The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations at its meeting on April 19, 2023:

Allegany County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $83,888 from Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Allegany County for the following projects:
  • Maryland Avenue Softball Fields: $21,888 (Item 1A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • Bel Air Community Recreation Complex:
    • $18,000 to convert an existing storage room into an ADA compliant restroom for park visitor use (Item 1A.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
    • $44,000 to add new fencing, topsoil, pitchers mount, and associated site amenities at the baseball field (Item 1A.4 of the Department of Natural Resources Real Property Agenda); and
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $122,492 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding to improve the picnic areas at the park with new grills, picnic tables, trash receptacles and associated site amenities at Constitutional Park. This is the first phase of a five-year park improvement plan (Item 1A. of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Anne Arundel County

• A request from the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide loans totaling $2,500,000 under the Partnership Rental Housing Program, which finances rental housing that will be occupied by individuals with incomes at 50% of the statewide median income. The project, located at 701 Glenwood Street, Annapolis, consists of the new construction of a one hundred fifty-four-unit family housing development. The units are a mix of efficiency and one- and two-bedroom units (Item 10 of the Secretary’s Agenda); and
• A request from the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide loans totaling $3,500,000 under the Rental Housing Works Program and $1,550,000 under the Partnership Rental Housing Program to Heritage Homes LLC.  Both programs finance rental housing that will be occupied by individuals with incomes at or below 50% of the statewide median income. The project involves the acquisition and rehabilitation of 182-unit age-restricted apartment communities at two sites in Glen Burnie (102 Crain Highway and Odenton (500 Stoney Hill Court). This Project will offer a mix of affordable efficiencies, one- and two-bedroom floorplans targeting low-income households earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). The Project is sponsored by the Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County. (Item 7 of the Secretary’s Agenda).

Baltimore City

• A request from the Department of Housing and Community Development for approval to provide a $742,030 loan under the Shelter and Transitional Housing Facilities Program to Ascension Homes, Inc to upgrade and modernize a group home facility for individuals with mental disabilities who are aging in place. The project is located at 502 Evesham Avenue (7 beds) 512 Harwood Avenue (7 beds) and 424 Winston Avenue (6 beds). This project has been operating as a group home since 1988(Item 9 of the Secretary’s Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $1,200,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 10 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 Children’s Guild, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Transformation Academy. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 4 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $125,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Grantee’s property, 1910 Eagle Drive. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 7 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Baltimore County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $50,000 grant to the Board of Education of Baltimore County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a new playground at Westowne Elementary School. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 5 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $2,800,000 from Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Baltimore County for the following projects:
  • Merritt Point Park: $1,600,000 to replace picnic pavilions, playground equipment and safety surfacing, construct additional paths, and refurbish a comfort station, a storage building, a parking lot and an access road (Item 2A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • Cox’s Point Park: $1,200,000 to refurbish the fishing pier, parking lot and access road, construct additional paths, and replace a picnic pavilion and the playground equipment and safety surfacing (Item 2A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request to provide a $418,157.81 grant to Baltimore County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 49.71-acre conservation easement in the Baltimore County Coastal Rural Legacy Area (Back 50, LLC property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable woodland and wetlands that will be managed as a natural area.  The property includes 2,300 feet of shoreline along Muddy Creek and will provide 700 feet of scenic view protection along Back River Neck Road. The easement will be held by Baltimore County. The County is not requesting reimbursement for administrative or compliance costs, and will grant a Conservation Easement to the Department of Natural Resources. Easement value: $8,117/acre (Item 8A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Calvert County

• A request by the Department of Natural Resources to commit $25,000 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Calvert County to complete the County’s 2027 Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan, consistent with State planning requirements (Item 3A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $60,000 grant to the Board of County Commissioners of Calvert County and the Board of Education of Calvert County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of an electronic message sign at Huntington High School. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 8 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $70,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Bayside History Museum, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Bayside History Museum. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 12 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Carroll County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $2,300,000 grant to the Board of Trustees of McDaniel College for the design, construction, and equipping of the renovation and expansion of the existing college greenhouse, the McDaniel Environmental Center, and the Harvey Stone Pavilion. 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 a $212,129.83 grant to Carroll County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 36.21-acre conservation easement in the Upper Patapsco Rural Legacy Area(Gasper-Watson property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable agricultural land and woodland and over 3,100 linear feet of forested and vegetative stream buffers along tributaries of the Patapsco River and Liberty Reservoir.  Liberty Reservoir is a source of drinking water for the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. The easement will be held by the County, which is paying administrative and compliance costs. Easement value: $5,787/acre (Item 9A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and

• A request to provide a $161,557.86 grant to Carroll County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 32.18-acre conservation easement in the Upper Patapsco Rural Legacy Area (Nesbitt-Boerner property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable agricultural land and over 1,300 linear feet of vegetative stream buffers along tributaries of the Patapsco River and Liberty Reservoir. The easement will be held by the County, which is paying administrative and compliance costs. Easement value: $4,967/acre (Item 10A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Charles County

• A request to provide a $987,807.12 grant to Charles County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 276.71-acre conservation easement in the Zekiah Rural Legacy Area (Lines Long property). Acquisition of this easement will protect ecologically significant agricultural and forest lands, and provide permanent protection to 4,700 linear feet of stream buffers on Zekiah Swamp Run, a tributary of the Potomac River. This easement will be held by the County Commissioners of Charles County.  The County is paying compliance costs. Easement value: $3,395/acre (Item 11A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Cecil County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $300,000 grant to the County Commissioners of Cecil County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a parking lot at the Health Department. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 9 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Dorchester County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $1,300,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds to purchase, on behalf of the Conservation Fund, three parcels totaling 513.81 +/- acres. This includes $204,000 in incidentals to the Conservation Fund. This entirely forested property offers a mix of pine stands and bottom hardwood stands along several streams and will be managed by the Maryland Forest Service as an addition to Chesapeake Forest Lands. Acquisition will expand public recreational opportunities for hunting, fishing, and birding, and provide a buffer for Forest Interior Dwelling Species habitat. The Maryland Forest Service manages working forest lands to produce sustainable forest products and provide for outdoor recreational opportunities, helping to maintain the local resource-based economy (Item 7A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Frederick County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $22,964 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding to construct ADA compliant pathways, remove invasive trees, plant new trees and bushes, and install educational signage and seating for the Mount Airy Community Garden (Item 4A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $40,000 to the Eastview Community Center, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a playground for the Eastview housing subdivision. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 1 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 Frederick County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a Crisis Stabilization Center. 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 Directors of the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Innovation Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 16 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Montgomery County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $150,000 grant to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of Fox Chapel Neighborhood Park. 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 $350,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Works, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Interfaith Works Vocational Services Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 15 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $150,000 grant to the Maryland National Park and Planning Commission for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Randolph Hills Local Park. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 3 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 $50,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Oxon Hill Recreation Club for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Oxon Hill Swim Club. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 14 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Queen Anne’s County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $40,000 grant to the Grasonville Community Center, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Grasonville Community Center programs and facility. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 11 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Wicomico County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit an additional $54,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding for engineering, design, and construction of the new Pirates Wharf Park. This includes trails, soft boat launch and landing, a fishing pier, an observation deck, bulk heads, parking, landscaping, a natural playground, signage, and additional site amenities (Item 5A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Other projects

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $1,970,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 3.15 acres (South Mountain Inn property). This mostly forested property adjoins South Mountain State Park and will be managed by the Maryland Park Service. Acquisition will provide a buffer for the Appalachian Trail and Forest Interior Dwelling Species habitat recognized by the National Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area. The property also includes a commercial structure that can be used as a visitor center (Item 6A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).