Governor Ehrlich Announces BPW Approval of $490,000 for Parks in Prince George’s and Charles Counties
Program Open Space funds swimming pool renovation and park expansion
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Emphasizing his support for county park projects, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today announced Board of Public Works approval of $490,000 in Program Open Space funds for Prince George’s and Charles Counties.“Local recreation facilities benefit Marylanders week in and week out,” said Governor Ehrlich. “I am pleased to see the communities of Chillum and Cobb Island receive the support needed for their projects.”
The total allocation of $490,000 will fund two projects in two counties.
Prince George’s County: The Board approved $465,000 for renovations at the Rollingcrest Chillum Aquatic Center, a facility that is part of the Rollingcrest Chillum Community Center Park. This project involves renovating the ventilation system and replacing the translucent roof and the motorized movable sections over the indoor swimming area. Inoperable motorized roof sections have trapped chlorine-containing humid air, which has contributed to the deterioration of the steel roof structure.
Charles County: The Board approved $25,000 to acquire a quarter-acre parcel adjacent to the existing quarter-acre Cobb Island Park, which contains a playground. Cobb Island is located at the confluence of the Wicomico and Potomac Rivers and is bordered on the north by Neale Sound. This acquisition will provide a parking area and will allow public access to Neale Sound for kayaking and canoeing. The county will also be able to preserve the lot’s vegetative buffer along the waterway. DNR’s Program Open Space is a nationally recognized program that provides funding for Maryland’s state and local parks and conservation areas. More than 4,600 county and municipal park and conservation projects have been completed through the program, improving the quality of life for millions of Marylanders.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to Maryland citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 435,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, as well as Maryland's wildlife and fishery species for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, the department manages natural, historic and cultural resources that attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov