Maryland Awards $3.7M for Parks, Conservation Projects Across Seven Counties

Maryland's Board of Public Works has allocated over $3.7 million in grants to seven counties for park improvements and land conservation efforts. The funding will support new recreational facilities, playground upgrades, and the protection of critical ecological areas including threatened wildlife habitats.

Maryland officials have allocated more than $3.7 million in state grants to seven counties for recreational facilities and environmental preservation initiatives, the Board of Public Works announced today.

The funding from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will benefit projects in Allegany, Caroline, Charles, Howard, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, and Washington counties.

Over $1 million in Program Open Space – Local grants will support three initiatives: College Park in Prince George’s County will purchase 1.59 acres for a new recreational park that will showcase urban forestry practices; Washington County plans to install new playground equipment at Marty Snook Park to replace aging facilities; and Caroline County will continue developing trails, athletic fields, and parking areas at North County Regional Park in Greensboro.

An additional $1.6 million was designated for Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program initiatives across three counties. Caroline County will add observation decks, covered areas, and play equipment at North County Regional Park, building on their other project at the same location. Allegany County will enhance the Willowbrook Outdoor Wellness Center in Cumberland with accessibility-compliant recreational features and walking paths. Howard County will develop its inaugural garden park, named Longwood Public Gardens in Glenwood, designed to support pollinators while offering educational and tranquil spaces for community members. The Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program received funding during fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to support municipal and county recreation initiatives.

For environmental protection efforts, officials approved $774,400 to secure permanent conservation easements through the Rural Legacy program in Charles County. The county will safeguard two properties spanning 180 acres within the Zekiah Watershed Rural Legacy Area, which serves as crucial habitat for species at risk of extinction. These easements will protect over one mile of wooded stream corridors within the watershed.

The Board additionally authorized $253,000 for a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Permanent Conservation Easement covering 42 acres in Queen Anne’s County. This purchase will preserve roadside vistas and 1,500 feet of forested waterway buffers along a Tuckahoe Creek tributary.

Complete details about these and additional matters can be found in the Board of Public Works March 4, 2026 meeting documentation. The three-person Board consists of Governor Wes Moore, Treasurer Dereck E. Davis, and Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman.

Program Open Space – Local has provided financial support to county and city governments for recreational land planning, acquisition, and development since its establishment under the Department of Natural Resources in 1969. The initiative, which includes both Local and Stateside components, represents Maryland’s ongoing dedication to environmental conservation while creating outdoor recreational opportunities for residents. Revenue comes from property transfer taxes.

The Rural Legacy Program, launched in 1997, protects extensive working landscapes across 36 locally designated regions throughout Maryland. Both the Rural Legacy Program and the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation recently received national recognition from the American Farmland Trust.

Maryland’s permanent easement component of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) has operated since 2009, purchasing conservation easements from voluntary landowners that mandate ongoing maintenance of Conservation Reserve Program practices beyond federal contract expiration dates.