Governor O’Malley Announces BPW Approval Of 35 Local Park And Recreation Improvement Projects

---

ANNAPOLIS, MD  – Governor Martin O’Malley announced Board of Public Works (BPW) approval today of more than $10 million in local-side Program Open Space (POS) funds for improvements at 35 local park and recreation facilities in 13 counties across Maryland.

“Local parks are at the heart of our communities,” said Governor O’Malley. “Program Open Space offers the much needed funding to help local governments improve and maintain these popular recreation sites.”
Funding for the following projects were approved today:

• Baltimore City – The playground at Dickey Hill Elementary School will be renovated with an additional $22,293 grant.
   
• Baltimore County received $3,182,284 in funding to improve athletic recreation facilities, specifically:
  
  • $559,400 to upgrade the existing athletic field lighting systems at County Home Park in Cockeysville, General John Stricker Middle School Recreation Center in Dundalk, and Arbutus Middle School Recreation Center in Arbutus;
    
  • $1,705,000 to construct artificial turf fields at Meadowood Regional Park in Brooklandville, Northwest Regional Park in Owings Mills, and the Community College of Baltimore County – Essex Campus in Rossville;
    
  • $250,000 to construct sports stadium seating at Milford Mill High School Recreation Center and Randallstown High School Recreation Center in western Baltimore County;
    
  • $225,000 to design Jacksonville Park, a new 30-acre community park with athletic fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a community center; and
    
  • $442,884 to renovate ballfields at Double Rock Park in Parkville.
    
    
• Caroline County – A $29,368 grant will fund installation of new playground equipment at the Marina Park in Federalsburg.
   
• Charles County will acquire a 22-acre private in-holding within Maxwell Hall Park with an $800,500 grant. The acquisition preserves a restored 18th century manor home and barns which offer future opportunities for historical interpretation of southern Maryland colonial life along the Patuxent River watershed, Maxwell Hall’s involvement in the War of 1812, and the British invasion of Washington. The addition also allows Charles County to expand an existing 10-mile hiking and equestrian trail.
   
• Dorchester County will install a wall sculpture, wood trellis, paths, and landscaping at the Vienna Community Park with a $60,223 grant.
   
• Frederick County will create public entrances, roads, soccer and ball fields, restrooms, a picnic pavilion, parking, and pathways throughout the 128-acre Ballenger Creek Park in Frederick with a $430,620 grant.
   
• Howard County will develop a new 300-acre regional park in Columbia to provide passive and active recreation facilities while preserving more than 200 acres of forest, wetlands, and historic areas with a $250,000 grant. Proposed facilities at the Blandair Regional Park include a nature center, trails, athletic fields, court games, picnic facilities, playgrounds, and a children’s garden.
   
• Montgomery County received $3,317,338 to expand and improve two local parks.
  
  • Montgomery County will expand the Cross Creek Local Park with a 10.81-acre property for $3,303,650.
    
  • The Jackson Boyd Park playground will be renovated with a $13,688 grant (75 percent of total funding). An additional $4,563 in renovations will be funded by the City of Takoma Park.
    
    
• Prince George’s County received $885,000 in funding for local community center expansions.
  
  • A 3,000 sq. ft. addition to the Potomac Landing Community Center in Fort Washington will be partially funded (27.8 percent of total project cost) with a $330,000 grant.
    
  • A 4,200 sq. ft. addition to the William Beanes Community Center in Suitland will be partially funded (38 percent of total project cost) with a $555,000 grant.
    
    
• Somerset County – A $170,000 grant will fund construction of Princess Anne’s first public playground and two basketball courts.
  
  
• Talbot County received $198,742 in funding for local park improvements.
  
  • Playground equipment, a pavilion, picnic area, walkways, and landscaping will be installed at the Lake View Community Park in Trappe with a $99,942 grant.
    
  • Muskrat Park in St. Michaels will be improved with a brick plaza, walkways, and lighting with a $98,800 grant.
  
  
• Washington County received $282,282 in funding for local park improvements.
  
  • A $77,760 grant will fund replacement of non-ADA compliant playground equipment and renovation of four pavilions at Boonsboro Shafer Park in Boonsboro.
    
  A $27,000 grant will fund replacement of failing, 20-year old playground equipment with new barrier free playground equipment at Jacob Wheaton Park in Hagerstown.
  
  • The parking lot at Hellane Park in Hagerstown will be repaved with a $67,812 grant.
    
  • The baby pool area at the Claude M. Potterfield Municipal Pool in Hagerstown will be upgraded with a $27,360 grant.
    
  • A $45,000 grant will replace failing playground equipment at the north pavilion of the Hagerstown City Park.
    
  • The playground at the Smithsburg Lions Community Park will be improved with a $37,350 grant.
    
    
• Wicomico County – The City of Salisbury will improve the Doverdale Playground by resurfacing the basketball court, installing bicycle racks, and signage with a $192,000 grant.
  
  
• Worcester County received $231,650 in funding for local park improvements.
  
  • Unsafe playground equipment will be replaced and picnic tables and benches installed at the Whaleyville Park in Snow Hill with a $90,500 grant.
    
  • A $27,000 grant will fund improvements of exhibit buildings at the Fairgrounds in Pocomoke City.
    
  • The Winter Quarters Golf Course will be improved with new playground equipment, benches, picnic tables, and paved paths and parking with a $36,450 grant (90 percent of total project cost).
    
  • A $35,100 grant will fund underground utility line installation at the Pocomoke Discovery Center.
    
  • Cypress Park will be improved with a new skateboard park, playground equipment, benches, bleachers, and picnic tables with a $42,600 grant (90 percent of total project cost).
  
  In addition to the local-side projects, the BPW also approved the $160,000 acquisition of a 60-acre forested property located within the Green Ridge State Forest. The acquisition will protect and connect two important parts of the forest and provide additional buffers for the Potomac River.
  Since 1969, Program Open Space has provided funding for acquisition of more than 321,000 acres for open space and recreation areas. Most Maryland residents live within 15 minutes of an open space or recreational area funded by this program.
  Chaired by Governor O’Malley, the Board of Public Works is also comprised of Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp. The Board is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.

---

October 3, 2007

Contact: Olivia Campbell 410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell ocampbell@dnr.state.md.us

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 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 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 12 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