Calico Rocks Regional Park Development

The park is being named Calico Rocks Regional Park because of the limestone conglomerate known as “Calico Rock” which forms some of the rock outcrops on the site.  Calico rock is also known as Potomac marble, however, it is not marble but rather limestone, quartz pebbles, and multicolored fragments naturally cemented together.  The stone was deposited at the mouths of ancient rivers in a series of alluvial fans in the western edge of the Triassic Lowland province in Maryland and Virginia.  Depending on where the material is quarried colors of the conglomerate can have inclusions of gray, beige, yellow, black, white, brown, orange, and reddish brown in various combinations with veins of calcite.  Calico rock was used by Benjamin Latrobe in 1815 to restore parts of the Capitol in Washington D.C. destroyed by the British during the War of 1812.  Unfortunately, the rock conglomerate was difficult to work with as its pebbles and fragments would break apart unlike marble.

Master Plan

Frederick County purchased this 199-acre site in Point of Rocks from the Offutt family in 2010 with Project Open Space Funds for a regional park.  Human & Rohde, Inc. Landscape Architects were retained to prepare a Master Plan for the site.  A Master Plan Advisory Committee composed of representatives from athletic associations, recreation councils, community associations, nature groups, adjacent property owners, and Parks & Recreation Staff worked with Human & Rohde, Inc. to develop a plan that would incorporate both passive and active recreational needs of the area into the site.  The Preliminary Master Plan was presented to the Community at an Open House on August 19, 2019, to the Frederick Parks & Recreation Commission on October 10, 2019, where it was approved, to the Fredrick County Planning Commission on November 13, and to the County Council on December 3, 2019. 

The Master Plan for Calico Rocks Regional Park was prepared with the direction of Frederick County and the Calico Rocks Regional Park Master Plan Advisory Committee.  We would like to acknowledge and thank those individuals who contributed their time and energy to this project.  They brought knowledge to the table regarding the sports facility needs while sharing information readily with those they were representing in the greater community.  The residents of Frederick County will have another park to enjoy because of their efforts.  

Design Phase

The design of Phase One is currently in the FY25 Capital Improvement Program Budget funded. Budget Office | Frederick County MD - Official Website