Two Mathews residents, speaking at the March 24 county board meeting, have requested that the county permit public water-based access to Mathews Heritage Park, which is located on Billups Creek in Moon.

Robert Warren and Marcy Benouameur suggested that supervisors give serious consideration to a recommendation made by Mathews County Administrator Mindy Moran that a committee with Friends of Mathews Heritage Park be allowed to make repairs to the dock on the property and perform other maintenance as needed. Moran also recommended allowing water-based access.

The board received a proposal for development of the park in December that was prepared by the Friends organization for the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority, which holds title to the property for Mathews County residents. However, the board has not taken action on the proposal.

Moran said in a report to the board that approval of water-based access to the site would “allow the Public Access Authority ...