Beach #80 Elktonia/Carr’s Beach Park

Beach #80 Elktonia/Carr’s Beach Park, Bembe Beach Rd, Annapolis, MD 21403

In This one is near and dear to my heart! Hello from Annapolis' newest waterfront park, Elktonia/Carr's Beach! 

My friend, Vince Leggett, president and founder of Blacks of the Chesapeake, (who just happened to be here!!!) worked for 15 years to conserve this last remnant of the world famous Carr's & Sparrows Beaches. "The Beaches," as they were called, were the heart of entertainment for Blacks in the mid-Atlantic during the time of segregation. The entrepreneurs of these Black-owned beaches also welcomed white people here. As laws changed, and Blacks were allowed to visit places like Sandy Point State Park and Ocean City, visitorship fell and the land owned by the Carr's and Sparrows' families was developed and also became a water reclamation plant.

A personal professional life highlight was supporting media relations when three incredible nonprofits (Blacks of the Chesapeake, The Conservation Fund & Chesapeake Conservancy) and many community members and elected officials succeeded in conserving this special place which so easily could have been lost to high end development. I must shout out my boss, Joel Dunn, who gave this effort his all. 

Enjoy this Chesapeake view which includes Greenbury Point Conservation Area and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. #SaveGreenburyPoint

The site is open to visitors, although there is still much work to be done here. In February 2024, an adjacent 0.67-acre-property once owned by Dr. Parlett Moore, a former president of Coppin State University, was acquired, expanding the park. This was made possible thanks to City funding as well as funding from Anne Arundel County, The Conservation Fund, Blacks of the Chesapeake, Chesapeake Conservancy, Maryland Heritage Area Authority and hundreds of private donors, including Merrill Family Foundation, France-Merrick Foundation and the William L. and Victorine Q. Adams Foundation, Inc. Park planners are envisioning a future interpretive center and headquarters for BOCF.

‍Access to Elktonia-Carr's Beach Heritage Park is along a quarter mile interpreted walking path across the street from the Annapolis Maritime Museum Park Campus located at 7300 Edgewood Road, Annapolis MD. Read more about Elktonia/Carr's Beach here.

Note: Note: Sadly, Vince Leggett passed away about two years after this blog was published. Please read this incredible tribute and my submission.