Governor O'Malley Announces BPW Approval Of Land Acquisition Project In Anne Arundel County

Annapolis, MD (April 21, 2010) — Governor Martin O’Malley today announced Board of Public Works (BPW) approval of $695,750 to acquire 46 acres in Anne Arundel County through local Program Open Space.

“Not only does this acquisition protect wooded areas that are vital to water quality, but it is also another great outlet for Marylanders to enjoy their natural world through hiking and other outdoors activities,” said Governor O’Malley.

The acquisition will be part of the South River Greenway; Anne Arundel County has already acquired 304 acres for the Greenway and seeks to acquire additional parcels that will ultimately result in protection of nearly 1,120 acres.

The Greenway provides an extensive trail system for getting families outdoors to enjoy nature through hiking, wildlife observation, and outdoor recreation programs provided by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks and the South River Federation. This acquisition has extensive environmental benefits because it protects wooded areas along streams to help filter polluted runoff and absorb carbon in addition to helping to protect a federally identified migratory bird area.

“I applaud the Board of Public Works authorization of grant funds to acquire the 46-acre Page property within the Bacon Ridge Natural Area of the South River Greenway,” said Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold. “The County’s partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and local preservationists continues to expand the protection of wooded buffers along Bacon Ridge Branch, as we strive to improve the water quality of the South River and the Chesapeake Bay.”

Since 2007, Governor O'Malley and the BPW preserved more than 23,934 acres of natural areas for public recreation as well as watershed and wildlife protection across Maryland. Since 1969, Program Open Space has provided funding for acquisition of 344,977 acres for open space and recreation areas. Most Maryland residents live within 15 minutes of an open space or recreational area funded by Program Open Space.

The three-member Board of Public Works is composed of Governor O’Malley (chair), Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. The BPW is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 467,000 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