Governor Larry Hogan, Board of Public Works Announce $7.6 Million for Park and Playground Projects in Baltimore City

Board of Public Works Approves Department of Natural Resources Items

Herring Run Stream by Steven Brown

The Board of Public Works unanimously approved a series of Maryland Department of Natural Resources items providing dedicated funding to Baltimore City, allocating $7.6 million for 11 different city and community projects.

The portfolio includes funding from Program Open Space Local, the Baltimore City Direct Grant and the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program.

“Creating beautiful, safe outdoor spaces for city residents is critical to improving the quality of life in Baltimore,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “We are proud to provide this funding through the Board of Public Works to make these much-needed improvements at parks and recreation centers throughout the city.”

Governor Hogan has committed $350 million toward Program Open Space and land preservation programs, and restored $60 million to the program that had been improperly drained by previous administrations. The Hogan administration pushed for and enacted legislation that protects against any further raids of Program Open Space.

“While many think that the department only assists our state’s more remote or rural areas, we work tirelessly to engage a wide array of communities throughout our diverse state, improving quality of life in Baltimore and beyond,” Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “We value our partnership with Baltimore City and look forward to working with them to engage the next generation of environmental stewards.”

The Board of Public Works approved the following projects:

The projects are with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks – a system that manages 5,700 acres of park land – and include construction, demolition and renovation projects throughout the city as well as funding for ongoing maintenance and operations.

Importantly many of the projects include making buildings, parks and playgrounds Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission-compliant. In addition, many of the projects seek to enhance amenities as well as link existing or future recreation sites like baseball and football fields with existing trails and walkways, benefiting citizens, communities and the natural environment.