural Legacy Program was established to specifically prohibit development. The Skypark property also has an "Easement" from the Maryland Environmental Trust protecting the forests and wetlands. The Back River Neck Peninsula Community Association (BRNPCA) has continually supported the operation of the Skypark. The "Lower Back River Neck Peninsula Community Action Plan" which is a part of the "Baltimore County Master Plan" specifically supports the continuation of the Skypark. As a former President of the BRNPCA, former Chairman of the Lower Back River Neck Peninsula Community Action Plan, and a community activist in the Essex Middle River community for more than 30 years, I want to go on record as stating that as long as I have a breath in my body, there will be NO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT of the Skypark property. I have yet to find any evidence to substantiate these development rumors. I have, and will continue to support the operation of the Skypark, but I urge all interested parties to stick to the facts and not spread unfounded rumors. Keith Roberts
"Woody" H Wood
2:15 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
There are already trees along the river bank separating the Sky Park from the river. The excuse is phony.
Mari Muccioli
3:13 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
Talked to some of the pilots over the weekend. Seems that the ground has not dried with all the rain, and the trees are standing in water, as well as part of the runway is under water. The pilots asked if they could dig a ditch to drain the water so the ground would dry and it would spare the trees that are there. Nope can't do it. But yet they want to plant 'more trees' Sorry I'm not buying this environmental crap.
Joan Wood
7:51 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
Mr.Keith Roberts,
Please tell us then.............why does the County want to take over this land?
And you need to dig deeper.............
Keith Roberts
6:16 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
I have, and I am digging deeper. I was born and raised near the Skypark. As a child and young man I played, hunted, and spent overnight "camping adventures" on just about all of that property. The first job I ever had was working at the Skypark when it was operated by Earl and Lois Wilson. I took flying lessons there. As an adult and community activist I have spent countless years working to support the Skypark. I do not deny anyone the right to their oppinion. All I ask is that we seperate fact from fiction in regards to the property being developed.
Bob Foertsch
11:07 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
If you look at at aerial photos of Essex Skypark on Google Maps, you will see it is surrounded by trees. The little bit of area taken by the air park is minuscule compared to the surrounding forests. Leave it the way it is. They closed Baltimore Airpark a few years ago and built homes there. I would hate to see that happen on Back River Neck.
Buzz Beeler
9:32 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The facts in Baltimore County can change in an instant, or a phone call.
A classic example of that is the Thistle Landing PUD. Voted down when Councilman Quirk took office and backed by the county planning board on the project not being a good fit for the community, suddenly it was being reintroduced by the council chairman with claims of we may have acted too hastily in voting that PUD down.
Translation - the developers made some phone calls to the right lawyers and what was not a deal is now a done deal.
As to the Skypark, I would say it is safe for some time. This is Councilwoman's Bevings district and as far as I know, there is some distance between her and the developers.
Scott Sewell
10:38 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The sky park is a part of our history. Leave it alone!
Buzz Beeler
11:55 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Scott, I think that is what the people want. Let's just hope they are listening out the road.
George Krach
6:35 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Aviators who operate and maintain the Skypark take great care in the property and ask nothing from the County. There is already a substantial buffer of trees between the landing strip and Back River. There is no reason this Skypark can't stay open well into the future. This Skypark contributes to the local economy and planting an additional 40 acre's of trees will make no difference in saving the Chesapeake Bay. The waste treatment plant can accidentally dump millions of gallons sewage into Back River in a single day and they think 40 acre's of trees will make a difference. I have a question why can't the city and county plant more trees at the waste treatment plant. There is no justification in close this Skypark, in the name of saving the bay and reforestation.
Mark Takacs
10:38 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Vince Gardina doesnt care about the skypark and he doesnt care about the Chesapeake Bay.........just like the govenor.......all he wants to do is meet a goal given too him about some other issue. In this case, he needs to get credits for some other environmental blunder. Just like the govenor using septic systems to control sprawl which does not allow him to balance a budget....nothing to do with the bay as stormwater is the real problem with the bay.
I have always wondered how new homes have never taken over most of the peninsula as I thought sewer hookups were available.
Besides this property, why have developers not taken over much of this land?
Keith Roberts
3:27 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
Maybe because agencies and organizations such as DEPRM, and the Back River Neck Peninsula Community Association along with individuals such as Al Clasing, Bob & Betty Christopher, Vince Gardina, Dutch Ruppersberger, Carl Maynard, Jack Mowll, Leroy Sennett, Theresa Guckert, Bruce Laing, Jack Hession, Jackie Nickel, myself and others have helped to place thousands of acres on the Back River Neck into preservation!!!!!
Tony T
5:46 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
I live at the end of the runway for the skypark and think it just adds to the pleasure of living here. Golf course on one side and skypark on the other, looking out at the water. That is why I live here. When I look at what happened at Hopewell Point it makes me sick. Where was the county when all thoes trees were cut down and the land was raped.