As communities evolve, so must the tools that support parks and recreation. A new law modernizes Program Open Space to meet today’s needs, giving counties the flexibility to build, maintain, and plan for vibrant public spaces.
The Maryland General Assembly passed HB 717 – Natural Resources – Public Lands – Acquisition, Staffing, Operations, and Funding – a significant win for counties and the communities they serve. Since 1969, POS has enabled the expansion of parks, trails, and open spaces across Maryland, offering communities vital health, recreational, and economic benefits. But as counties meet or exceed ambitious land acquisition goals, local needs are evolving. Maintenance, facility upgrades, and accessibility improvements are becoming top priorities, and HB 717 responds to this shift.
HB 717 establishes a new Land and Property Management Program within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and updates policies related to the State Park system. Crucially for counties, the bill also provides greater flexibility for using POS Local allocations, allowing jurisdictions to invest in much-needed upgrades to local parks and recreation facilities once land acquisition goals have been met. MACo, in collaboration with DNR, successfully advocated for language that modernized how counties can use Program Open Space (POS) funds.
MACo worked closely with Maryland Association of County Park and Recreation Administrators (MACPRA) to further strengthen the bill, supporting two commonsense amendments that reinforce counties’ ability to deliver high-quality recreational services:
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Planning Support Boost: The original $25,000 annual limit for using acquisition funds to develop or update Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plans (LPPRPs) was overly restrictive. With the amendment, counties can now apply for up to $125,000 in any given year, streamlining the planning process and reducing administrative burden for both local governments and DNR.
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Fairer Local Match Rules: Previously, counties were required to match POS funds based on the entire development project cost, limiting their ability to combine multiple funding sources for large-scale initiatives. The amended language now requires the match only on the POS funding portion, empowering smaller jurisdictions in particular to better leverage grants and achieve transformational recreational projects.
Counties are stretching limited resources to maintain vibrant, welcoming parks and open spaces. HB 717 ensures that POS evolves to meet today’s needs. More flexibility means counties can respond faster and more effectively to community priorities, all while continuing Maryland’s legacy of preserving and enhancing public lands.
Click here to view the passed enrolled version of HB 717.
