Kilgore Falls, the beautiful, local waterfall near Rock State Park, is in danger of being destroyed by human interference at the park.  To Councilman Chad Shrodes, Kilgore Falls, is more than just a place to hang out and bring you dog for a walk.

    At North Harford high School, a group of students gathered together to help preserve the Falls.  As an eleventh grader, Shrodes was one of those students working on this project. “…we increased awareness and reached out to different people and partnered and started to raise money (to preserve the park)”, says Shrodes.  The students worked for many years to help preserve the park, but the outcome is not what was expected. “I fought so hard to preserve it, and I gotta say,under the current conditions, I do regret doing that (fighting to make the Falls a public park)”, says Shrodes.  

    The history of the fight for the park is not the only aspect dear to Shrodes’ heart.  10 years ago, he and his wife were married there in a private wedding, in a place important to the Councilman.  Because of this touching memory at the Falls, Shrodes believes it should continue to be a place where the family would love to go all the time.  The politician said he even had his “first family pictures done there.” However, because the area is overpopulated the Shrodes’ family has taken to visiting new areas and sites.

    As a Councilman and a lover of the Falls, Shrodes is working to try to help save the park from the destruction of human presence.  “I’ve been having a much bigger dialogue with park service and some of the leadership at the department of Natural resources, so we are trying to get on top of it”, says the Councilman.  Shrodes also has ideas as to how to save the park, even though they may be against public opinion.

    The majority of the public, frustrated with the parking issues at Kilgore Falls, want more spaces added to the parking lot so the it can accomodate more people.  However, Councilman Shordes, aware that there are 28 parking spaces for a reason, wants to approach the issue from a different angle. “Another idea they we’re throwing out there is a registration system, where you sign up online (for example) on Saturday from 10-11:00 on june 27, or whatever day, and then others would sign up too, and then when those hours are gone, then they’re gone.”  This idea, still to be bounced off the public, will help the park maintain its natural beauty while still allowing a good amount of people in the park.

    To Councilman Shrodes, Kilgore Falls is a place he worked hard to save, where he eventually got married and where he hopped to take his young daughter for fun.  However, with the recent over-crowding of the area, he rarely visits anymore. “It’s heartbreaking for me to see what’s going on there”, says Councilman Shrodes.  However, he is working hard to help restore the park to its former glory and beauty.