Governor Ehrlich Announces BPW Approval of $12,983 in Program Open Space Funds for Carroll County
Two Mount Airy parks receive funds for improvements

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ANNAPOLIS, MD — Continuing his administration’s support for county park projects, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today announced Board of Public Works approval of $12,983 in Program Open Space funds for Carroll County.

“There is no way to put a price on the integral role parks play in neighborhoods across the state,” said Governor Ehrlich. “Not only are they accessible to all residents, they add to the quality of life in the towns and cities in which they are located.”

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

A total allocation of $12,983 will fund two projects in Carroll County:

• The Board approved $1,733 for improvements at Vest Pocket Park in Mount Airy. The funds will be used to replace the deteriorating wooden Program Open Space sign and to install plants, a pathway, and related amenities. This small park, which has a few benches and a garden of flowers and trees, provides a convenient place to rest for those walking along its bordering streets.

• The Board also approved $11,250 to install a vinyl-coated chain-link fence along two sides of a soccer field at Watkins Park in Mount Airy. Grading for a new elementary school produced a steep slope adjacent to the field. The fence, 10-feet in height and 200 yards in length, is needed for the safety of both players and spectators.

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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July 6, 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