{"id":48216,"date":"2026-08-19T13:08:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T17:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=48216"},"modified":"2026-08-19T13:08:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T17:08:59","slug":"board-of-public-works-approves-4-6-million-for-trails-playgrounds-and-land-conservation-in-eleven-counties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2026\/08\/19\/board-of-public-works-approves-4-6-million-for-trails-playgrounds-and-land-conservation-in-eleven-counties\/","title":{"rendered":"Board of Public Works Approves $4.6 Million for Trails, Playgrounds, and Land Conservation in Eleven Counties"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Board also approves funds to conserve forest for new Natural Environment Area in Rocky Gap State Park complex<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 509px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/8659\/30348930041_5dbb5c8e17.jpg\" alt=\"Stream with vegetation growing on its banks\" width=\"499\" height=\"377\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Funding was approved for the Land Preservation Trust to acquire a 48-acre permanent conservation easement in the Piney Run Rural Legacy Area in Baltimore County. The easement will protect productive farmland and forestland, as well as stream buffers within the watershed for the Loch Raven Reservoir, a source of drinking water for the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. Maryland DNR photo.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Board of Public Works today approved $4.6 million in grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to local governments and a land trust for trails, playgrounds, and land conservation in Baltimore, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Montgomery, Prince George\u2019s, St. Mary\u2019s, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester counties.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">About $950,000 in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/land\/pages\/programopenspace\/home.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Program Open Space \u2013 Local<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> funding was approved for four projects, including the renovation of a one-mile trail at Wheaton Regional Park Trail in Montgomery County. The renovation will make the trail accessible for those with disabilities. In addition, Pleasant Valley Park in Washington County is funded for a new playground.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also approved was $3.18 million for the <\/span><a href=\"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\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Community Parks and Playgrounds program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to fund 13 projects statewide:<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Playground equipment at Sharp Road Park in Denton and James T. Wright Park in Preston (Caroline County)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A new park in Cambridge, to be named Leonards Lane Pocket Park and featuring a basketball court and walking trails (Dorchester County)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Playground equipment at Salem United Methodist Church Community Playground in Brookville and Community Center Park Playground in Garrett Park (Montgomery County)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New restroom and concession building at Stevens Park in Poolesville (Montgomery County)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An outdoor gathering area with a pavilion, seating, fencing and landscaping at Fit and Fun Park in Seat Pleasant (Prince George\u2019s County)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Playground equipment and fitness court at Bartlett Park in Brentwood (Prince George\u2019s County)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New trails, parking, and a pier at San Domingo Park in St. Michaels (Talbot County)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Playground equipment and pavilion at Gordy Park in Delmar, field lighting at Mason Dixon Sports Complex in Delmar, and bleachers and picnic tables at Willards Town Park (Wicomico County)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New skatepark at Heron Park in Berlin (Worcester County)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In land conservation, $484,000 of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/land\/pages\/rurallegacy\/home.aspx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rural Legacy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> program funding was approved for the Land Preservation Trust to acquire a 48-acre permanent conservation easement in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/land\/Documents\/RuralLegacy\/Pineyrunrla.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Piney Run Rural Legacy Area<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in Baltimore County. The easement will protect productive farmland and forestland, as well as stream buffers within the watershed for the Loch Raven Reservoir, a source of drinking water for the Baltimore Metropolitan Area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In addition, the Board approved <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/land\/Pages\/ProgramOpenSpace\/Program-Open-Space-Stateside.aspx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Program Open Space &#8211; Stateside<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> funds of $325,500 for a property acquisition of 170 acres in Allegany County. This forested property is located at the the southern end of Piney Mountain and will be managed by the Maryland Park Service as a new Natural Environment Area within the Rocky Gap State Park Complex. The acquisition will directly buffer and protect approximately two miles of Braddock Run, a brook trout stream; protect bird and wildlife habitat; and expand public recreational opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">More detailed information on these and other items is available in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bpw.maryland.gov\/MeetingDocs\/2026-Aug-19-Agenda.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Board of Public Works August 19, 2026 meeting agenda<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The three-member Board of Public Works is composed of Governor Wes Moore, Treasurer Dereck E. Davis and Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Information about these Maryland recreation and land conservation programs:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/land\/Pages\/ProgramOpenSpace\/Program-Open-Space-Stateside.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Program Open Space &#8211; Stateside<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">preserves natural areas for public recreation and watershed and wildlife protection across Maryland through fee simple and conservation easement acquisitions. Fee simple acquisitions are managed by the department as state parks, forests, and wildlife and fisheries management areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/land\/pages\/programopenspace\/home.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Program Open Space \u2013 Local<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> provides funding for county and municipal governments for the planning, acquisition, and development of recreational land or facilities. Funds are allocated annually to every county and Baltimore City and projects funded are determined by the local government. Established under the Department of Natural Resources in 1969, Program Open Space, along with other state land conservation programs, symbolizes Maryland\u2019s long-term commitment to conserving our natural resources while providing exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities for all citizens. The program is funded by a property transfer tax.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/land\/pages\/programopenspace\/cpp.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Community Parks and Playgrounds program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> provides funding to municipal governments to restore existing and create new park and recreational facilities throughout the state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/land\/pages\/rurallegacy\/home.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rural Legacy Program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, created in 1997, conserves large working landscapes across 36 locally designated areas throughout Maryland. The Rural Legacy Program, along with the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, have recently earned the State of Maryland national recognition from the American Farmland Trust.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">More news on funding approved for Program Open Space, Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure, Community Parks and Playgrounds, Greenspace Equity, Rural Legacy, and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Permanent Easement programs is available on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources\u2019 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.maryland.gov\/land\/Pages\/default.aspx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Land News<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> webpage.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Board also approves funds to conserve forest for new Natural Environment Area in Rocky Gap State Park complex The Board of Public Works today approved $4.6 million in grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to local governments and a land trust for trails, playgrounds, and land conservation in Baltimore, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Montgomery,<a href=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2026\/08\/19\/board-of-public-works-approves-4-6-million-for-trails-playgrounds-and-land-conservation-in-eleven-counties\/\">&nbsp;&nbsp;Read the Rest&#8230;<\/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,"footnotes":""},"categories":[957,23],"tags":[2955,3208,5655,5000,3003,3123],"class_list":["post-48216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-appnews","category-land","tag-board-of-public-works","tag-community-parks-and-playgrounds-program","tag-land-conservation","tag-outdoor-recreation","tag-program-open-space","tag-rural-legacy-program"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48216","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=48216"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48216\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48218,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48216\/revisions\/48218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}