{"id":46233,"date":"2025-11-19T12:49:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T17:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=46233"},"modified":"2025-11-25T12:43:28","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T17:43:28","slug":"board-of-public-works-approves-3-3-million-for-recreation-and-land-conservation-in-baltimore-city-and-eight-maryland-counties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2025\/11\/19\/board-of-public-works-approves-3-3-million-for-recreation-and-land-conservation-in-baltimore-city-and-eight-maryland-counties\/","title":{"rendered":"Board of Public Works Approves $3.3 Million for Recreation and Land Conservation in Baltimore City and Eight Maryland Counties"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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Worcester County will acquire an easement on 78 acres in the Dividing Creek Rural Legacy Area. The easement will protect prime farmland and 1,200 feet of forested buffer along a tributary of Nassawango Creek, which flows into the Pocomoke River. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Board of Public Works today approved nearly $3.3 million in grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to local governments and land trusts for recreation and land conservation in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, St. Mary\u2019s, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.<\/span><\/p>\n

About $700,000 in <\/span>Program Open Space \u2013 Local<\/span><\/a> funding was approved for six projects including several in Frederick County. The County will use the funds to further the development of a community center at Othello Regional Park, purchase land for a new park in downtown Emmitsburg, restore a fishing pond at Woodsboro Regional Park, replace a pavilion roof at Middletown Memorial Park, and install electricity at Middletown Heritage Park which will allow for holiday and fountain lighting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Board also approved $230,000 in<\/span> Community Parks and Playgrounds<\/span><\/a> funding for the installation of LED field lights in Wicomico County\u2019s Gene Lowe Park. The Community Parks and Playgrounds program provides funding to municipal governments to restore existing parks and create new park and recreational facilities throughout the state.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another $35,000<\/span> was approved for three <\/span>Greenspace Equity Program<\/span><\/a> appraisal funding <\/span>grants. The grants will help reduce the barrier of upfront costs for qualified land trusts and local governments with limited funds available to spend on appraisals for potential acquisition projects in overburdened and\/or underserved communities. Baltimore Green Space in Baltimore City received a grant, as did the City of Takoma Park and the Town of Poolesville, both in Montgomery County.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, the Board approved more than $2.35 million in <\/span>Rural Legacy<\/span><\/a> funding for three conservation easement acquisitions:<\/span><\/p>\n