{"id":45002,"date":"2025-07-02T14:48:57","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T18:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=45002"},"modified":"2025-07-03T10:03:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T14:03:18","slug":"board-of-public-works-approves-4-7-million-for-park-improvements-and-land-conservation-in-nine-counties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2025\/07\/02\/board-of-public-works-approves-4-7-million-for-park-improvements-and-land-conservation-in-nine-counties\/","title":{"rendered":"Board of Public Works Approves $4.7 Million for Park Improvements and Land Conservation in Nine Counties"},"content":{"rendered":"

Funding approved for DNR\u2019s Program Open Space Local, Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure, and Rural Legacy programs<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"Creek

Rural Legacy Program funds will acquire an easement to protect 1,400 feet of forested buffer along Tuckahoe Creek, a tributary to the Choptank River and the Chesapeake Bay, and also preserve scenic views along Tuckahoe Road. Maryland DNR photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Board of Public Works today approved more than $4.7 million in grants to local governments and land trusts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to improve park facilities and conserve land in Allegany, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Prince George\u2019s, and Washington counties.<\/span><\/p>\n

About $2.2 million in <\/span>Program Open Space \u2013 Local<\/span><\/a> funding was approved for nine projects, including more than $1.2 million for Baltimore County to improve both Sparks Park and Catonsville Community Park with new pickleball courts. Additionally, Sparks Park will purchase and construct playground equipment and Catonsville Community Park will repair its paved trails.<\/span><\/p>\n

Frederick County will receive $350,000 to construct a community center, shelters, trails, parking lot, and roads at Othello Regional Park. In addition, Prince George\u2019s is receiving $360,000 to acquire 9 acres of woods adjacent to Huntington Park North in Bowie. The new land will expand the existing park amenities by the creation of a natural surface trail loop on the site.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also approved was $100,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program to purchase and install fencing for two baseball fields at Sharp Road Park in Caroline County.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, the Board approved nearly $2.4 million in in <\/span>Rural Legacy<\/span><\/a> funding for local sponsors to acquire con<\/span>servation easements on four properties, totaling 760 acres:<\/span><\/p>\n