$8.4M Approved by MD Board of Public Works This Week for Counties

Program Open Space funding and prior year capital budget allocations make up the bulk of $8.4M going to counties this week from the Board of Public Works.

The Maryland Board of Public Works this week approved $8.4M for counties and Baltimore City. These distributions support projects ranging from park improvements and land preservation to major transportation infrastructure. The funding coming is primarily from two sources including Program Open Space and prior year capital budget allocations previously approved by the General Assembly.

Howard County accounts for the largest share of the listed funding, including a $4M grant for the Route 29 North-South Jug Handle Connector. Other significant allocations include $2.2M in Program Open Space funding for new recreational amenities at Frederick’s Old National Pike Park and $1.3M for Harford to acquire 16.85 acres to expand the Oakington Peninsula Park system.

See all project details below.

Baltimore City

  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $100,000 grant to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the IND Water Main Replacement Project. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant. The General Assembly previously approved this funding as part of the 2025 Capital Budget.

Carroll

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $339,005.00 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Carroll County for the following:
    • Watkins Park: $85,205.00 for major repairs to the tennis and basketball courts; and
    • Piney Run Park: $253,800.00 to replace the existing wooden pavilion with a steel pavilion including electrical service, sidewalks, picnic tables, and trash receptacles

Frederick

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $38,970.00 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Frederick County to replace two existing picnic shelters at Memorial Park in Emmitsburg with new pavilions, concrete slabs, picnic tables, trash receptacles, and associated amenities.
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $24,519.00 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Frederick County to extend the existing walking loop by adding a walking path at Heritage Farm Park in Walkersville.
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $2,162,103.50 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Frederick County for new picnic shelters, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, a playground, paved hiker-biker trails, landscaping elements, roads and parking areas at Old National Pike Park.
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $6,657.00 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Frederick County to add a walking path to the existing loop at Heritage Farm Park.

Garrett

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $23,850.00 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Garrett County for a new accessible, multi-use pavilion at Garrett College.

Harford

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $1,255,000 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Harford County to acquire 16.85 acres to expand the Oakington Peninsula Park system.
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $100,000 grant to Harford County, Maryland for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of infrastructure improvements at Mariner Point Park, including the renovation or replacement of the fishing piers.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant. The General Assembly previously approved this funding as part of the 2024 Capital Budget.

Howard

  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $200,000 grant to Howard County, Maryland for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Font Hill Wetland Park, including paving and pedestrian bridge replacement. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant. The General Assembly previously approved this funding as part of the 2026 Capital Budget.
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $50,000 grant to Howard County, Maryland for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of Rockburn Branch Park including a new restroom facility. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant. The General Assembly previously approved this funding as part of the 2025 Capital Budget.
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $4,000,000 grant to Howard County, Maryland for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Route 29 North-South Jug Handle Connector. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant. The General Assembly previously approved this funding as part of the 2026 Capital Budget. 

Montgomery 

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $42,806 from Program Open Space funding allocated to Montgomery County to repair and replace paved trails in the following Town of Poolesville parks:
    • Halmos Park: $31,566 
    • Perkins Park: $11,250
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $12,500 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Montgomery County to replace the fencing, expand the playing area, and add a small retaining wall, including grading and sediment control/stabilization at Cambria Park.

Queen Anne’s 

  • A request by the Department of Natural Resources to commit $17,500 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Queen Anne’s County to complete the County’s 2027 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan, consistent with State planning requirements.

Washington

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $62,984.00 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Washington County to construct a dog park at Shafer Park in Boonsboro.
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $36,000 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Washington County to construct a shade structure for the skate park at Fairgrounds Park in Hagerstown.