Roland honored by Conservancy for Charles County
Recently retired Charles County Parks Director Tom Roland was honored with the 2016 Charles County Heritage Award presented by the Conservancy for Charles County during its recent fall dinner at the Jaycees center in Waldorf. The conservancy cited Roland for preserving open space and expanding public outdoor recreation and environmental education through his leadership in planning and developing the county’s park system over a 38-year career.
A native of Prince George’s County, Roland came to Charles County in the 1970s. With an education in estuarine science and outdoor recreation and experience working for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, he was well-positioned to direct the expansion of the county’s parks from eight to 31 and from 867 acres to more than 4,000 acres.
Some of his more notable recent acquisition projects include the Indian Head Rail Trail, Friendship Farm Park, Maxwell Hall, Mallows Bay, and most recently, Port Tobacco River Park and the corridor that will eventually become the Popes Creek Rail Trail.
Roland is a past recipient of the Bureau of Land Management Director’s Four C’s Award for outstanding natural resource planning and the Maryland Governor’s Citation for outstanding service related to development and operation of Charles County’s park system. Most recently, Mr. Roland was recognized by the Mallow’s Bay National Marine Sanctuary Steering Committee for his efforts in preserving and promoting Mallow’s Bay.
The Conservancy for Charles County is an all-volunteer non-profit devoted to preserving and protecting the scenic, natural, forest, agricultural, rural, and historic areas of Charles County. It is the only qualified land trust that operates exclusively in Charles County and partners with the Maryland Environmental Trust. It has protected nearly 2,000 acres of privately owned land in the county by working with landowners in a voluntary program of donated conservation easements.
For information about the conservancy, call 301-932-5714.