NOTTINGHAM, MD—At the June 4th legislative session, the Baltimore County Council passed legislation to create two new county parks and add over 65 acres to the inventory of parkland in Carney, Perry Hall, and White Marsh—at virtually no expense to taxpayers.

Baltimore County Councilman David Marks reports that, under the legislation, the 65 acres of county-owned land has been reclassified as public parkland, with little proposed uses. Specifically:

• The Council created a seven-acre Seven Oaks Park north of the Seven Oaks Senior Center;
• The legislation added 28 acres of land north of the Honeygo Village Center to Honeygo Regional Park;
• The Council extended Indian Rock Park from its current terminus at Silver Spring Road along Perry Hall Boulevard near Beaconsfield Road, creating 23 acres of parkland; and
• The Council created Jennifer Run Park in Carney north and west of the Park-and-Ride at Jomat Avenue, protecting another four acres.

Since Baltimore County already owns the land, there is almost no expense except for possible signage.

“This is a low-cost way to vastly increase the amount of protected open space in our communities,” said Councilman Marks. “My goal is to permanently protect this green space so it provides peace of mind for neighbors and habitat for wildlife.”

“I would like to thank my colleagues on the County Council and the state legislators who testified in support, from both parties,” Marks added. “Since 2011, eleven new parks have advanced in areas that have included the Fifth District.”

“The Perry Hall Recreation Council thanks Councilman Marks for his work to protect these areas and improve recreation in our area,” said Tim Bonner, president of the Perry Hall Recreation Council.

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