Site considered the most significant fossil deposit east of the Mississippi

In partnership with Jackson-Shaw, a national, diversified commercial real estate development and investment company, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George's County recently dedicated Dinosaur Park, a unique, 41-acre site that is considered the most significant deposit of dinosaur and plant fossils anywhere east of the Mississippi.

Jackson-Shaw donated 7.5-acres of land containing the exposed portion of the fossil deposit to the M-NCPPC, allowing the organization control of the fossil beds. The land is adjacent to the company's development known as The Brick Yard, a 125-acre master-planned residential, commercial and retail development. The project is one of the largest LEED registered developments in the region.

"The fossil bed was preserved during Jackson-Shaw's reclamation of the land for The Brick Yard. Very early in the project we understood that preservation of this deposit was in the best interest of the community," said Tom Aylward, vice president of development for Jackson-Shaw. "We are pleased to support the efforts of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to properly excavate these fossils so they may be studied and preserved for future generations."

In addition to the land donation, Jackson-Shaw designed and built the gardens and parking facilities at Dinosaur Park and installed the fence that surrounds the exposed fossil bed. Landscaping elements, including park curbs and seat walls, were created with iron ore, concrete and brick that were recycled from the site, a former brick manufacturing complex.

"This site is truly a monument to the history of our region, from the age of the dinosaurs to modern times," said Ronnie Gathers, director of Parks and Recreation for the M-NCPPC. "Jackson-Shaw's donation of land and generous development of the gardens has provided the community with a valuable educational resource."

The park's original 34 acres were dedicated to M-NCPPC by Potomac Capital Investments Corporation in 1996.

Dinosaur Park has been the site of numerous fossil finds and represents millions of years of Prince George's County's history spanning from the Cretaceous Period (144 -65 million years ago), when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, to the early Iron Industry of Maryland. Ironworkers from the Muirkirk Furnace began finding "strange bones" in the iron ore pits as early as the 1850s. Many other dinosaur bones and fossils, including early flowering plants, have since been found in the Muirkirk clay deposits, including one six-foot-long bone which was originally reviewed at The Smithsonian and is now on display at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore.

Plans for ongoing educational programming at the site are being developed. The park includes a fenced area enclosing the exposed fossil deposit. The public will be able to call ahead to schedule site visits accompanied by a Department of Parks and Recreation staff member or other qualified guide.