The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations at its meeting on December 7, 2022:

Anne Arundel County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $100,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the National Cryptologic Museum Foundation, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Cyber Center of Education and Innovation and National Cryptologic Museum. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 6 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $1,000,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a new Adaptive Boating Center in Annapolis. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 17 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• District 30B: A request from the Department of Natural Resources to provide a $319,300 grant to the Deale Beach Citizen’s Association to construct a permitted 175 linear foot living shoreline with headland marsh and dune features on Herring Bay to help protect an existing community park, road, and residential infrastructure under DNRs Resiliency through Restoration Initiative. This program was developed to address escalating risks to Maryland communities and public resources from extreme weather and climate-related events (Item 7 of the Secretary’s Agenda).

Baltimore City

• A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $200,000 to the Board of Directors of The Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill and Fell’s Point, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the properties at 612-614 Wolfe Street (The Ship Caulkers’ Houses), subject to a requirement that the grantee grant and convey a historic easement to the Maryland Historical Trust.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 14 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $3,000,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of infrastructure improvements at the National Aquarium.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 19 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $500,000 grant to the Board of Trustees of Ark Church for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Haven Project.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 2 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $1,250,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Center for the Neuroscience of Social Injustice at the Kennedy Krieger Institute.  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 enter into a grant agreement for a $1,000,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Kennedy Krieger Children’s Hospital, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of renovations of existing outpatient space for patients with developmental disabilities.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 5 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $1,800,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of escalator replacement and backstage refurbishment at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 16 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Baltimore County

• A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $170,000 to the Board of Directors of The Arc Baltimore, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Arc Baltimore facilities. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 10 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to provide a $307,691.15 grant to The Gunpowder Valley Conservancy from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 45.51-acre conservation easement in the Gunpowder Rural Legacy Area (Bryant property).  Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable agricultural lands and woodland as well as protect 1,125 linear feet of forested buffers along unnamed tributaries to Charles Run, a tributary of Gunpowder Falls. The easement will provide permanent viewshed protection to the Torrey C. Brown Trail. The easement will be held by the Grantee and the Department of Natural Resources.  Easement value: $6,368/acre (Item 12A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Calvert County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $150,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding for new playground equipment and safety surfacing, shade structures and outdoor exercise equipment at Kellam’s Complex in Chesapeake Beach (Item 1A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Caroline County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $100,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Caroline County to construct a new full-size basketball court at Henderson Community Park (Item 2A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Cecil County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit the following for projects at Calvert Regional Park:
  • $135,000 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Cecil County to install a prefabricated comfort station/restroom facility (Item 3A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
    • $300,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Cecil County to repave, clear and color coat and line existing basketball courts (Item 3A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Frederick County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $200,000 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Frederick County to acquire a 4.38-acre wooded parcel for a future park with a multiuse trail in the Town of Thurmont (Item 4A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Garrett County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $12,532.40 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Garrett County to install garage doors around the perimeter of the pavilion at Mountain Fresh Park to be able to use it during inclement weather (Item 5A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request from the Maryland Environmental Trust to ratify the donation of the following perpetual conservation easements on two properties in Garrett County:
  • 85.17 acres (Martin Trust properties on 962 Dry Run Road, Swanton) (Item 16A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
  • 60.9 acres (Savage River Land Co., property on Seldom Seen Road, Bloomington) (Item 16A.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Harford County

• A request to provide a $183,576 grant to Harford County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 30.60-acre conservation easement in the Deer Creek Rural Legacy Area (Majors property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable woodlands and 2,120 linear feet of forest buffer along unnamed tributaries to St. Omer Branch within the Deer Creek. The easement will be held by the County. The County is paying administrative, incidental, and compliance costs. Easement value: $7,000/acre (Item 13A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $850,000 to the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Aberdeen B&O Train Station, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the historic Aberdeen B&O Train Station. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 1 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Howard County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $150,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Howard County for new playground equipment at Rockburn Branch Park (Item 6A.5 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $350,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Howard County Veterans Foundation, Inc and the County Executive and County Council of Howard County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Howard County Veterans Monument at the Vivian C. “Millie” Bailey Park. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 3 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $400.000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Howard County to turn an existing building at West Friendship Park into an interpretive and programmed space for agricultural, heritage, and adventure programming (Item 6A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $200,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Howard County for new playground equipment at Centennial Park (Item 6A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $320,000 to the Board of Directors of the Mission First Housing Development Corporation for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Patuxent Commons. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 8 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $6,250,000 from Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding for the following Howard County projects:
  • Waterloo Park: $550,000 for new playground equipment and to enhance the surrounding areas (Item 6.6 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • Savage Park: $2,000,000 to design and construct improvements to the Savage Mill Trail for connection to other area trails.  The project also includes construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Little Patuxent River (Item 6.7 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • North Laurel Community Center: $2,000,000 for the construction of an indoor swimming pool (Item 6.8 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • Blandair Regional Park:
    • $1,200,000 to design and construct a skatepark and pickleball and basketball courts, additional parking and pathway connections (Item 6.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
    • $500,000 to restore and rehabilitate the park’s historic mansion (Item 6.4 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Kent County

• A request from the Maryland Environmental Trust to ratify the donation of two perpetual conservation easement on a total of 292.684 acres in Chestertown (Green Point Farms, LLC properties on Hanesville Road) (Items 16A.4 and 16A.5 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Montgomery County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $1,822,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 77.55 +- acres (Whites Ferry Acres LLC property) in Montgomery County. This partially forested property includes a mix of mature, second growth forest and open meadows adjacent to a block of conservation lands.  Acquisition will expand public recreational opportunities, add to a large contiguous area of core Forest Interior Dwelling Species Habitat, and protect water quality in the Little Seneca Creek, Seneca Creek, and Potomac River Watersheds. The property will be managed by the Maryland Park Service as part of Seneca Creek State Park (Item 10A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Prince George’s County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $250,000 grant to the Mayor and City Council of the City of Mount Rainier for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Mount Rainier Welcome Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 18 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Queen Anne’s County

• A request from the Maryland Environmental Trust to ratify the donation of a perpetual conservation easement on 276 acres in Centerville (Harper property on Tilghman Neck Road) (Item 16A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Somerset County

• A request from the Maryland Department of the Environment for new grant and loan funding up to $12,492,604 ($1,600,000 loan and $10,891,604 grant) to Somerset County Sanitary District for the Smith Island Clean Water project. This project entails the planning, design, and construction of a new Biological and Enhanced Nutrient Removal (BNR/ENR) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to replace the 40-year-old WWTP.  It also includes upgrading the wastewater collection and conveyance system. This will see an 83% reduction in nitrogen and a 90% reduction in phosphorus, reducing nutrients to the Frances Gut and ultimately to the Chesapeake Bay. In addition, the project includes decommissioning of the existing Tylerton WWTP, an overhaul of three existing pumping stations, and the construction of a new sanitary force main for the conveyance of wastewater from Tylerton to the new Ewell WWTP (Item 9 of the Secretary’s Agenda).

Washington County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $18,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Washington County Commission on Aging, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Washington County Commission on Aging’s Senior Activities Center (SAC). There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 13 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to provide the following grants to Washington County from Rural Legacy Funds in the Mid-Maryland Washington Rural Legacy Area:
  • $33,073.25 for the acquisition of a 13.26-acre conservation easement (Kelbaugh property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable woodland and protects 1,300 linear feet of forest buffer along Israel Creek and tributaries. The property also borders the Weverton-Roxbury Trail. The easement will be held by the County.  Easement value: $2,295/acre (Item 11A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
  • $317,463.37 for the acquisition of a 90.71-acre conservation easement (Wolfinger property).  Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable agricultural land and woodlands as well as 1,165 linear feet of stream buffers along unnamed tributaries to historic Antietam Creek. The easement will be held by the County. Easement value: $3,958/acre (Item 14A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Wicomico County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $250,000 grant to the Mayor and City Council of the City of Salisbury for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of an improved Andean bear exhibit at the Salisbury Zoological Park. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 9 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $75,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Christian Shelter, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Christian Shelter Inc. Thrift Store property. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 11 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $156,693 grant to the Board of Directors of Christian Shelter, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Christian Shelter Inc. facilities, including a refrigerator/freezer cooler unit replacement. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 12 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Worcester County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $781,145.15 from Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding for the following projects
  • Worcester County Recreation Center:
    • $75,000 for an indoor batting cage (Item 8A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);

• • • 456,145.15 for eight electric retractable bleachers (Item 8A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
    • Newark Park: $200,000 for a new playground (Item 8A.4 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
    • Newtown Park: $50,000 for two sand volleyball courts (Item 8A.5 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $225,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Worcester County for a new playground at Bishopville Park (Item 8A.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).