Fort Smallwood Park Partially Closes For Construction In Pasadena

PASADENA, MD - The eastern half of Fort Smallwood Park closed for construction Tuesday in Pasadena.

Construction is scheduled to finish this spring. Crews are currently building a new beach comfort station, parking lot and maintenance building.

The one-story comfort station will span nearly 4,000 square feet. It will have a concession stand, outdoor seating and bathrooms.

The public asphalt parking lot will have 120 spaces. Eight of those will be accessible spaces.

The 5,200-square-foot maintenance building will also be a single story. It will have a fenced-in parking lot with eight spaces. This site will house the stormwater management facilities. 

A sketch of Fort Smallwood Park's forthcoming maintenance facility is shown here. (Courtesy of the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks)

The project will also see the demolition of existing concrete block structures, including the current public restroom and shower buildings, the maintenance building and the wastewater treatment plant.

The Historic Barracks facility will eventually be refurbished and converted into a visitor's center. The design process started in March 2023 and is expected to wrap up in late 2023 or early 2024.

The park's boat ramp, fishing pier, playground and pavilion will stay open during construction.

Construction hours will mostly be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Parking will be limited during the project. Park entrance delays are expected on weekends.

Residents can visit this webpage or call (410) 222-0088 to learn more.

The county also plans to convert these Historic Barracks facility into a visitor’s center. (Courtesy of the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks)

Fort Smallwood Park was originally a military base protecting Maryland's coastline. Construction started in the late 1880s. The fort was active from 1890 until 1927.

Now a 90-acre park, Fort Smallwood lies at the point of a peninsula in northeastern Anne Arundel County where the Patapsco River and Rock Creek meet the Chesapeake Bay.

The park has a 380-foot "Bill Burton Fishing Pier" used by fishers, birdwatchers and nature lovers. 

The historic Cedar Pavilion is rentable for groups of up to 100 people. There's also an accessible playground for children.

An overview of the park's amenities is posted here.

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