BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Board of Public Works this week announced the allocation of over $15.3 million in grants to enhance parks and safeguard land across the state. The funds, distributed through various programs including the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), will support local governments and a land trust in their conservation efforts.
The most significant portion of the funding, nearly $2.8 million from the Program Open Space – Local initiative, will be distributed among six projects. Two of these projects are located in Baltimore City, aiming to improve the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory at Druid Hill Park and provide recreational facilities at North Harford Park.
Baltimore City will also receive a substantial $10 million grant from the Program Open Space Stateside program. This grant will be used to improve three parks: the Frederic B. Leidig Recreation Center, City Springs Park, and the construction of a new Cab Calloway Legends Square Park in the Druid Heights community. The funding will also maintain and operate the entire Baltimore City park system.
An additional $500,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program will be allocated to create the new Greenmount Park at Johnston Square in Baltimore City.
Beyond Baltimore City, the Board of Public Works approved $11,200 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program to enhance the E. Eugene Myers Community Park in Frederick County with a new park concession stand and restrooms.
Funding was also granted to improve communication accessibility at parks. A total of $5,800 will support the installation of recreation communication boards at Edesville Park in Kent County and Chaptico Park in St. Mary’s County. These boards will utilize symbols and illustrations to assist individuals with limited language skills in navigating the play areas.
The Board of Public Works also demonstrated its commitment to land conservation by approving $2 million in Rural Legacy funding. This funding will facilitate the acquisition of conservation easements on two properties, encompassing a total of 485 acres. The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy will secure a 399-acre easement in the Agricultural Security Corridor, protecting prime farmland and woodlands that will likely support forest interior dwelling species of birds. This easement includes a forested buffer alongside the Choptank River. The Worcester County Commissioners will conserve 86 acres of forested land and farmland as a forested shoreline buffer along Big Mill Pond, the largest pond in the Chincoteague Bay watershed.
The full list of projects funded by the Board of Public Works on March 19, 2025, can be found in the meeting agenda. Governor Wes Moore, Treasurer Dereck E. Davis, and Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman comprise the Board of Public Works.
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
Photo: Eastern Shore Heartland Rural Legacy Area. Maryland DNR photo.
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