Governor Ehrlich Announces BPW Approval of $568,874 in Program Open Space Funds for Maryland Counties

Governor Ehrlich Announces BPW Approval of $568,874 in Program Open Space Funds for Maryland Counties
Funding adds parkland and supports facility renovation

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Reaffirming his commitment to supporting recreational projects, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today announced Board of Public Works approval of $568,874 in Program Open Space funds for Charles, Howard, Prince George’s, and Talbot Counties.
The Board is composed of Governor Ehrlich, Comptroller William Donald Schaefer, and Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp.
“The projects being funded today benefit many thousands of Marylanders,” said Governor Ehrlich. “I am pleased that Program Open Space makes this support for county parks and recreational facilities possible.”
A total allocation of $568,874 will fund four projects in four counties.

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.
Howard County: The Board approved $41,324 to help acquire the eight remaining building lots of an acquisition totaling 23 acres, the site on which the county has been developing North Laurel Community Park. Because additional costs exceed $200,000, the county will probably request further assistance next year. No other large tracts were available in this high-growth area north of Laurel. Most users are able to get to the park by walking, not driving. This project indirectly protects the Patuxent River by allowing county-owned land along this major Chesapeake tributary to remain undeveloped.
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.
Talbot County: The Board approved $37,550 to acquire a quarter-acre plot to establish a new park in Queen Anne, located in the northeast corner of Talbot County. For both town and county residents, Moore’s Tuckahoe Creek Park will provide a place to fish, have a picnic, and relax along the banks of the creek.

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