St. Leonard Vision Group

In January 2002 a small group of St. Leonard area citizens began to consider the formation of an area wide group to discuss how St. Leonard could become a town that provides additional public and private services to the residents now living in the many new surrounding communities that have been built in the last twenty or so years. There was a perceived need to have a central place at which close-to-homeshopping and services would be available and where informal gatherings could occur. Such places provide for a greater sense of community and for small business growth.

The SLVG received assistance from the Southern Maryland Resource Conservation and Development group (SMRC&D), a non-profit that has provided SLVG a tax deductibility umbrella, and initial meeting facilitators and mailing support services.

An initial meeting was held at the St. Leonard Fire House in April 2002, with about 80 residents and business owners attending. During this meeting, small groups of attendees discussed what they saw as both the positive aspects and concerns, along with how to proceed to address these issues. From this meeting the work of SLVG has proceeded.

Areas for work were identified, as follows:

• Community Spirit: to plan and carry out special eventsand gatherings during the year
• Heritage Research and Sharing:
  • The writing of the St. Leonard Heritage Story
  • The inside of the historic Polling House
• Communications:
  • Newsletter
  • Website
  • Brochures
• St. Leonard Beautification:
  • Weekly gardening at the Garden of Remembrance during the season
  • Downtown St. Leonard flags for new streetlight poles.
  • Clean-up along Rt. 765 and other roads
• Advocacy:
  • For a second road out from the beaches communities
  • For the county to purchase the Sunoco gas station to provide central village green type of public space and additional parking
  • To upgrade the lower level of the Dowell House for youth activities
    • (each of these are presently on hold)
• Business Support:
  • A St. Leonard area business community directory
  • Events that bring others to the town
  • Upgrading of the Polling House and Garden of Remembrance Park and
  • Cultural and historic events on site
    • Espouse additional parking in part of the old Sunoco station area.
    • Espousing the creation of village green space to provide a pleasant centrally located Commons area
• Natural Resources:
  • Investigate how present day St. Leonard can be more connected to its Historic St. Leonard Creek area.
  • Trails and bikeways for the safety and outdoor recreation possibilities of Area residents.