ORNC Council Speaker Series: Hart-Miller Island: Past, Present and Future
President of the Friends of Hart Miller Island, Paul Brylske and Maryland Park Service, Ranger Robin Reed
Tuesday, May 21; 7 - 8:30 p.m.
One of the finest hotspots for viewing wildlife and enjoying Bay vistas in Baltimore County – indeed, in the State of Maryland – barely existed 40 years ago. The islands that form what is now Hart-Miller Island State Park in southeastern Baltimore County were being reclaimed by the Bay. Then, in what was the first of its kind project in the Chesapeake Bay, the small island chain was rebuilt using harbor channel dredge and transformed into a rich habitat that at times hosts the largest concentrations of waterfowl and migratory birds in the Mid-Atlantic region. Join us to hear about this stunning and ongoing transformation and discover the park’s rich wildlife, habitats, trails and other features enjoyed by birders, boaters, hikers and other visitors. Learn also about the role of citizen engagement via the Hart-Miller Island Citizens Oversight Committee, an integral partner with the State and Port in guiding this decades-in-the-making success story.
Paul Brylske is the President of the Friends of Hart Miller Island, a non-profit group which supports the efforts of Hart-Miller Island State Park and overall projects on the island. He currently chairs the Governor’s Hart Miller Pleasure Island Citizens Oversight Committee (COC) and has been a member of the COC for nearly 30 years. His love for the island goes back to his student days at his alma mater, Sparrows Point High School, where as a senior he attended a community meeting around the proposed HMI dredge project. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Paul is a graduate from UMBC and from the University of Maryland School of Social Work where he received his MSW.
Ranger Robin Reed began working for the Maryland Park Service in the spring of 1989. She has served in many roles, including maintenance tech, park programmer/naturalist, office assistant and seasonal ranger. Robin became a Baltimore City school teacher in 1990 and continued to work at the park each summer in multiple roles. Upon her retirement, in 2021 Robin became a full time Maryland Park Ranger assigned to Hart-Miller Island and North Point State Park.
Adults
$10 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)
Registration for this program closes on Sunday, May 19th
Members may only register guests who are covered by their membership. All other guests must register separately as a non-member. This program will be presented in-person at Oregon Ridge Nature Center. All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. A reminder email will be sent to all registered guests prior to the program.
