Business View Civil and Municipal | May 2021

93 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL MAY 2021 TOWN OF EASTON, MARYLAND guys that like to get in out of the cold and play basketball.” These changes and improvements add to an already long list of accomplishments the town can call its own. Centralized on the eastern shore of Maryland, Easton is ideally located for recreational activities. There are more than 150 acres of public parks and playgrounds, in addition to the miles of rail trails. “Easton from the start has benefitted from a great location,” says Willey. “We’re in the center of great hunting, fishing, watersports, and historical sites. Among them, the Quaker meeting house, the Robert Morris Home (he helped finance the Revolutionary War), Lt. Col. Tench Tilghman (George Washington’s aide de camp), and also the home of Frederick Douglass.” Due to its proximity to Baltimore, Washington, and Philadelphia, Easton is close to the big sporting teams, including the Orioles, Ravens, Nationals, Phillies, and Eagles. It’s also within driving distance to major urban centers and a wealth of cultural events, such as theatrical downtown is critical to us, and we’re happy to see it continue and grow.” Since recreation is an important component of a successful and trendy area, efforts are underway to extend the length of the existing rail trail, making the community more walkable. The trail currently runs through town along a converted rail bed from a line that hasn’t been used in more than 40 years. Thomas explains, “It’s currently about two-and-three-quarter miles long in a north-south direction, and we are getting ready to move in an east-west direction to approximately double that. And we have even more informal plans to do more along those lines.” The town is also working to improve the area’s athletic capabilities by putting in new ball fields and installing lights so games can be played past dusk. The long-term objective is to take athletics even further by building an indoor sports complex. “Not only for the young kids,” says Willey, “but also for the middle-aged