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The Friends
Inside Scoop
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October Photo Contest Winner
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Autumn Walk
by James Bridger
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“October, baptize me with leaves! Swaddle me in corduroy and nurse me with split pea soup. October, tuck tiny candy bars in my pockets and carve my smile into a thousand pumpkins. O autumn! O teakettle! O grace"
Rainbow Rowell
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President’s Message
Big News For Quiet Waters Park!
Last week the Department of Recreation and Parks delivered to the Stakeholder Group a completed plan for the 19-acre Retreat Property.
Anastasia Hopkinson of the Annapolis Neck Peninsula Federation, stated, "This final concept plan is what the majority of citizens wanted: a natural environment, with trails, water views, native plants, and without building structures. It achieves the rallying cry from our 2023 focus group: 'Keep It Natural; Make It Native'."
You can access the concept plan with the link below.
There will be a meeting to discuss this plan in the Blue Heron Center in Quiet Waters Park on Wednesday, October 8th, 6-8 pm. After this meeting, we will send out an e-mail and post on our website more details about the plan and next steps. In the meantime, here is a quote from the plan that describes the intention of the design:
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“The final Quiet Waters Retreat Master Plan reflects the culmination of a thoughtful, community-driven design process. At the final stakeholder workshop in March 2025, the group reviewed a refined concept that blended key elements from the three original design options, prioritizing low-impact trails, ecological restoration, interpretive experiences, and small-scale gathering features.
The plan avoids programmed development in favor of trail-based discovery, habitat restoration, and naturalistic amenities. Features such as scenic overlooks, a rehabilitated boathouse platform, and informal spaces like the Council Ring were carefully sited to preserve specimen trees, protect sensitive slopes, and enhance views of the South River and Loden Pond.
The result is a nature - first park experience, a quiet extension of Quiet Waters Park that invites reflection, supports passive recreation, and fosters long-term environmental stewardship. The design maintains the site’s natural character while offering inclusive access and meaningful opportunities to engage with the landscape."
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As with all plans, "the devil is in the details" of execution, yet the Friends are optimistic that this is a thorough and well-intentioned step towards assuring that the new property is a beautiful enhancement to Quiet Waters Park.
Kristin Pauly, President
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Submission Deadline Extended - October 31st!
Entries Remain Open for the 11th Annual
Friends of Quiet Waters Park Photo Contest
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Susan Tousley
"The Heron's Garden," Oil on Canvas
Annapolis Arts Alliance
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Tina Van Pelt
"Beautiful Swimmer," Fused Glass
Annapolis Arts Alliance
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Stacy Lund Levy
"Summer Fling," Watercolor Retrospective
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Art Gallery Exhibit
Annapolis Art Alliance
October 15 Thru Nov 16
Two exhibits will open in the Galleries at Quiet Waters Park on October15 and show through November16, 2025. In the Willow Gallery will be the Annapolis Arts Alliance whose show, “Art by the Bay,” is a celebration of color and creativity, capturing the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay region. Included will be coastal scenes, landscapes, wildlife, sunsets and color. There will be a variety of art forms: paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media, as well as three dimensional work in glass, pottery, fiber, metal and wood. This exhibit is also opened to county high school and college students. Annapolis Arts Alliance is a non-profit organization supporting local high school students with scholarships and community outreach programs.
The Garden Gallery will hold the works of Stacy Lund Levy in her "Warcolor Retrospective.” She shoots reference pictures everywhere she goes. She looks for interesting shapes and color combinations, light and shadow patterns and generally anything that will bring back fond memories of her experiences. "Watercolor Retrospective" is a series of watercolor paintings representing details from various events in her life.
The Opening Reception is October 26 from 1:30 to 3:30 in the Visitor Center building which houses the Galleries. Entrance to the park is $6 per vehicle; this fee is waived for the reception ONLY. The Galleries are opened from 9 - 4 on weekdays and 10 - 4 on weekends.
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Stacy Lund Levy
"Bird of Prey," Watercolor Retrospective
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As the weather cools and the ticks are less numerous, we are ready to kick off our fall and winter invasive removal events at Quiet Waters Park. As we are sure you have noticed, there is a significant issue with the ongoing health of the forested areas in the park due to a significant number of invasive plants, English ivy, bittersweet, privet, and wineberry to name a few.
We will hold our first two monthly events on October 4th and November 8th. In addition, we will be having invasive removal events the second Wednesday of each month starting with Wednesday October 8. The details, including a sign up genius link, for October 4th are as follows:
When: Saturday October 4th, 9:30 to 11:30
Where: Meet at the parking lot by the compost trail.
What: We will be hand-pulling bittersweet and digging privet and wineberry so dress appropriately — long sleeves, long pants, sturdy shoes.
Training, extra tools and gloves will be provided. Bring water and bug spray, and help kick off the fall and winter season of invasive removal events!
In the meantime, If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, contact Terri McKenna (teresa@friendsofquietwaterspark.org) or Ranger Liz Schilder (rpschi66@aacounty.org).
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📜 History Corner 📜
Quiet Waters Park
Celebrating 35 Years of Memories and Milestones
On a crisp autumn day in October 1987, Anne Arundel County embarked on a transformative adventure by purchasing a sprawling 340 acre farm along Forest Drive from the Mary Parker Foundation for $4.5 million. This acquisition was more than a financial transaction; it was the birth of a cherished community park and an environmental legacy, protecting the largest remaining undeveloped parcel of land along the Annapolis Neck Peninsula.
In the coming months of this Newsletter, the Friends will be presenting some of the significant memories and milestones of the past 35 years. We hope you will follow along with us on our flight into history...
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• Who’s excited for Fall foliage? Autumn is here and the change of foliage peaks in the 3rd week of October! This is the perfect time of year to grab your binoculars and take a relaxing walk in nature to observe the birds and beautiful colors of fall.
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•How are your bird feeders and bird houses looking? Having clean feeders and houses that are in good working order can help increase your success in attracting birds to your yard and help keep them returning year after year. The lighter bird activity this time of year presents a great opportunity to clean, repair, or replace feeders and nesting boxes. Utilize this “calm before the storm” to get ready for the busy bird feeding and housing season ahead!
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• Noticing a slow-down in the activity at your bird feeders? Don’t worry – this is normal and, most importantly, temporary. There are a lot of changes in activity this time of year due to fall migration and the surge of natural food sources in some locations. If your bird activity is a little slow, you can scale back the amount you are serving, but don’t stop completely! Always keep some fresh food available because birds will still visit bird feeders to supplement their diet. Rest assured, once the natural resources dry up and the temperature drops, they will be knocking on your door!
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Join the Anne Arundel Bird Club on their monthly walk in Quiet Waters Park on paved paths through habitat that includes mature deciduous forest, wood edges, mowed fields, wetlands, and a native plant garden, along with sweeping views of the open waters of the South River and Harness Creek. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Quiet Waters Park Road past the Visitor Center, the amphitheater and dog park (note change from last month). For further information contact Jim Collatz, jcollatz@aol.com, 301-254-0188.
This event is recurring the 3rd Sunday of each month September through May.
Time is 8:00-10:30.
600 Quiet Waters Park Road
Annapolis, MD 21403
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Nature Center Sundays
Join the park ranger every Sunday from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm for Nature Center Sundays, a special opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of the outdoors.
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Infant/Toddler Hike
Join Ranger Liz every Tuesday for a fun fall hike! The location changes each week, so ask the gate attendant where we are.
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Individual annual memberships are only $25 and help us fund projects & events in the Park.
Become a member today!
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Not ready for a membership, but would still like to donate? Click below to donate today!
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Honor Your Loved One
While Helping Your Favorite Park!
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Next time you are in the Visitors Center, visit the Memorial Tribute Tree in the entrance foyer installed by the Friends of Quiet Waters Park and park staff. The tree offers those wishing to honor loved ones an opportunity to purchase gold, silver, and copper leaves and special features such as acorns or mini trees. These will be custom engraved with your personal messages. The engraved feature will be a perpetual tribute to your loved one and proceeds benefit the park.
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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPONSOR OF PROGRAMS IN QUIET WATERS PARK?
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FRIENDS OF QUIET WATERS PARK ARE SUPPORTED IN PART BY OUR LOCAL SPONSORS. CONTACT US TODAY TO LEARN MORE:
Info@friendsofquietwaterspark.org
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Friends of Quiet Waters Park
www.fqwp.org
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