Two Maryland Sites Named For Outdoor Icons
Places Renamed for Legendary Writer Bill Burton, DNR Forester Francis Zumbrun.
Annapolis, Md –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Board of Public Works (BPW) today approved two special projects: the naming of the Choptank Fishing Pier in honor of Bill Burton, and the naming of the Maryland portion of the Great Eastern Trail and Overlook at Green Ridge State Forest in honor of Francis Zumbrun.
“This is a well-deserved recognition for two iconic figures in Maryland’s outdoor history,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Their extraordinary service to chronicling and championing our State’s natural resources will forever be commemorated in these projects, inspiring families to get outside and enjoy all the unique outdoor recreation opportunities Maryland has to offer.”
Today, the Board of Public Works approved the naming of the Choptank River Fishing Pier in Dorchester County in honor of Bill Burton, a reporter, writer and fisherman who has for more than 50 years chronicled outdoor opportunities for Maryland citizens. The Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park offers a perfect tribute to Bill’s life and work – the pier is a destination fishing sport for anglers, and a popular access point for many working families of Maryland – and he was instrumental in preserving the Choptank River Bridge for a fishing pier when the new bridge was constructed.
Bill’s commitment to the promotion, sustainability and prosperity of fishing and hunting in Maryland is unquestioned by those that know him, especially during the past two years as he has continued to write professionally while fighting cancer. Despite many physical setbacks, he continues to fish and write about fishing, hunting and the great outdoors. In April, Burton was inducted into the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association Hall of Fame. The year’s Maryland Fishing Challenge also celebrates Bill’s life and career.
The Board of Public Works also today approved the naming the Maryland portion of the Great Eastern Trail and Overlook at Green Ridge State Forest in honor of Francis Zumbrun, a forester for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) since September 20, 1978. Currently the forest manager at Green Ridge State Forest, Zumbrun is set to retire in August after 31 years of service to DNR. The new name for this area of the trail will be the Francis O. Zumbrun Scenic Overlook.
During his career Francis Zumbrun has been a tireless promoter of scientific forest management, using Green Ridge State Forest to demonstrate ecologically sensitive management techniques. He is also aware of the value of forest recreation for citizens and how it provides the opportunity to learn important lessons about their outdoor world. He has gone above and beyond his assigned forest management duties to get the Great Eastern Trail, a trail that will one day be comparable to the Appalachian Trail, to be routed through Green Ridge State Forest. The trail now crosses the forest from the Potomac River to the Pennsylvania State Line.
Francis recently received the Presidential Field Forester Award from the Society of American Foresters which is given to individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the practice of forestry.
“It is great to see these men recognized today for their unparalleled, often unsung work for our State,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “On behalf of all those who love and steward our breathtaking natural resources, thank you for sharing your unique insight with citizens and instilling in them an appreciation for Maryland’s vast forests and treasured Chesapeake Bay.”
The three-member Board of Public Works, chaired by Governor O’Malley, is comprised of Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. The BPW is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.
About:
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland’s forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland’s effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state’s number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.DNR.Maryland.gov.