{"id":47623,"date":"2026-06-12T09:02:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T13:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=47623"},"modified":"2026-06-12T11:40:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T15:40:28","slug":"community-parks-and-playgrounds-program-to-invest-5-million-in-local-outdoor-recreation-for-fiscal-year-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2026\/06\/12\/community-parks-and-playgrounds-program-to-invest-5-million-in-local-outdoor-recreation-for-fiscal-year-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Parks and Playgrounds Program to Invest $5 Million in Local Outdoor Recreation for Fiscal Year 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"

DNR also currently accepting applications for FY28 Community Parks and Playgrounds funding; virtual workshops scheduled June 23 and July 23<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"Kids

Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Gov. Wes Moore\u2019s Fiscal Year 2027 budget includes $5 million in Community Parks and Playgrounds grant funds for 26 projects in municipalities across 15 counties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This competitive grant program managed by the Department of Natural Resources provides funding to municipal governments to rehabilitate, expand, or improve existing parks; create new parks; or purchase and install playground equipment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCommunity Parks and Playgrounds grants are investments in outdoor recreation that provide children with opportunities for unstructured play and access to safe natural areas across the state,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. \u201cFor more than two decades, DNR has been working with local communities to make their visions for outdoor spaces into reality through this program.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As each of these FY27 projects are ready, they will be presented to the Board of Public Works for approval. The following list encompasses the proposed projects:<\/span><\/p>\n

Allegany County<\/b><\/p>\n

City of Frostburg \u2013 Parris N. Glendening Recreation Complex Court lighting \u2013 $23,970
\n<\/span>Purchase and install solar powered LED lighting and associated generators for the basketball and pickleball courts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Town of Lonaconing \u2013 Little League Ballfield pickleball courts \u2013 $32,091
\n<\/span>Construct two pickleball courts and associated amenities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Town of Westernport \u2013 Bruce Park improvements \u2013 $200,000
\n<\/span>Renovate the existing concession stand into a pavilion, construct pickleball courts, a walking track, parking lot, improve the softball field and associated amenities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caroline County<\/b><\/p>\n

Town of Denton \u2013 Sharp Road Park playground phase 2 \u2013 $300,000
\n<\/span>Purchase and install new playground equipment and safety surfacing for 5-12 year olds.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Town of Preston \u2013 James T. Wright Park playground \u2013 $141,567
\n<\/span>Remove outdated playground equipment and purchase and install new playground equipment for 5-12 year olds and associated amenities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carroll County<\/b><\/p>\n

Town of Hampstead \u2013 Chief Sites Memorial Park skate park expansion \u2013 $240,166
\n<\/span>Expand the existing skate park and purchase additional obstacles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cecil County<\/b><\/p>\n

Town of Charlestown \u2013 Charlestown Athletic Complex renovation \u2013 $158,032
\n<\/span>Renovate the sports complex, including new dugout shelters, bleachers, trash cans, benches, bike rack, and associated amenities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dorchester County<\/b><\/p>\n

City of Cambridge \u2013 Leonards Lane Pocket Park development \u2013 $305,000
\n<\/span>Plan and develop a new park with a basketball court, walking path, stormwater management, and other park amenities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Town of East New Market \u2013 Friendship Hall Park improvements \u2013 $70,500
\n<\/span>Plan and develop a walking path, parking lot, and associated amenities.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Frederick County
\n<\/b>
\nTown of Mount Airy \u2013 Village Gate Park tennis court reconstruction \u2013 $209,972
\n<\/span>Rehabilitate two existing tennis courts, including renewed paving, fencing, hardware, surfacing, striping for both tennis and pickleball courts, and associated amenities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Garrett County
\n<\/b>
\nTown of Friendsville \u2013 Friendsville Elementary School inclusive playground \u2013 $200,000
\n<\/span>Replace the existing outdated playground with new playground equipment and safety surfacing.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Town of Oakland \u2013 Broadford Lake Park youth baseball field and softball fields restoration \u2013 $163,000
\n<\/span>Renovate three youth ballfields, including drainage repair, new infield mix, reseeding, and associated amenities.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Kent County
\n<\/b>
\nTown of Rock Hall \u2013 Rock Hall Park additions \u2013 $295,000
\n<\/span>Construct a new dog park, restroom facilities, site furnishings, and associated amenities.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Montgomery County
\n<\/b>
\nTown of Brookeville \u2013 Salem United Methodist Church community playground \u2013 $299,998
\n<\/span>Purchase and install new playground equipment and safety surfacing and associated amenities.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Town of Garrett Park \u2013 Community Center Park playground \u2013 $151,500
\n<\/span>Replace the existing outdated playground with new playground equipment and safety surfacing and associated amenities.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Town of Poolesville \u2013 Stevens Park restroom and concession stand \u2013 $310,000
\n<\/span>Design and construct a new ADA compliant restroom and concession building with storage to replace the existing outdated structure.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Prince George\u2019s County
\n<\/b>
\nCity of Seat Pleasant \u2013 Fit and Fun Park phase III \u2013 $270,000
\n<\/span>Plan and construct an outdoor gathering area with a pavilion, seating, stormwater management, landscaping, and associated amenities.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Town of Brentwood \u2013 Bartlett Park improvements \u2013 $297,000
\n<\/span>Purchase and install new playground equipment and safety surfacing, outdoor fitness court, built-in grill, and associated amenities.<\/p>\n

<\/span>St. Mary\u2019s County
\n<\/b>
\nTown of Leonardtown \u2013 Miedzinski Park splash pad \u2013 $300,000
\n<\/span>Construct a new splash pad and pump house with plumbing and electrical work, shade structures, seating, sidewalks, and associated amenities.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Talbot County
\n<\/b>
\nTown of St. Michaels \u2013 San Domingo Park development \u2013 $283,096
\n<\/span>Construct the park entrance and parking lot with landscaping, electricity and lighting, a paved trail transitioning into a grass trail across the site, and a community pier.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Washington County<\/b><\/p>\n

Town of Boonsboro \u2013 Shafer Park pond pavilion \u2013 $71,387
\n<\/span>Construct a 40-foot by 24-foot pavilion with picnic facilities in an underutilized area adjacent to the town pond.<\/span><\/p>\n

Town of Sharpsburg \u2013 Sharpsburg Community Park inclusive play area \u2013 $156,781
\n<\/span>Purchase and install new inclusive play equipment and safety surfacing, add new accessible pathway, and associated amenities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wicomico County<\/b><\/p>\n

Town of Delmar \u2013 Gordy Park improvements \u2013 $70,500
\n<\/span>Replace outdated playground equipment for younger children with new equipment, refurbish the skateboard ramp, purchase and install a gazebo, and associated amenities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Town of Delmar \u2013 Mason Dixon Sports Complex lighting \u2013 $300,500
\n<\/span>Purchase and install lighting for fields 1 and 3 at the sports complex.<\/span><\/p>\n

Town of Willards \u2013 Willards Town Park improvements \u2013 $149,674
\n<\/span>Purchase and install bleachers, picnic tables, sway benches, trash cs, and associated amenities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Worcester County<\/b><\/p>\n

Town of Berlin \u2013 Heron Park skatepark \u2013 $300,000
\n<\/span>Design and construct a skate park for users of all levels.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since its inception in Fiscal Year 2002, the Community Parks and Playgrounds program has distributed more than $97 million for more than 900 parks and playground projects in Maryland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting grant proposals for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 <\/span>Community Parks and Playgrounds<\/span><\/a> program. Proposals will be reviewed and considered for submission to the General Assembly as part of the Governor\u2019s FY 2028 budget. DNR staff will hold virtual Grant Workshops via <\/span>Google Meet<\/span><\/a> at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23 and 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 23 to review the grant requirements and answer any questions. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DNR also currently accepting applications for FY28 Community Parks and Playgrounds funding; virtual workshops scheduled June 23 and July 23 Gov. Wes Moore\u2019s Fiscal Year 2027 budget includes $5 million in Community Parks and Playgrounds grant funds for 26 projects in municipalities across 15 counties.\u00a0 This competitive grant program managed by the Department of Natural  Read the Rest…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":146,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[957,23],"tags":[3208,5352],"class_list":["post-47623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-appnews","category-land","tag-community-parks-and-playgrounds-program","tag-josh-kurtz"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47623"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47643,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47623\/revisions\/47643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}