Board of Public Works Approves More Than $125M for County Projects This Week

Three counties and Baltimore City received funding approvals from the Board of Public Works today, with money coming from agency grants, prior year capital budget allocations, and –  the bulk of the distributions – from Program Open Space.

In a regularly scheduled meeting of the Maryland Board of Public Works, $126M was approved for 10 projects across four jurisdictions. Baltimore City received almost all of that total for seven projects. Howard, Washington, and Wicomico all received smaller allocations for improvements to parks and recreation areas.

All funding approvals and project details are below.

Baltimore City

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit an additional $2,057,189.00 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Baltimore City to design and construct improvements at City Springs Park. Improvements include outdoor pool updates and replacement, utility upgrades, restrooms and field house improvements, general site improvements, construction management, and associated site amenities.
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $21,400.00 from the Program Open Space Stateside – Baltimore City Direct Grant to restore the Patterson Park boat lake.
  • A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $250,000 for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Betty Hyatt Park Playground. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant. The General Assembly previously approved this funding as part of the 2024 Capital Budget.
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $800,000 from the Program Open Space Stateside – Baltimore City Direct Grant for construction of the new Carroll F. Cook Recreation Center.
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $100,000 from the Program Open Space Stateside – Baltimore City Direct Grant for pedestrian walking paths, a community garden, an expanded playground, plaza storm water management and additional tree plantings at Northwest Park.
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit an additional $2,885,713.43 to perform structural repairs below the orchid room, replace deteriorating window frames on the palm house and additional site amenities at the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory.
  •  A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $120,000,000 from the Program Open Space Stateside – Baltimore City Direct Grant to design and construct an ADA-accessible walking loop, fitness equipment, basketball court, and associated site amenities at Easterwood Park.

Howard

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $350,000 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Howard County for new playground equipment and safety surfacing at the Centennial Park West Area.

Washington

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $30,100 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Washington County to acquire a 0.79-acre easement to facilitate the construction of the Antietam Creek Waterway Trail.

Wicomico

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $90,000 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Wicomico County to design and install new perimeter fencing around all four ball fields, a new facility sign, and landscaping at East Wicomico Little League Park.