Warfields Pond Park
14523 MacClintock Drive, Glenwood, MD 21738
Although Warfields Pond Park is relatively small, its diverse habitats along with a substantial pond make it worth regular visits.
Amenities: Paved parking lot. Portable toilet. Wide paved path system including two boardwalks totals 1.3 miles (the loop encircling the pond is 0.65 miles); a few short trails offer access to non-pond sites.
Handicapped Access: The nearly level paved path is easy to negotiate. The wooden boardwalks can be slippery in wet weather.
Habitat: The 19.85 acre park includes a 3.8 acre spring-fed pond containing assorted emergent vegetation. Portions of the pond are edged by maturing mixed deciduous trees, some brushy/weedy sections, patches of mown grass, several seepage areas, and, beyond the dam, a fallow (sometimes wet) field with hedgerows.
Layout: Limited active recreational facilities are clustered around the parking lot. Reaching the pond takes less than five minutes. A paved path, with two boardwalks, encircles the pond. On the north side, a wooden gazebo with benches overlooks the pond, while a fishing pier on the west side provides another fine vantage point. Much of the path provides a good view of the sky. A small wooded wetland area east of the picnic pavilion contains a fluctuating amount of water depending on the season and the amount of rainfall. Access is via a dirt path a short distance west of the tot lot. South of the dam a line of trees defines a spongy area; beyond that, lies a fallow field without paths.
This small park has a respectable 150+ species bird list including, as one might expect, several noteworthy species connected with wetland habitats. The most productive times to visit are during spring and fall migration when neotropical species pass through, and later in the winter when nearby ponds have frozen. Checking the sky frequently is advised, particularly during migration.
Efforts to minimize algae appear to have altered the water quality of the pond and it has now become uncommon to see any type of diving duck feeding here or any waterfowl using this pond for an extended period. In its current condition, waterfowl may not arrive until the nearby farm ponds have frozen. Bubblers have been added to oxygenate the water, and they also help to keep some areas of the pond open when many other ponds and lakes freeze over. There is always the possibility that unusual waterfowl may drop in.
The location or angle of the sun is rarely a problem because of the numerous viewing points. During any season, scan the seepage area adjacent to the boardwalk at the northeast corner of the pond.
Howard County Recreation and Parks information
Compilers: Bill Hill and Joanne Solem
