Governor Ehrlich Announces BPW Approval of $97,087 in Program Open Space Funds for Caroline County
Land acquisitions expand parks near the town of Preston

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ANNAPOLIS, MD — Emphasizing his continuing support for county park projects, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today announced Board of Public Works approval of $97,087 in Program Open Space funds for two projects in Caroline County.

“Both of these acquisitions will fulfill community visions formed years earlier,” said Governor Ehrlich. “In the case of the Linchester Road property, I am pleased to say that the new parkland will serve the purposes of historical preservation and tributary protection as well as outdoor recreation.”

The Board is composed of Governor Ehrlich, Comptroller William Donald Schaefer, and Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp.

The Board approved $32,900 to acquire 3.7 acres of partly wooded land on Nelpine Road to expand the adjacent half-acre park in Jonestown, a community one mile north of Preston. The park now serves as a playground, which is heavily used. This acquisition will enable the county to provide more recreational opportunities for the community. Plans include an expanded playground, paved playing courts, picnic pavilions, walking trails, and possibly a small community center.

The Board also approved $64,187 to acquire 35 acres on Linchester Road near Preston to expand an existing 14-acre park. The land is the millpond site formerly a part of the historic Linchester Mill, a gristmill built perhaps as early as 1847 and owned by the nonprofit Caroline County Historical Society. This acquisition reflects a collaborative partnership with the Historical Society, which hopes to restore the mill completely. This stream-valley site buffers Hunting Creek, a tributary of the Choptank River; its recreational potential includes fishing and trails for hiking.

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.

Since assuming office, the Ehrlich Administration and its partners have invested more than $64 million to protect over 31,000 acres of land to help restore the Bay and its surrounding environment. With nearly one in every five acres permanently protected in Maryland, the state remains a national leader in land preservation.

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June 16, 2005

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources 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