We have some exciting local news to celebrate! On Saturday, April 25, 2026, the community gathered at 10:00 a.m. for the official grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the brand-new Elite Pocket Park in Waldorf.

The festive morning featured inspiring opening remarks from our local County Commissioners, an enthusiastic turnout of neighborhood families, and a wonderful, hands-on flowerpot-decorating and native-seed-planting session hosted by the Student Conservation Association (SCA).

Located right at the Elite Gymnastics and Recreation Center (2745 Old Washington Road), this beautiful project is a shining example of sustainability in action. It completely transforms what was once a sprawling, unused asphalt parking lot into a vibrant, climate-resilient green space.

Instead of hot pavement that used to collect standing water, the new pocket park features:

• Native Plantings & Wildlife Habitat: Beautiful native trees, shrubs, and grasses that provide vital food and shelter for local pollinators and songbirds.
• Natural Stormwater Solutions: Two innovative underground bioretention areas that naturally absorb rainfall and help prevent local stormwater flooding.
• Cooling Shade & Seating: A welcoming, shaded environment with quiet seating where parents can gather, summer camps can explore, and children can safely play and connect with nature.

Keeping the Green Growing

The community effort doesn’t stop now that the ribbon has been cut. To ensure the park's 17 new native trees and surrounding greenery thrive through the hot summer months, the Charles County Resilience Authority Youth Corps has stepped up! These amazing local young adults are actively supporting the site by installing and maintaining specialized tree watering bags, ensuring a steady, deep water supply as the root systems establish themselves.

This fantastic space is part of a broader local effort to turn "concrete to green," bringing climate resilience and equitable access to nature right into our built-out urban neighborhoods.

🌿 Want to see the transformation yourself or learn about future projects? Visit the Charles County Resilience Authority page to learn how local green infrastructure is building a more sustainable future for us all!

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CHARLES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS | ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES DIVISION | 10430 Audie Lane, La Plata, MD • 301-932-5656 (MD Relay 7-1-1)