Governor Ehrlich Announces BPW Approval of $583,306 in Program Open Space Funds for Allegany, Frederick, and Washington Counties
Projects involve park development and resource protection

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ANNAPOLIS, MD — Reiterating his support for recreation and conservation projects, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today announced Board of Public Works approval of $583,306 in Program Open Space funds for Allegany, Frederick, and Washington Counties.

“Outdoor recreation is well served by the projects funded today, which include improvements to a ballpark, new parkland for playing fields and picnics, and an upgraded playground,” said Governor Ehrlich. “In addition, two of the projects advance the cause of conservation by contributing to watershed protection.”

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

A total allocation of $583,306 will fund five projects in three counties:

Allegany County

• The Board approved $29,500 to install a collapsible safety fence and pave the existing parking lot at Baker Memorial Park in the town of Midland. The PVC fence around the little league field will improve safety because it is designed to flatten to the ground should a player run into the fence. The paving will improve access for elderly and handicapped individuals. This field has been used as a ballpark since 1902.

Frederick County

• The Board approved $350,816 to acquire 12.4 acres of the Remsberg Farm to establish a new park in the town of Middletown, which is five miles west of Frederick. The parcel is part of a town plan to purchase a total of 88 acres for recreational use. The primary purpose is to build playing fields for sports such as soccer, football, softball, baseball, and field hockey to accommodate the large number of families that dwell in Middletown. This acquisition precludes residential development and helps protect tributaries of Cone Branch, which drains into Catoctin Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River.

• The Board approved $124,990 to acquire a 12.5-acre wooded site adjacent to the town of Myersville’s watershed property. This acquisition, located on Pleasant Walk Road a mile east of the South Mountain Natural Environment Area and the Appalachian Trail, will protect the town’s wellhead area from potential development, prevent water contamination, preserve forested land, and provide an area for passive recreation.

• The Board also approved $58,000 to acquire 1.3 acres to establish Guyton Overlook Park off Cemetery Lane in the town of Burkittsville. This parcel, which will be developed as a passive park for relaxation, picnics, and community gatherings, will provide needed recreational space on the west side town, where there is none. The site offers outstanding views of Middletown Valley, farmland, and an important portion of the Civil War battlefield at Crampton’s Gap.

Washington County

• The Board approved $20,000 to upgrade old and add new playground equipment at Taylor Park in the town of Keedysville. This project includes site work that is needed to install the equipment and to meet code requirements for safety. The two housing developments under construction and the two that are planned are expected to double the usage of the park.

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