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R C Edition OCEAN PINES • WEST OCEAN CITY • BERLIN MD
August 4, 2025
Volume 2, Issue 15
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER
OP residents weigh in on proposed cell tower during virtual town hall meeting By ROC Edition Staff A virtual town hall meeting held last Monday gave Ocean Pines residents a platform to raise questions and voice concerns on the proposed construction of a monopole in the Ocean Pines Golf Course’s maintenance yard. This project aims to solve the community’s network coverage gaps in certain parts of the community. During the meeting, residents asked a variety of questions regarding what areas will benefit the most and even offered some suggestions to modify the plan. The July 28 meeting was coordinated by Milestone Towers, the wireless infrastructure developer currently handling the early stages of the monopole project, and had representatives from Verizon, one of the three prospective carriers, present. In the virtual meeting, one common theme among many of the residents’ questions was whether the monopole would effectively improve coverage for the general area or just for its immediate surroundings. One resident who posed this question was Chief Tim Robinson of the Ocean Pines Police Department who looked at the proposal from a safety perspective, seeing poor coverage as negatively affecting communication between first responders and the public. A representative of Verizon, Paul Plymouth addressed the police chief’s concern, assuring him that the tower is expected to significantly enhance coverage and also alleviate current network congestion. “The network (in Ocean Pines) right now is so congested that putting in that tower just makes things a lot better in that general area … and while there’s still going to be some congestion, and there are some ways we can deal with that congestion, there’s going to be a lot bigger impact for the general area,” Plymouth said. Fawad Ali, a radio frequency engineer also representing Verizon,
expanded on Plymouth’s point, saying that when people see “SOS” on their phones, it is not necessarily due to a lack of coverage; it is sometimes the case that the nearby towers have hit their maximum capacity and cannot connect new users. With the proposed monopole having Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile as carriers, this will no longer be an issue, according to Ali. Despite the representatives promising better coverage, certain residents raised concerns about the tower’s visibility. The intention of the monopole’s designers is to camouflage the tower as a pine tree so it is not as noticeable; however, many Ocean Pines residents believe the
See CELL TOWER page 3
ROC Edition • Milestone Communications presentation
Ocean Pines residents participate in a virtual town hall to discuss a proposed 150-foot monopole cell tower aimed at improving network coverage in the community.
New gazebo adds charm and shelter to Ocean Pines Dog Park By Sherrie Clifford ROC Edition Publisher A brand-new, Amish-built gazebo was installed this past week at the Ocean Pines Dog Park, adding both charm and practical shelter for dog owners who frequent the popular Manklin Meadows facility. While the park is already shaded by mature trees, the gazebo offers a central, covered space where visitors can gather during light rain, enhancing both the aesthetics and functionality of the space. Located across from the Racquet Sports Complex, the softball field and the Manklin Meadows playground, the fenced-in park provides a safe and social environment for pets and their owners. It includes two separate areas: one for large dogs, and the other for small to medium-sized dogs or those that are shy or more mild-mannered. Many regulars meet daily, with some arriving as early as 7 a.m. to catch up while their dogs roam and play. Though the new gazebo does
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
The new gazebo at the Ocean Pines Dog Park adds charm and shelter, offering a covered space for dog owners to gather during early morning meetups or rainy weather.
not yet include benches, there are plenty of movable chairs within the park that can be shifted beneath the structure for coverage and comfort. The small dog area was recently upgraded with fresh wood chip mulch to help reduce mud and
puddling during wet weather. The large dog area remains in need of similar improvements, and park visitors hope to see that addressed soon. The gazebo reflects the community’s ongoing commitment to
See GAZEBO page 4