Wicomico County’s newest recreational facility, Pirate’s Wharf Park in Quantico has slowly been attracting visitors since opening a year ago. It opened without much fanfare, but the excitement is finally building as more and more people find out about the park. Families are enjoying the woodland-themed playground, the bulk of the crushed stone trails are complete, and interpretive signs and benches have been installed.

Phase 1 is just about finished, and the planning is underway for phase 2 which includes all the water features to enjoy the Wicomico River. In the works is a single-lane boat ramp, a soft launch area for kayaks, a fishing pier and multiple observation decks, said Steve Miller, director of Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism.The project is in the permitting stages which generally takes a while. The county is also in the midst of obtaining funding, which comes from local, state and federal sources, he continued.

Miller envisions creating places to enjoy nature in the next phase, as well as providing more educational opportunities. Park visitors of all ages will be able to learn about habitats, nature features, etc. Since the park’s soft opening last fall, environmental and historical signage have been added along the nearly 2 miles on the Bald Eagle Trail and more will be added in the next phase.

The enclosed playground, perfect for kids ages 2-12, follows the nature theme in every aspect. There are bright red “mushroom caps” for seating, woodland animals are hidden throughout, and a sound machine makes animal noises once you wind up the handle. There are adult benches for seating, but Miller said they received feedback about the lack of shade, so oversize umbrellas were added. 

The gravel trails at 10 feet wide are spacious enough for side-by-side walking, strollers, or wheelchairs. Barriers had to be added at trail entrances to keep cars out; I suppose that’s not that surprising given the spacious design. The property, about 100 acres in this section, was previously farmland so while mature trees are near the water, the rest of the land was sparse. About 10,000 trees were planted last year, but unfortunately, half did not survive and will be replaced. Pollinator meadows have been placed throughout the park, too, and butterflies were all around during my visit last week.

Make sure to notice the educational signs and kiosks throughout. I learned bears lived there long ago, a Pirate’s Wharf owner in 1790 kept slaves including children, and the American Colonists called the Indigenous people “Wicomico.” There’s a lot more to learn! 

Also on site is a covered pavilion with benches, grills, and a large bathroom building. The grounds make a lovely space for events and the pavilion has already been reserved for weddings. 

The first large-scale public event at the park is the Pirate’s Wharf 5K on Oct. 12, Saturday morning. The Eastern Shore Running Club, planning its first race in many years, is hosting the event with proceeds to benefit their scholarship fund for high school seniors. Sign up by this Monday to be guaranteed a t-shirt. The 5K (3.1 miles) incorporates almost all the pathways at the park so head on over and run a few laps to get ready for the race! Overall and age-group awards will be presented and the top male and female runners will each receive a free pair of shoes from VP Shoes – Vernon Powell (up to $150).

Pirate’s Wharf also includes a few hundred wooded acres on the other side of Whitehaven Road and the long-term vision is to put in walking trails, Miller said. Right now, the focus is on getting the water features constructed.

Pirate's Wharf is located at 4701 Whitehaven Road, Quantico, 2.6 miles off Nanticoke Road.