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Governor O’Malley Announces BPW Approval Of Funding To Create A New Community Park And Preservation
Of 125 Acres In Dorchester County
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Today, Governor Martin O’Malley announced Board of Public Works (BPW) approval of local-side Program Open Space (POS) funds to create a new community park and Rural Legacy funds to preserve 125 acres in Dorchester County.
The 2.5-acre park, named North Main Community Park, is located in Hurlock. The initial stage of development including site grading for levelness and drainage, as well as incorporation of an entrance/exit will be partially financed with $43,200 in local-side POS funds. Once completed, Dorchester County estimates that the Park will receive 4,000 visits annually.
Since 1969, Program Open Space has provided funding for acquisition of 322,355 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.
Additionally today, the BPW approved the purchase of a 125+ acre conservation easement located in the Marshyhope Rural Legacy Focus Area. The easement to be held cooperatively by the Maryland Environmental Trust and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy protects valuable agricultural and forest lands. Rural legacy funds totaling $178,582,50 financed the easement purchase.
In total the BPW approved funding for 14 local park and recreation areas and preservation of more than 4,566 acres of agricultural and forest land in 18 Counties today.
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.
December 12, 2007 Contact: Olivia Campbell
410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell
ocampbell@dnr.state.md.usMaryland 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