Near Kettering in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The History of Watkins Regional Park
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 4, 2017
1. The History of Watkins Regional Park Marker
Inscription.
The History of Watkins Regional Park. . The Robert M. Watkins Regional Park is 864 acres in size. It was named in honor of Robert Watkins, who served as the Chairman of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) from 1951 until 1954 and played a significant role in establishing and planning parks and open space in Prince George's County. His leadership did much to further the programs of park acquisition and development that have resulted in one of the nation's finest park and recreation systems. In 1964,Watkins Regional Park joined the growing network of public lands managed by M-NCPPC. , The land on which Watkins Regional Park now sits was once part of a. large estate owned by the Belt family, dating back to the 1600's. The main crop at the Belt Farm was tobacco, although a portion of the farm was also kept wooded. The last Belt family member to live on the property was William Seton Belt. , After Mr. Belt died in 1959, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission purchased a portion of the property in order to preserve the land and create a regional park. Two parcels totaling 437 acres were originally bought from the William Seton Belt estate. , Since 1991, M-NCPPC has purchased ten additional parcels totaling 427 acres, almost doubling the park's size. Watkins Regional Park offers many recreational amenities including: Watkins Nature Center, Old Maryland Farm, Chesapeake Carousel, an 18-hole miniature golf course, a miniature train, Watkins Tennis Bubble, two imagination playgrounds, picnic pavilions, a variety of trails and natural areas. Over one million visitors come to the park each year to enjoy the recreational amenities, festivals and special events. In addition, the park still has large, beautiful fields used for agricultural production that display the importance of the County's agricultural heritage.
The Robert M. Watkins Regional Park is 864 acres in size. It was named in honor of Robert Watkins, who served as the Chairman of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) from 1951 until 1954 and played a significant role in establishing and planning parks and open space in Prince George's County. His leadership did much to further the programs of park acquisition and development that have resulted in one of the nation's finest park and recreation systems. In 1964,Watkins Regional Park joined the growing network of public lands managed by M-NCPPC.
The land on which Watkins Regional Park now sits was once part of a. large estate owned by the Belt family, dating back to the 1600's. The main crop at the Belt Farm was tobacco, although a portion of the farm was also kept wooded. The last Belt family member to live on the property was William Seton Belt.
After Mr. Belt died in 1959, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission purchased a portion of the property in order to preserve the land and create a regional park. Two parcels totaling 437 acres were originally bought from the William Seton Belt estate.
Since 1991, M-NCPPC has purchased ten additional parcels totaling 427 acres, almost doubling the park's size. Watkins Regional Park offers many recreational amenities
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including: Watkins Nature Center, Old Maryland Farm, Chesapeake Carousel, an 18-hole miniature golf course, a miniature train, Watkins Tennis Bubble, two imagination playgrounds, picnic pavilions, a variety of trails and natural areas. Over one million visitors come to the park each year to enjoy the recreational amenities, festivals and special events. In addition, the park still has large, beautiful fields used for agricultural production that display the importance of the County's agricultural heritage.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places.
Location. 38° 53.392′ N, 76° 47.237′ W. Marker is near Kettering, Maryland, in Prince George's County. It is on Old Enterprise Road. This marker is at the beginning/end of the Loop Trail in Watkins Regional Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Upper Marlboro MD 20774, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other markers no longer nearby. Mount Lubentia (was approx. 1½ miles away but has been confirmed missing); Northampton Plantation Slave Quarters (was approx. 1.8 miles away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 4, 2017
3. Loop Trail Mile 1.7 Mile 0.0
The beginning and the end of the Loop Trail.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,878 times since then and 115 times this year. Last updated on February 18, 2022, by Bruce Guthrie of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 7, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
