{"id":45426,"date":"2025-08-27T14:25:05","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T18:25:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=45426"},"modified":"2025-08-27T14:54:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T18:54:33","slug":"board-of-public-works-approves-13-million-for-community-centers-playgrounds-and-land-conservation-in-16-counties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2025\/08\/27\/board-of-public-works-approves-13-million-for-community-centers-playgrounds-and-land-conservation-in-16-counties\/","title":{"rendered":"Board of Public Works Approves $13 Million for Community Centers, Playgrounds, and Land Conservation in 16 Counties"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"State

The Conservation Fund is approved to protect a 121-acre farm that includes more than 1,200 feet of stream buffers along Church Creek in Dorchester County\u2019s Harriet Tubman Rural Legacy Area. This landscape is an area lying largely in and adjacent to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, seen here with Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in the distance. Maryland DNR photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Board of Public Works today approved $13 million in grants to local governments and land trusts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for community centers, playgrounds, and land conservation in Allegany, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Prince George\u2019s, St. Mary\u2019s, Talbot, Washington, and Worcester counties.<\/span><\/p>\n

About $6.6 million in <\/span>Program Open Space \u2013 Local<\/span><\/a> funding was approved for 12 projects. Prince George\u2019s County was approved for $5.6 million for two projects \u2013 to purchase 170 acres to expand Little Paint Branch Stream Valley Park near College Park, and to construct an addition to the Rollingcrest Chillum Community Center in Hyattsville.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Carroll County is also getting funds for six projects including a playground replacement at Piney Run Park and interior renovations at Union Bridge Community Park Community Center. Funding was approved for Talbot County to build a new softball field at Home Run Baker Sports Complex and for Garrett County to renovate existing restrooms and to construct a new dog park at Grantsville Community Park.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also approved was $255,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program to replace outdated playground equipment at Putty Hill Park in Baltimore 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

Another program, <\/span>Community Parks and Playgrounds<\/span><\/a>, was approved to award more than $2.8 million for 15 projects, including a new splash pad in Festival Park in Aberdeen and replacement of several outdated playground structures at Jesse Sutton Memorial Park in Greensboro, Helen Titter Park in Chesapeake City, Prospect Park in Mount Airy, and Byron Memorial Park in Williamsport. The Community Parks and Playgrounds program provides funding to municipal governments to restore existing and create new park and recreational facilities throughout the state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, the Board approved more than $3.2 million in <\/span>Rural Legacy<\/span><\/a> funding for local sponsors to acquire con<\/span>servation easements on properties totaling 1,006 acres:<\/span><\/p>\n