Welcome - Friends of
Kings Branch Flat Creek Natural Area

1015 Ashe Street, Davidsonville, MD 21035

Kings Branch Flat Creek Natural Area was donated in 1996 to all Anne Arundel County (people) for them to use as a natural area. The large brown county sign inside the entrance at 1015 Ashe Street does a great job of laying out the park's rules.

This natural haven is a treasure for the entire Anne Arundel County to enjoy. The fact that $2 million was paid to restore the stream and to also protect hiking trails on this public natural park, speaks volumes about the uniqueness and beauty of this place. For nature enthusiasts, it's a real gem.

The belief in keeping public lands public and accessible to everyone is admirable, and in line with the spirit of community and inclusivity. As highlighted in the Anne Arundel County 2022 Land Preservation, Parks & Recreation Plan (pages 62 & 67), there's a recognized need for Davidsonville to have nature areas like this one - see https://www.aacounty.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/aaco-lpprp-20220705.pdf

This natural area stands as a testament to the beauty of Davidsonville, and it's a valuable resource for all residents of Anne Arundel County. Let's continue to embrace the principle of sharing and generosity, as it ensures that this public land remains a welcoming and enriching place for everyone, regardless of where they live.

Hiker & Nature Enthusiast Go To Spot

There are several established trails and numerous foot paths (a few needing minor maintenance and redoing - must seek County approval first) throughout the park. The nicest parts of this park (stream area and trails) are to the right as you pass through the entrance at 1015 Ashe Street, Davidsonville, MD.

Restoration and Conservation

In 2018, the Kings Branch Flat Creek Natural Area benefited from $2,000,000 in Federal grants from the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forestry Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife and Department of Agriculture Natural Resource and a private $199,000 donation from the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund.

The justification for these funds reads in part to “restore a rapidly eroding 3,270 linear foot stream bank and enhance non-tidal wetlands, thereby reconnecting the floodplain. The Project will reduce nutrient and sediment pollution loads, benefit local residents and visitors by protecting hiking trails in the Kings Branch Flat Creek Greenway Natural Area, and restore lost habitat and stream functions.”

Parking

Street parking is available, but unfortunately, it’s a tenth of a mile from the entrance at the end of Ashe Street. Please see below for how you can help those who don’t have the privilege of walking onto the park from private property.

Important Ways to Get Involved!

Community help is needed to contact Anne Arundel County officials to ensure positive change for these issues.

1. Fix New County-Created Parking Issue: Request the creation of a reasonable off-street parking lot (6 spots) be developed on the property at the end of Ashe Street near the Park Rules sign, similar to other Natural Areas, so small children don’t have to walk in the road for a tenth of a mile. There was a road created at the end of Ashe Street during the stream restoration project, for heavy equipment use, in what was a natural decades-old meadow. Now the natural open space meadow is artificially populated with over 50 saplings.

2. Remove New County-Created Internal Usage Hindrance: Remove the new internal Split Rail fence over the established main trail (see picture below) because hiking was used as partial justification for the $2.2 million stream restoration project.

3. Update the Park Finder App so that Kings Branch Flat Creek Greenway Natural Area is reasonably discoverable when searching for “Natural Areas” and “Trails” by Activity Type – see https://gis.aacounty.org/mapping/index.html?viewer=AACo_ParkFinder”

Please contact the following Anne Arundel County elected officials and staff to let them know how you feel: