{"id":45090,"date":"2025-07-16T13:58:20","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T17:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=45090"},"modified":"2025-07-16T13:58:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T17:58:20","slug":"board-of-public-works-approves-1-4-million-for-outdoor-recreation-and-land-conservation-in-prince-georges-and-frederick-counties-southern-maryland-and-the-eastern-shore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2025\/07\/16\/board-of-public-works-approves-1-4-million-for-outdoor-recreation-and-land-conservation-in-prince-georges-and-frederick-counties-southern-maryland-and-the-eastern-shore\/","title":{"rendered":"Board of Public Works Approves $1.4 Million for Outdoor Recreation and Land Conservation in Prince George\u2019s and Frederick Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"Trail

Located on the northern end of St. Mary\u2019s County, the Huntersville Rural Legacy Area includes 12 miles of Patuxent River. The Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust will acquire an 84-acre easement to protect 2,500 feet of forested stream buffers along tributaries to Little Cat Creek, which flows into the river. Maryland DNR photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Board of Public Works today approved more than $1.4 million in grants to local governments and land trusts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The funding will be used for a new trail, playground equipment, and the conservation of land in Charles, Frederick, Prince George\u2019s, Queen Anne\u2019s, St. Mary\u2019s, and Worcester Counties.<\/span><\/p>\n

About $180,000 in <\/span>Program Open Space \u2013 Local<\/span><\/a> funding was approved for a Queen Anne\u2019s County project to construct a one-mile extension to the South Island Trail, between Christ Church and Marine Academy Drive in Matapeake. The funding will also provide for signs and benches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also approved was $500,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program to replace outdated playground equipment, add shade structures, and plant trees at Parklawn Park Building Park in Prince George\u2019s County. This program was funded in FY 2022 and FY 2023 to provide grant funds primarily to local governments for park and recreation projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also approved was $52,000 in<\/span> Community Parks and Playgrounds<\/span><\/a> funding for a project to replace an outdated playground structure at the Carroll Street Park in the Town of Thurmont in Frederick County. The Community Parks and Playgrounds program provides funding to municipal governments to restore existing and create new park and recreational facilities throughout the state. This program is currently accepting <\/span>applications<\/span><\/a> through August 20, 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, the Board approved over $660,000 in in <\/span>Rural Legacy<\/span><\/a> funding for local sponsors to acquire con<\/span>servation easements on three properties, totaling 159 acres:<\/span><\/p>\n