Robert Oliver Park Association

09/03/2026

PHASE 1 is complete! Invasives have been removed, five rain gardens have been installed, the river birches have been trimmed, swales have been re-dug and strategically filled with river rocks and plants to collect water and recharge it into the water table instead of having it runoff across the street into the river. Grass will grow in where the lawn was torn up.

PHASE 2 trees and shrubs will be planted in November. We will also ask volunteers to join us to remove vines from the trees.

PHASE 3 which includes bird houses, boulders, and more will take place in the spring.

Feel free to help keep the park looking good by picking up sticks and placing them in the stick pile (near a tree near the mansion side) and pulling weeds from the gardens as you walk through. Every little bit of daily care adds up.

Come see all the changes at the upcoming concerts!

09/01/2026

🌿 We’re Hiring: Park Caretaker at Robert Oliver Park!

Love spending time outdoors and making a difference in your community? The Robert Oliver Park Association (ROPA), in partnership with Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, is seeking a Park Caretaker to help maintain and nurture our green space in the Oliver Beach community.

💰 Pay: $20/hour (contract position)
🕒 Hours: ~4 hrs/week in warmer months, ~2 hrs/week in cooler months
📅 Term: Through at least November 1, 2027

You’ll help care for rain gardens, conservation plantings, and newly planted trees—ensuring they thrive for years to come. Training and technical support provided by GVC.

If you’re passionate about local conservation and want to help protect water quality and wildlife habitat, we’d love to hear from you!

👉 Apply today and join us in keeping Robert Oliver Park green and growing. ALL AGES invited to apply. This is a great job for a youth or retiree. Anyone who can spend a few hours at the park each week.

Apply to [email protected] by September 11, 2026.

08/24/2026

Can anyone use these pieces (the items on the ground in the close part of the picture)? If so, please come and take them as soon as possible. Thank you!

08/17/2026

Dear Neighbor of Robert Oliver Park,

We thought there were some things you should know about our lovely, historic, volunteer-cared-for park!

Our FREE concerts will be held Saturday, September 19th and Saturday, October 10th, both from 5-7pm.

Our Bull Roast and Oyster Roast will be Saturday, October 24th from 4-8pm at the Oliver Beach Community Center. Tickets are $55, and you can reserve yours early by contacting David Houseknecht at 410-456-4535. We'll also have games, fun, and a DJ.

A reminder that motorized vehicles of any kind, including e-bikes, are prohibited in the park. The park is for passive enjoyment only. Motorized vehicles tear up the lawn — which is already struggling — and creates more runoff. Please help us protect the park.

Renovations are about to begin! Thanks to a grant from Chesapeake Bay Trust Storm Smart Chesapeake program, Gunpowder Valley Conservancy (GVC), in partnership with Robert Oliver Park Association (ROPA), has secured funding to restore Robert Oliver Park. Less than 500 feet from the tidal section of the Gunpowder River, Robert Oliver Park serves as a vital green space for our community. This project will transform parts of the park into a living ecosystem that manages stormwater, improves wildlife habitat, and protects local waterways. Planned improvements include five native plant gardens, tree plantings, habitat features for birds and bats, invasive plant removal, and a new permeable gathering space. 🦆🦋🦇 Together, these features will help manage stormwater runoff from more than 51,000 square feet of drainage area, reducing pollution entering the Gunpowder River and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay. GVC and ROPA will also offer community workshops, volunteer opportunities, and educational programming at the park — turning Robert Oliver Park into a model demonstration site where visitors can learn how nature-based solutions improve water quality, support wildlife, and build healthier communities.

Thank you for helping make Oliver Beach the gem of the Gunpowder.

Email [email protected] with any questions.

Best,
The Volunteers of Robert Oliver Park Association

08/10/2026

Park renovations are underway! This week you can expect to see the invasives and overgrown bushes removed and the rain gardens mapped out. If you visit the site, please proceed with caution - it is an active construction site. 👷🏿‍♀️👷🏽‍♂️👷🏿‍♂️👷‍♂️

07/24/2026

Presentation from Gunpowder Valley Conservancy's information session about the renovation of the park is available on YouTube:

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/04/2026

Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® is continuing our advocacy to oppose the lease renewal for the Days Cove Rubble Landfill. To support our effort in protecting parkland, the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, water quality, sensitive species, and community interests, it is time once again to submit public comments...