The Board of Public Works (BPW) on Thursday approved Program Open Space funding that will be used to preserve more than 38 acres of natural lands in Baltimore and Frederick Counties, and fund shore erosion control, local park expansion and park improvement projects in 10 Maryland counties and Baltimore City.

“Maryland’s outstanding natural and historical resources are an integral part of our identity, and the O’Malley Administration is committed to making the investments necessary to their preservation,” said DNR Secretary John R. Griffin. “The purchase of these properties is one example of how we will continue to support improvements of existing public lands and parks, ensuring that all Marylanders have access to first rate parks and recreational areas.”

In Baltimore County, $675,000 in funding was approved for the purchase of a 7.75-acre parcel in Owings Mills, adjacent to the Soldier’s Delight Natural Environment Area (NEA). The parcel will be annexed into the NEA, one of only four major remnants of the globally rare serpentine grasslands still existing in Maryland, and will provide contiguous parcels in an area currently under restoration for rare and endangered species by DNR’s Serpentine Ecosystem Restoration Program. The acquisition will also fill a gap in the Wildland Urban Interface Firebreak Network, permitting access to the entire area by fire fighting equipment as needed.

The BPW approved $116,000 to purchase a 31-acre parcel located within South Mountain State Park in Frederick County. The property provides an excellent natural buffer zone for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, add to the scenic quality of the South Mountain State Battlefield, and safeguard the wildlife and forest cover that provides passive recreational opportunities for the thousands who enjoy hiking, hunting, bird watching and exploring in the area.

Seventeen Local Program Open Space projects were also approved at Wednesday’s BPW meeting:

Allegany County – A $207,000 grant will allow for public use improvements at four local parks – Lonaconing Little League Park, Baker Memorial Park, Cresaptown Community Park and the Frostburg Recreation Complex.

Baltimore City
Joseph Lee Park will renovate an existing playground and perimeter park path to improve playground safety and park accessibility and increase visitor enjoyment with a $200,000 grant.
A $200,000 grant will help redevelop Woodberry Park to increase safety and accessibility and replace impervious pavement with a natural landscape.

Carroll County – A $32,946 grant will improve Union Bridge Community Park’s basketball court with energy efficient, night-sky friendly outdoor lighting, backboards, posts, paving and nets, and cover the installation of a new batting cage pitching machine.
 

Cecil County – A $20,625 grant will be used to replace the 30-year-old blacktop walkways at Perryville Community Park.
 

Frederick County
A $50,000 grant will replace existing, outdated playground equipment with new ADA- compliant equipment at the popular Prospect Park in Mt. Airy.
A $90,000 grant will help finance construction of handicapped-accessible public restrooms at Wiles Branch Park in Middletown.
 

Harford County – $249,313 in funding was approved to reconstruct the playground area at Todd Field Park in Havre de Grace, and increase walking paths and parking areas at Jarrettsville-Fox Meadows Complex in Jarrettsville.  
 

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