Maryland Park Service will implement a reservation system for select parks on holidays and weekends to manage overcrowding and parking issues.

Starting May 19, reservations for Sandy Point and Greenbrier state parks will be required. More parks are expected to implement the same plan at a later date.

Tim Hamilton, business and marketing manager for the Maryland Park Service, explained that the initiative follows a successful pilot program at Falling Branch in 2019.

“We shattered all of our records as far as attendance in Maryland state parks with 14 million,” Hamilton said. “The next year we went from 14 million to 22 million.”

The reservation system is designed to ensure visitors have a guaranteed spot to visit the parks.

“If you make a reservation ahead of time, you know that you’re going to get in,” Hamilton said. “You’re guaranteed a spot.”

The cost of a day pass will vary by park but is generally around $3 per car. Reservations can be made online or by phone, and visitors will receive a QR code for entry.

Hamilton acknowledged the potential for initial complaints but expressed confidence that visitors would eventually appreciate the system.

“I promise you that after a couple months of this and people are going to begrudgingly say, okay, I kind of like this,” Hamilton said.

MPS plans to roll out a comprehensive education program to inform the public about the new system, utilizing social media, newsletters, and videos in both English and Spanish.