Action Alert: Help Get Trails Funded in Anne Arundel County

The Anne Arundel County Council is holding a series of budget town halls to hear about your priorities for the FY27 county budget. 

Two ways you can provide input:

• In-person during one of the budget town halls per district happening now through February 9. View the full schedule and sign up.
• Via email to budget-comments@aacounty.org 

Why does this matter to mountain bikers? 
 
By being involved in the public input process, we ensure that our elected officials know we want to see more funding for natural surface trails. This will help fund maintenance in Bacon Ridge and projects the community has advocated for, including trails and a paved pump track at Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park and a connector trail between Bacon Ridge and Waterworks. 

We’ve made speaking up for trails easy. Below are some talking points and a sample letter you can personalize for more impact. 

__________________________________

Talking points 

• Trails are not a niche interest and are used year-round by hikers, runners, families, and mountain bikers across Anne Arundel County. 
• Dedicated funding for Bacon Ridge maintenance and stewardship keeps trails safe, sustainable, and open, and protects the county’s existing investment. 
• A connector trail between Bacon Ridge and Annapolis Waterworks would create a more seamless regional trail system and reduce informal/unsafe connections. 
• The master plan for Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park includes new trails and a paved pump track, which is a a family-friendly, all-ages facility for bikes, scooters, and other wheeled users. 
• Natural surface trails are a cost-effective way to expand outdoor recreation and support physical and mental health for residents of all ages. 
• Strong trail systems support local small businesses, attract visitors, and help make the county a place where people want to live and work. 
• Volunteers and groups like Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) contribute significant stewardship. County funding helps scale that work and build/maintain trails to modern sustainability standards. 
• The County should include strong funding in the FY27 budget for Bacon Ridge, Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park (including the pump track), and the Bacon Ridge-Waterworks connector. 

Sample letter

To: budget-comments@aacounty.org 
CC: ExecutiveDirector@more-mtb.org; your county Council Member (see list below) 

District 1: Peter Smith - petersmith@aacounty.org 
District 2: Allison Pickard - allison.pickard@aacounty.org 
District 3: Nathan Volke - nathan.volke@aacounty.org 
District 4: Julie Hummer - jhummer@aacounty.org 
District 5: Amanda Fiedler - amanda.fiedler@aacounty.org 
District 6: Lisa Rodvien - lisa.rodvien@aacounty.org 
District 7: Shannon Leadbetter - SLeadbetter@aacounty.org 

Dear County Council, 

As an Anne Arundel County resident and avid trail user, I’m encouraging the County Council support natural surface trails in its budget planning for the next fiscal year by providing maximum possible funding for Bacon Ridge Natural Area and Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park. 

Anne Arundel County is home to nearly 40 miles of natural surface trails between Bacon Ridge Natural Area (County property) and Annapolis Waterworks (City of Annapolis property). The future location of Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park is located between these two parks. As part of the master plan for Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park, the County has embraced additional trails that would effectively connect Bacon Ridge Natural Area and Annapolis Waterworks into a single, integrated trail system. The master plan also includes a “pump track,” which is a small loop of smooth asphalt with rolling bumps and banked turns. These facilities are designed for all ages and skill levels and can be used safely by bikes, scooters, skateboards, and other wheeled users. 

I strongly support this vision. 

These trails are heavily used year-round by hikers, runners, families, and mountain bikers across the county. Expanding and maintaining this network is a cost-effective way to improve residents’ quality of life by supporting outdoor recreation, physical and mental health, and safe places for people of all ages to be active. 

I’m also asking you to prioritize funding for: 

• Ongoing maintenance and stewardship at Bacon Ridge, which protects the investment already made and keeps trails safe and sustainable. 
• Trail development at Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park, including natural surface trails and the paved pump track envisioned in the community’s planning efforts. 
• A connector trail between Bacon Ridge and the Waterworks, which would create a more complete, accessible regional destination and reduce informal/unsafe connections. 

Investments like these also bring tangible economic benefits. Quality trail systems support local small businesses (bike shops, restaurants, and other services), attract visitors, and help make Anne Arundel County a place where people want to live, work, and raise families. 

Finally, the trail community is ready to help. Local organizations and volunteers (including volunteers coordinated through the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts) regularly contribute time and effort to trail stewardship. County funding is a critical piece of making that partnership successful at scale. 

Please include strong funding for natural surface trail maintenance and expansion in the FY27 budget, with particular support for Bacon Ridge Natural Area, Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park (including the pump track), and the connector that links Bacon Ridge to Annapolis Waterworks. Thank you for your time and for considering this important community priority. 

Sincerely,
[name] 
[city/town]