{"id":46502,"date":"2026-01-07T15:52:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T20:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=46502"},"modified":"2026-01-07T15:52:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T20:52:07","slug":"board-of-public-works-approves-8-9-million-for-recreational-improvements-and-land-conservation-in-baltimore-city-and-six-maryland-counties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2026\/01\/07\/board-of-public-works-approves-8-9-million-for-recreational-improvements-and-land-conservation-in-baltimore-city-and-six-maryland-counties\/","title":{"rendered":"Board of Public Works Approves $8.9 Million for Recreational Improvements and Land Conservation in Baltimore City and Six Maryland Counties"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Board also approved a temporary, six-month lease for the Days Cove rubble fill in Baltimore County<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Funds were approved for Wicomico County in partnership with the Lower Shore Land Trust to survey a potential Rural Legacy easement comprising multiple parcels in the Quantico Creek Rural Legacy Area. Maryland DNR photo<\/p><\/div>\n

The Board of Public Works today approved $8.9 million in grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to local governments and land trusts for recreational improvements and land conservation in Baltimore City, and Calvert, Howard, Kent, St. Mary\u2019s, Washington, and Wicomico counties.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Board also approved a short-term lease for the Days Cove rubble fill in Baltimore County that operates on land owned by DNR. The new lease enables the rubble fill to continue operations for six months while Maryland Department of the Environment finalizes a discharge permit for the facility and DNR works to address remaining community concerns. Once that work is complete, DNR plans to seek approval of a new lease with the rubble fill\u2019s operator that will cap and close the landfill and return the land to public use in eight years or less. DNR plans on re-submitting the updated lease for BPW\u2019s approval sometime in the spring.<\/span><\/p>\n

More than $7.5 million in <\/span>Program Open Space \u2013 Local<\/span><\/a> funding was approved for nine projects including six in Baltimore City. The city will use the funds to implement improvements to the pool, restrooms and field house at City Spring Park; renovate the Howard Rawlings Conservatory; install a walking loop, fitness equipment and a basketball court at Easterwood Park; construct the replacement Carroll F. Cook Recreation Center in the Armistead Gardens neighborhood; restore and enhance the lake at Patterson Park; and create walking paths, a community garden, and expand the playground at Northwest Park.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other projects approved for Program Open Space – Local funding were: a Howard County project to replace a playground at Centennial Park West Area; a Washington County acquisition of an access easement to the Antietam Creek Waterway Trail; and fencing, signage and landscaping at East Wicomico Little League fields in Wicomico County.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, the Board approved almost $1.4 million in <\/span>Rural Legacy<\/span><\/a> funding for three conservation easement acquisitions as well as expenses for a survey that is necessary for another easement acquisition:<\/span><\/p>\n