Welcome to

Point Pleasant Farm

Located on the Eastern Shore in Maryland, Point Pleasant Farm serves as a center for wildlife and natural resource education and research. Bequeathed by Mr. Robert Pascal along with a generous endowment, the farm is dedicated to showcasing best practices in agriculture, forestry, wetland, and habitat management. The University of Maryland has partnered with the Point Pleasant Foundation to organize and hold workshops, educational programs, best practices demonstrations, and research initiatives that will develop a deeper understanding of habitat and wildlife management through sustainable hunting, forestry, farming, and other recreational activities. By serving as a location where people can meet and engage with the topics first-hand and with each other, the farm strives to propagate improved natural resource management techniques not just within its own boundaries, but to inspire improved habitat and land management practices also across Maryland and beyond.

Life, History, and Legacy of Robert Pascal

Robert A. Pascal, born July 20, 1934, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, was a man of many talents known for his contributions to athletics, business, politics and philanthropy. At Duke University, he was a first-team All-American halfback in 1955. After college, although drafted by the Baltimore Colts, Pascal played for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League, participating in the Grey Cup. In the business realm, Pascal founded United Propane after buying a Maryland gas corporation, then ventured into politics. He served as a delegate in Maryland's Constitutional Convention (1967-68), a State Senator (1971-1974), Anne Arundel County executive (1974-1982), and as Secretary of Appointments to Governor William Donald Schaefer (1989-1995). Under his leadership, United Propane flourished, ranking among the top 50 U.S. propane companies before its 2003 sale. Pascal passed away on March 12, 2021, at age 86, honored by the half-staff county flag.

Pascal's legacy lives on through the Pascal Field House at Duke University, the Pascal Senior Center in Glen Burnie, and other Anne Arundel County landmarks. His philanthropy included gifts to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Anne Arundel County Hospital (Birthing Center), Johns Hopkins Hospital in various Medical Departments, Duke University, and the Robert A. Pascal Youth Center at Severna Park (Drug Treatment), combined gifts of $6.75 million plus a $6 million donation to Duke University for a new indoor football practice facility, named after him. Pascal's environmental legacy includes the 950-acre Point Pleasant Property in Bozman, Maryland, now a Foundation for wildlife and ecosystem research and education. This expansive property, a former du Pont hunting preserve, and National Audubon Society Sanctuary, boasts diverse habitats and species and was preserved forever when Pascal donated a conservation easement to Maryland's Department of Natural Resources in 2011. The Point Pleasant Property, a haven for biodiversity, encompasses a peninsula extending into Broad Creek with over 8 miles of shoreline near the confluence of the Choptank River and Chesapeake Bay. It's a priority habitat for waterfowl and home to about 200 bird species, numerous mammals, reptiles, and insects. The peninsula also houses nearly 200 varieties of trees and flowering plants.

Although not designated as a public park, the property is accessible to the public under special arrangements, embodying Pascal's aspiration to share this ecological gem with as many individuals as possible. Pascal's sentiment was clear; developing the land would be a tragedy, highlighting his dedication to preserving the natural ecosystem and promoting environmental stewardship through the Point Pleasant Foundation. Ultimately, Pascal's commitment to conservation at the Point Pleasant Property epitomizes his dedication to preserving Maryland's natural heritage. The Property today, stands as a wildlife sanctuary and an educational resource for future generations.