The Board of Public Works (BPW) considered and approved the following requests and recommendations in its January 6, 2021 meeting. This is not a comprehensive list of all considerations and approvals during the meeting.

• Allegany
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $12,500 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Allegany County to add picnic tables and purchase and install the following at three Town of Barton parks:
    • Latrobe: Additional mulch for the playground’s safety surface
    • Takoma: Animal-shaped trash receptacles
    • Hill Street: Security cameras at the Little League Field (Item 1A.5 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $106,155 from Program Open Space funding allocated to Allegany County for the following projects:
    • Frostburg Hoffman Park: $35,100 to upgrade the baseball field area as well as add restrooms to the existing concession building (Item 1A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Ellerslie Community Park: $45,900 to upgrade the playground and field areas, add a pavilion, expand and resurface the basketball court, and install additional park amenities (Item 1A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Baker Memorial Park: $17,100 to upgrade the baseball fields, fencing, and concession stand, and construct a new batting cage (Item 1A.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Big Lane Park: $8,055 to replace the basketball backboard, rims and goal posts (Item 1A.4 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)

• Baltimore City
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $200,000 from the Program Open Space State Share/Baltimore City Direct Grant program for ADA upgrades, playground renovation, park amenities and site work at Morrell Park (Item 2A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $450,000 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Baltimore City to design and construct a new Parkview Recreation Center to replace the facility that is being demolished (Item 2A.9 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $378,863 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Baltimore City to replace the roof, make exterior, gutter and rear balcony improvements, as well as remove and abate interior lead paint and asbestos for the second and third floors at the Cylburn Mansion (Item 2A.4 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $710,810.49 from the Program Open Space State Share/Baltimore City Direct Grant program for the following projects:
    • Gwynns Falls, Riverside, and Patterson Parks: $500,000 to regrade, provide new seating, fences, team player areas, and ADA walks at the athletic fields (Item 2A.5 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Mary E. Rodman Recreation Center : $210,810.49 to remove and relocate the basketball court, and install a new playground and ADA-compliant rubber safety surfacing, new ADA concrete walks, and a ramp and entrance plaza.  In addition, add benches, trees and fences (Item 2A.6 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Housing and Community Development for approval to provide a $1,000,000 loan under the Neighborhood BusinessWorks program which is a Smart Growth tool for revitalization through business creation or expansion in designated revitalization areas.  This particular loan will be made to LP 1001 North Charles, LLC to renovate the former Grand Central Building, a former nightclub.  The company plans to expand and convert the newly branded City House Charles to eight floors, creating 31,700 sf of office space, and introduce a new restaurant concept to rebrand the existing space and add a café into the location.  Upon completion, the building will be transformed to a Class A office building with improved retail space on the ground level (Item 9 of the Secretary’s Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $2,200,000 from Program Open Space funding allocated to Baltimore City for the following projects:
    • Bocek Park: $1,300,000 to construct a gym addition onto the newly renovated field house and relocate and replace two basketball courts (Item 2A.7 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Madison Square Recreation Center: $450,000 to separate the recreation center from an existing school as the school is being demolished in order to have a free-standing recreation center (Item 2A.8 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Herring Run Recreation Center: $450,000 to separate the recreation center from an existing school as the school is being demolished in order to have a free-standing recreation center (Item 2A.10 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Housing and Community Development for approval to provide a $400,000 loan under the Neighborhood BusinessWorks program which is a Smart Growth tool for revitalization through business creation or expansion in designated revitalization areas.  This particular loan will be made to 1226 Wicomico, LLC (Sandtown Furniture Company) to acquire and improve an early 1900s two-story, 32,000 sq. ft. building in order to relocate its furniture manufacturing company and expand production.  The borrower’s plans call for modernizing the workplace, including many energy efficient upgrades.  In the future, a portion of the space will be fit out to lease to another business (Item 10 of the Secretary’s Agenda);
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $350,000 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Baltimore City to dredge and rehabilitate Boat Lake at Patterson Park, including new boardwalk decking and piping, aerator, brick wall and picket fence repair (Item 2A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $700,000 from the Program Open Space State Share/Baltimore City Direct Grant program for the following projects:
    • City Springs Park: $200,000 to expand or replace the existing outdoor pool and add facilities to improve park access and circulation (Item 2A.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
    • Gwynns Falls, Riverside, and Patterson Parks: $500,000 to renovate existing athletic fields at these three parks.  This includes regrading and new seating, fences, team player areas, and ADA walks (Item 2A.5 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $5,000,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Inc. to assist in the design, construction, renovation, and equipping of infrastructure improvements at the National Aquarium. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 3 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

• Baltimore County
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $3,500,000 grant to the Board of Trustees of Franklin Square Hospital Center, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a new surgical tower and infrastructure improvements at MedStar Franklin Square Hospital Center.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 2 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

• Calvert
  • A request from the Maryland Historical Trust to approve a $300,000 expenditure through the Maryland Historical Trust Historic Preservation Loan Program to rehabilitate Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum (JPPM)’s  Kings Reach House and Garage.  Most recently, it has been used as a residential rental property by Morgan State University for summer interns in its Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory program. In the future, the interns will be housed at other Park properties.  The renovation provides an opportunity for JPPM to use it as a waterfront event rental space, including use as a wedding venue (Item 13 of the Secretary’s Agenda)

• Caroline
  • A request by the Department of Natural Resources to commit $25,000 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Caroline County to complete the County’s 2022 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan, consistent with State planning requirements (Item 3A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $100,000 from Program Open Space funding allocated to Caroline County for the following projects:
    • Jonestown Community Park: $50,000 to replace playground equipment, pave the basketball court and perimeter trail, and install additional site amenities (Item 3A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Henderson Community Park: $50,000 to replace playground equipment, pave a half basketball court, re-orient the soccer field and construct an access pathway (Item 3A.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)

• Cecil
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $2,000,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Bainbridge Development Corporation for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of public infrastructure to support future development of the site of the former Bainbridge Naval Training Center.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 1 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

• Montgomery
  • A request to provide the following grants to Montgomery County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of conservation easements in the Upper Patuxent River Watershed Rural Legacy Area (both are properties owned by MCB LLC) to protect valuable agricultural and forest lands:
    • $361,324.01 for a 67.87-acre conservation easement.  The property includes approximately 1,785 linear feet of riparian buffers along tributaries to Rocky Gorge Dam and the Patuxent River.  The easement will be held by Montgomery County.  Easement value: $5,064.02/acre (Item 9A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • $1,583,468.60 for a 229-acre conservation easement.  The property includes approximately 1,940 linear feet of riparian buffers along tributaries to Rocky Gorge Dam and the Patuxent River.  The easement will be held by Montgomery County.  Easement value: $6,586.63/acre (Item 10A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $100,000 grant to the Commissioners of the Town of Brookeville for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of improvements to Market Street in the Town of Brookeville.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 4 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • A request to provide a $658,822.00 grant to Montgomery County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 130.85-acre conservation easement in the Mid-Maryland Montgomery Rural Legacy Area (Casey et al Trust property).  Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable agricultural and forest lands.  The property includes approximately 3,000 linear feet of riparian buffers along tributaries to Seneca Creek and the Potomac River.  The easement will be held by Montgomery County.  Easement value: $6,709.89/acre (Item 8A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $1,500,000 grant to the Board of Trustees of the Round House Theatre, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Round House Theatre facility.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 5 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

• Prince George’s
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $353,313 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Prince George’s County to acquire 3.18 acres (Addams property) to add to Oak Creek East Park (Item 4A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)

• Queen Anne’s
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $460,000 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Queen Anne’s County to construct a small ranger station and restrooms at Terrapin Park (Item 5A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)

• St. Mary’s
  • A request to provide a $63,098.11 grant to Southern Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Board (SRCDB) from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 38.15-acre conservation easement in the Mattapany Rural Legacy Area (Dean property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable agricultural and forest lands. The property includes approximately 3,990 linear feet of riparian buffers along tributaries of Jutland Creek and the Potomac River.  The easement will be held by DNR and the SRCDB.  Easement value: $2,838.69/acre (Item 7A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)

• Washington
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $295,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 36.5 +/- acres (Buczkowski property) in Washington County.  This entirely forested property is adjacent to South Mountain State Park and will be managed by the Maryland Park Service.  A Beaver Creek headwater tributary runs through the property, and protection of this watershed maintains downstream water quality and temperature conditions for the lower section of the Creek, which supports a naturally reproducing brown trout population.  Acquisition will also increase recreational opportunities, protect Forest Interior Dwelling Species habitat, buffer the Appalachian Trail, and preserve the historic viewshed associated with the Civil War history of this area (Item 6A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)

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