The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations at its meeting on March 15, 2023:

Anne Arundel County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $500,000from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding to design and construct new ADA-compliant independent restrooms to serve the South Shore Trail visitors at the ranger station in Millersville (Item 1A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $300,000 to the Board of Directors of the Robert A. Pascal Youth and Family Services, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Pascal Crisis Stabilization Center, and to support renovation costs in the auxiliary Pascal Crisis locations. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 17 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Baltimore City

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $500,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Next One Up Foundation, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Next One Up facility. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 16 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $150,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Prologue, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Prologue Outreach Center. 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 $750,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Waterfront Management Authority for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Point Park project. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 18 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $2,500,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Baltimore Children’s Museum, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Port Discovery Children’s Museum. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 19 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Baltimore County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $167,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 2.025 +/-acres(American Equity Funding, Inc. property) in Baltimore County. This entirely forested property is located along Belair Road and adjacent to Gunpowder Falls State Park. Acquisition will contribute to preservation of a contiguous block of forest that provides Forest Interior Dwelling Species habitat, protect water quality in the Little Gunpowder Falls Watershed, and simplify boundary management. The property will be managed by the Maryland Park Service as part of Gunpowder Falls State Park (Item 6A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $1,150,000 to the Board of Directors of First Fruits Farm, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the First Fruit Farm Packing and Distribution facility. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 3 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $175,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Hampstead Volunteer Fire and Hose Company No. 1 for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the installation of a security alerting and camera system. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 4 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Calvert County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $75,000 grant to the Board of Trustees of Ann’s Circle, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 8 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

Carroll County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $500,000 grant to the Board of County Commissioners of Carroll County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of capital improvements and upgrades to the Hampstead Wastewater Treatment Plant. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 2 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $1,000,000 grant to the Board of County Commissioners of Carroll County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Carroll County Public Safety Training Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 12 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Charles County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $50,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Senior Network, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Fenwick Landing Senior Center.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 11 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Dorchester County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $500,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Mace’s Lane Community Center, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Mace’s Lane Community Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 15 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Frederick County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $100,000 from Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Frederick County for the following projects in Emmitsburg:
  • E. Eugene Myers Community Park: $30,500 to renovate the Bollinger Pavilion (Item 2A.4 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • Rainbow Lake: $44,500 to pave the existing turnaround and construct a parking lot, which includes handicap accessible parking next to the Lake (Item 2A.5 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • Memorial and E. Eugene Myers Community Parks: $3,000 to purchase and install bat and helmet racks (Item 2A.6 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
  • Memorial Park: $22,000 to renovate the Park Pavilion (Item 2A.7 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $124,000 from Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding for the following projects in the City of Brunswick:
  • Campground Park: $90,500 to resurface the basketball court and install new playground equipment (Item 2A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • Kim Weddle Park: $26,000 to resurface the basketball court, replace fencing and install new signage (Item 2A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • Wenner Park: $7,500 to resurface the basketball court and install new benches (Item 2A.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $1,000,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance Company. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 9 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Garrett County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $20,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding to make improvements to the horseshoe pits, and volleyball and bocce ball courts at Grantsville Town Park (Item 3A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $493,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 100.88 +/- acres (Smith property) in Garrett County. This mostly forested property is located entirely within Savage River State Forest and includes a portion of Miller Run, a tributary to Big Run. It will be managed by the Maryland Forest Service to expand public recreational opportunities for hunting, trapping, hiking, and birding. Acquisition will provide a buffer for Forest Interior Dwelling Species habitat (recognized by the National Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area), and protect water quality in the Savage River Watershed (Item 7A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Harford County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $100,000 grant to the Board of Directors of The Miracle League of Harford County, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Miracle League Baseball Field. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 7 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request from the Maryland Environmental Trust to ratify the donation of a perpetual conservation easement on 32.582 acres in Aberdeen (Crothers property on Perryman Road) (Item 12A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $750,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Discovery Center at Water’s Edge, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a new facility. 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 from the Maryland Department of Health to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $462,638 to Way Stations, Inc. to assist with the acquisition and renovation of the following properties.This project represents a collaboration between the Grantee and Mosaic to provide housing for 15 individuals between 18 and 62 years old with serious and persistent mental illness (Item 24 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda):
  • 4238 Chapelgate Place, Belcamp, MD
  • 1208 Mist Wood Court, Unit 203, Belcamp, MD
  • 1428 Tarragon Court, Belcamp, MD
  • 3919 Bush Court, Abingdon, MD
  • 1315 Foxglove Square, Belcamp, MD

Montgomery County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $411,925 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Prince George’s County to acquire 52.59 acres of property (Joseph property) to add to the Western Branch Stream Valley Park (Item 4A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $285,000 grant to the Board of Directors of ArtSpace Projects, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Silver Spring Artspace facility. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 20 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $1,092,000 grant to Holy Cross Hospital d/b/a Holy Cross Health to assist in the design, construction, renovation, and equipping of space in the emergency department. The Grantee has submitted documentation of sufficient funds to meet the matching fund requirement for this project (Item 13 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to provide a $2,713,955 grant to Montgomery County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 309.13-acre conservation easement in the Mid-Maryland Montgomery Rural Legacy Area (Seneca Farms LLC property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable agricultural and forest lands. The property includes approximately 7,100 linear feet of riparian buffers along tributaries of Lower Seneca Creek and the Potomac River. The easement will be held by the County, who is paying incidental costs. Easement value: 8,401.28/acre (Item 11A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $150,000 to the Board of Directors of the Madison House Autism Foundation, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Barn Bank at Madison Fields. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 1 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $100,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Madison House Autism Foundation, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Pavilion at Madison Fields. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 22 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Prince George’s County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $200,000 grant to the Board of Director of World Arts Focus, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a performing arts center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 5 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Somerset County

• A request to provide a $33,454.68 grant to The Lower Shore Land Trust from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 13.43-acre conservation easement in the Dividing Creek Rural Legacy Area (Dolan II property). Acquisition of this easement will extinguish all development rights, protecting 13.43-acres of forested land within the Audubon-designated Pocomoke Nassawango Important Bird Area. The easement provides for over 1,000 linear feet of forested buffer on Dividing Creek in the Pocomoke River watershed. Preserving this land from development provides additional resiliency to the effects of climate change on the Eastern Shore. The easement will be held by the Department of Natural Resources and the Lower Shore Land Trust. Easement value: $2,140.44/acre (Item 10A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Talbot County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $5,021,742 ($100,000 in Program Open Space (POS) funding allocated to Talbot County and $4,921,741 in POS State Share funding), to acquire 197.67 acres for a new wooded park with nature trails. Conservation of the largely forested property will preserve Forest Interior Dwelling Species and other wildlife habitat, prevent fragmentation of an important wildlife corridor, and provide water quality benefits in the Lower Choptank River watershed. This acquisition will create the largest park in the Town of Easton and is adjacent to a future phase of the town wide trail network. The project is a partnership among the State, County, and the Town. In exchange for the $4,921,742 in POS State Share funding, POS Stateside will hold a perpetual conservation easement on the property. The Town is providing the remaining $100,000 needed for this project (Item 5A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).