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Dinosaur Park Officially Dedicated and Opened To the Public

dino park ribbon cutting
Shown left to right at the ribbon cutting ceremony are: Don Creveling, M-NCPPC Archaeology Program Manager; Tom Aylward, Vice President of Jackson-Shaw Company who donated land and developed the park; Peter Kranz, Paleontologist; Prince George’s County Planning Board Commissioner Sarah Cavitt; Prince George’s County Council member Thomas Dernoga; Richard Dolesh representing the National Recreation and Parks Association; and Director of Parks and Recreation Ronnie Gathers. Not pictured but speaking at the event was Butch Norden of the Department of Natural Resources who found the five-foot dinosaur bone at the site many years ago.

The five-foot dinosaur bone is now in the hands of the Smithsonian. At an official ceremony, M-NCPPC opened Dinosaur Park that features a 41-acre property with fossil deposits from the Cretaceous Period (144 – 65 million years ago) including the fossils of a wide variety of dinosaurs and early flowering plants. A parking area is bordered by large chunks of ironstone and a small garden features plants reminiscent of dinosaur times. Permanent fiberglass wayside panels provide interpretation of dinosaur times and the area’s industrial past as an iron ore furnace, and brick factory. Also, the African American iron workers established communities in the area. In the future, public programs and tours will be offered by reservation at this unique natural resource. For information about the park call 301-627-7755, TTY 301-446-3402.