Breaking Ground with GC In Motion Infrastructure Funds

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

The Population Health, Innovation, & Informatics Unit within the Garrett County Health Department received a competitive grant from CareFirst. This funding will help continue efforts to improve health in Garrett County.

“Our goal is to increase the safe, sustainable use of parks, gathering areas, and shared spaces in Garrett County for increased fitness opportunities to improve health outcomes,” said Shelley Argabrite, MA, Health Strategist for Garrett County.

Several community collaborations have been set in motion to achieve this goal. One such partnership is with the Deep Creek Lake Lions Club. In the 1980s, they created the 30-acre McHenry Community Park on Bumble Bee Road and have continued to add features that serve our community and visitors. 

Current facilities at the park include restrooms, a picnic pavilion, a ball field, a fenced dog park, open playing fields, an art installation created by the Visually Impaired, and a 6-mile trail system/historical exhibit/outdoor art installation themed around local historical figure Meshach Browning. Plans are to break ground on a bicycle pump track and disc golf course later this month, adding to the free features at this park. 

Through this partnership, new infrastructure in the form of a three-quarter mile hard surface loop trail will be put into place to accommodate people of all abilities, including those with mobility limitations, vision impairment, etc. McHenry Community Park’s central location makes this project accessible county-wide. The other features at the park will provide a synergy for families who can use multiple areas at once. For example, caregivers will be able to walk the trail while keeping an eye on youth on the pump track. 

For updates on this project and other free community events designed to improve access to fitness visit GoGarrettCounty.com.

Cutline: A collaboration between Garrett County Health Department and Deep Creek Lions Club will increase fitness opportunities in Garrett County for people of all abilities. Pictured from left to right are Health Officer Bob Stephens, and Chris Nichols, Executive Director of Deep Creek Lake Lions Club, receiving a check from Shelley Argabrite, Health Strategist for Garrett County.