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- The Saint Leonard History Book by local author Sara Ebenreck-Leeland has been published.
- This delightful tracing of the story of our town has been made available to local elementary school students at no cost.
- Books may also be purchased at several locations in Calvert and St. Mary's County for $15 plus tax. In St Leonard, you may purchase copies at The Chesapeake Market Place and Auction House and at Dickson's Fields of Flowers. In Prince Frederick, you can buy a copy at Educate & Celebrate in the Safeway Shopping Center or at the House of Frames on Main Street. They are also available at Jefferson Patterson Park and Musuem, as well as the Asbury Retirement Center Gift Shop.
- All those wishing to purchase a copy via mail can send their address and $17.25 to the SLVG at PO Box 70, St Leonard, Md. 20685. This amount will cover the tax and mailing costs.
Results of the Saint Leonard Forum
Executive Summary
On Monday, September 20, 2004, the St. Leonard Vision Group invited local citizens of St. Leonard to a Forum, to discuss what they would like to see happen in their town. About 60 persons attended the forum held at the Chesapeake Auction House. Participants included community members, and a few business owners. Nine of the participants were local youth.
Participants initially formed into seven small groups and brainstormed their ideas to improve St. Leonard. The ideas were recorded on flip charts. Following the brainstorming, the featured speaker, Dr. Ralph Bennett, a professor and specialist in small towns from the University of Maryland School of Architecture, spoke to the Forum.
The small groups then reconvened, and selected their three priorities. These were reported out to the whole group. As participants left, they each filled in a card and recorded the three items they felt most strongly about.
This study examines the participants comments in all three formats: the brainstorming, the prioritization in their groups, and their individual priorities. These are captured on the following chart:
Topics Mentioned Most Frequently in the Different Forum Activities
|
Brainstorming
(# of groups) |
Groups Three Priority Areas
(# of groups) |
Cards of Individuals Three Priorities
(# of times mentioned) |
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Bike paths (5)
Community center (4)
Restaurant (4)
Sidewalks (4)
Motel appearance (4)
Skateboard park (4)
Town park (3)
Town appearance (3)
Library (2)
Slower speeds (2)
Paths for recreation (2)
Junk cars (2)
Traffic circle (2)
Beach activities (2)
Bakery (2)
Coffee shop (2)
Hardware store (2)
Pharmacy (2)
Small grocery store (2) |
Business development (5)
Community center (4)
Recreation master plan (1)
Events, beautification (1)
Promote local artists (1)
Infrastructure (1)
Sidewalks (1)
Bikepaths (1) |
Community center (14.5)
Skateboard Park (12)
Small Businesses (10.3)
Sidewalks (9.3)
Bike Trails (6.5)
Appearance (6)
Town Park (5.5)
Recreation area (4)
Beach activities (3)
Town circle (2)
Shoulders on roads (1.8)
Historic emphasis (1.3) |
It can be generalized that the Forum participants care very strongly about a community center. They see it as a facility, a town park, and a recreation center.
The facility can provide a central meeting place, house events, and game room; and include a welcome center and library.
It also could be a town square or village green. Participants consistently suggested that this space be the current site of the SUNOCO station. It might have a park in front, and a fountain, with parking in the rear. Some want a pavilion or bandstand, with benches, gardens and walkways around the green.
A nearby recreation center was also included. Participants mentioned swings, a skateboard park, ball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, a pool, bike paths, and walking trails.
Participants also feel very strongly about encouraging small businesses. Generally, this took the form of listing the establishments that they wanted: restaurant, bakery, coffee shop, hardware store, pharmacy, small grocery store, office supply store, and dry cleaner/Laundromat. They want to encourage new business, and they want to keep the character and appearance of a working town, possibly emphasizing themes and historical events of St. Leonard.
Other issues that participants continued to mention through the Forum activities included:
A skateboard park, which was supported by adults, and unanimously by the youth in the audience.
Sidewalks, particularly connecting the town center to the beaches along Calvert Beach Road and Long Beach Road. This was also seen as a safety issue.
Bike trails connecting neighborhoods, and on shoulders along the roads
The town appearance, while frequently criticizing the motel, participants also promoted beautification issues and ways to make the town even more attractive.
Ways to improve upon the traffic circle, perhaps with a monument or evergreen, and
Beach activities, organized and supervised for kids and youth.
Prepared for the St. Leonard Vision Group, October 11, 2004
Sandra Lee Anderson, Ph.D., Education Research and Evaluation
SLVG members meeting with 1st District
Commissioner, Jerry Clark at the Dowell House on 5th April.for presentation
of St. Leonard's new book, "St. Leonard - A Maryland Tidewater Community".
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