Alpha Ridge Park
11685 Old Frederick Rd/Md 99, Marriottsville, MD 21104
This 72-acre park, adjoining the Alpha Ridge Landfill, combines some fine birding habitats with active recreational opportunities.
Amenities: Paved parking. Modern restrooms. A few paved paths (mostly around park facilities); mown areas along wood edges and a few overgrown trails in woods and meadow. Howard Astronomical League schedules public star parties at the observatory located adjacent to the restrooms.
Handicapped Access: Limited. Paved sidewalks and roads offer viewing points. Mown areas can provide additional access.
Habitat: Central open areas provide good views of the sky. The wet meadow contiinues to transitiion into a deciduous floodplain forest as a result of past tree planting, while remnants of an old beaver pond provide a small pool of standing water. Other areas include a stormwater management pond with cattails and some brushy edges; na arrow stream bordered by mature deciduous trees; two small groups of pines (now in decline); and one small area of healthy confiers. To the south, the adjoining landfill is fenced, but views of the sky allow observers to pick up varied raptors over that extensive expanse.
Layout: Organized athletic activities bring most people to this park. The active recreation is centrally clustered near MD 99. Much of the peripheral portion of the park is undeveloped. There are no marked trails and a limited paved path system that leads mostly to the various athletic facilities. The stormwater management pond is south of the in-line hockey rink. The remnants of the wet meadow and beaver pond lie south of the central activity area and can be viewed from locations either south of the pavilions or the stormwater management pond. A wet meadow lies south of the central activity area and can be viewed from locations south of either the pavilions or the tennis courts. Note that trees previously planted in the meadow have reduced the open area. Wooded areas lie east and west of the meadow. A tree-line stream beyond the meadow divides the park from the landfill. Mown strips around fields provide access to wood edges and to the stormwater management pond.
In addition to many bird species, the varied habitats at this park are also attractive to a variety of butterflies and dragonflies.
If one ventures into either the wet meadow or the floodplain woods, knee-high boots/sturdy footgear and long pants are advised; afterwards, check carefully for ticks.
Managed deer hunts. The Department of Recreation and Parks annually schedules a limited number of managed deer hunts at the park. The schedule for the hunts is posted at the park entrance and can be found on the Recreation and Parks website.
Howard County Recreation and Parks information
Compilers: Ralph Cullison and Joanne Solem
