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State focuses on preservation at Kitts Point
O'Malley's staff says governor typically visits with people on such trips
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
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Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley poses for a group photo with southern St. Mary's residents after he came upon their gathering last week at Kitts Point near St. Inigoes.
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Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's staff reports that the state's main intent for the Kitts Point property purchased earlier this year, which the governor visited last week, is to preserve the property.
The Maryland Board of Public Works approved last January buying the 985 acres from the Corporation of the Roman Catholic Clergyman, part of the state's ongoing Open Space program. Kitts Point is located south of St. Inigoes, on the shores of St. Mary's River.
O'Malley caught a ride on a Maryland Department of Natural Resources boat to a public landing at the site after a March 29 state 375th anniversary event at Historic St. Mary's City. He encountered a group of people at the boat landing, and discussed plans for the recently acquired property with them before leaving by car.
Rick Abbruzzese, the governor's director of communications, later said that in a setting like that, O'Malley "would typically stop and say hello and chat with them for a few minutes."
A participant in the impromptu discussion said last week that possible ideas mentioned for the property included hunting activity, installing trails or leaving it essentially unchanged.
Christine Hansen, a deputy press secretary for the governor, said last week that the last option likely will predominate in a final decision.
"The land was acquired mostly to conserve it," Hansen said.
An overall $56.9 million land purchase by the state also included the church-owned peninsula of Newtowne Neck near Compton and properties in Charles and Cecil counties. The purchase included more than 19 miles of Potomac River waterfront, extensive wildlife habitat and land with historic ties to St. Mary's City, the state's first colonial settlement.
Staff writer Jason Babcock contributed to this report.
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