Carr’s Elktonia Beach Park

The Carr’s Elktonia Beach Master Plan establishes a comprehensive vision to preserve and celebrate one of the Chesapeake Bay’s most culturally significant Black heritage landscapes. Once a nationally recognized destination during segregation, Carr’s, Elktonia and Sparrow Beach served as a hub for music, recreation, and economic opportunity for Black communities across the mid-Atlantic. Today, only one of the original beach sites remains, facing challenges from erosion, sea-level rise, and the loss of historical memory.

Rooted in historical research, environmental analysis, and community engagement, the master plan guides the site’s transformation into a resilient public landscape. The approach balances shoreline restoration, habitat protection, and expanded public access with storytelling, education, and cultural interpretation. By integrating ecological systems with cultural preservation, the plan honors the site’s legacy while preparing it for long-term environmental change.

Located along the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, Carr’s Elktonia Beach remains both environmentally sensitive and culturally significant. Surrounded by natural shoreline features and connected to the region’s maritime heritage, the site represents one of the last remaining links to a once-thriving Black waterfront district. The master plan ensures that this history is preserved and shared, creating a lasting community space that reflects resilience, stewardship, and cultural identity.