Governor Ehrlich Opens New “Rotary Rest-Stop” On NCR Trail
Public-private partnership brings much needed amenity to busy trail

---

COCKEYSVILLE – Demonstrating his belief that public-private partnerships foster a more efficient state government, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today opened a water station along the Northern Central Railroad (NCR) Trail in Gunpowder Falls State Park that was paid for with funds raised by the Rotary Club of Hunt Valley. The Governor was joined by Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary C. Ronald Franks and Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) Secretary Aris Melissaratos.

“The successful partnership between Gunpowder Falls State Park and the Rotary Club of Hunt Valley illustrates what can be accomplished when we think outside the box,” said Governor Ehrlich. “It also illustrates the astounding level of impact and the number of people that can be reached by community actions. I congratulate everyone on a job well done.”

The Rotary Club of Hunt Valley raised approximately $80,000 under a new 501C3 program, Friends of the NCR Trail, which was created especially for this project. The Rotary Rest-Stop sits upon signature bricks engraved with the names of citizens and corporations who donated money to the project. UBS financial services firm, Fila sportswear and the Baltimore Bicycling Club each donated $10,000 or more to the project. Funding has already been received from the Alex Brown Charitable Foundation for a second rest-stop in the Monkton Station Parking Lot also along the NCR Trail.

“It has been a pleasure for the Rotary Club of Hunt Valley to work with the Maryland Park Service, and our public and corporate sponsors to make this vision reality,” said Suzanne Amos, project coordinator and immediate past president of the Club.

The Rotary Rest-Stop is located in the Paper Mill Parking Lot, one mile north of the head of the NCR Trail. It is beautifully landscaped with five benches and a handicap accessible fountain that also includes a separate water bowl for pets. The parking lot is considered one of the busiest in the Maryland State Park system as the trail accommodates nearly 900,000 joggers, hikers, bikers, walkers and horseback riders each year. This NCR Trail is managed as part of the Gunpowder Falls State Park in Baltimore County. The trail is a 10-foot wide gravel path that extends for 20 miles from Hunt Valley to the Pennsylvania line.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

---

September 15, 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