Governor O’Malley Announces BPW Approval Of Funding For Expansion Of Two Montgomery County Parks

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ANNAPOLIS, MD —  Today, Governor Martin O’Malley announced Board of Public Works (BPW) approval of local-side Program Open Space (POS) funds for expansion of two local parks in Montgomery County.

Acquisition of 23.96 wooded and meadow acres will not only protect stream buffers, wetlands and wildlife habitat along Ten Mile Creek but protects water quality of the emergency water supply/recreational lake in Black Hill Regional Park. Preservation of this Woodbine property extends Montgomery County’s existing Ten Mile Creek Greenway. Once established, Montgomery County expects up to 10,000 visits by hikers and equestrians to the new park annually.

One of the last four properties remaining to be acquired to complete the Ridge Road Recreational Park in Germantown will be purchased to expand the existing 75+ acre park. Two outdoor basketball courts may be built on the 1-acre property. The park currently receives an estimated 500,000 visitors each year.

In total the BPW approved funding for 13 local park and recreation areas and preservation of more than 754 acres of agricultural and forest land in 12 Counties today.

Since 1969, Program Open Space has provided funding for acquisition of 321,470 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 Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. The Board is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.

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November 28, 200777

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