Parks and Recreation Archives

State Awards $1.2M for Local Parks and Recreation

Earlier this month, the Board of Public Works approved more than $1.18 million in grants to support parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, and recreational facilities in six counties through three Maryland Department of Natural Resources programs. The July 1 approvals include funding through Program Open Space - Local, the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program, and the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program, helping counties and municipalities improve recreational amenities and expand outdoor opportunities for residents. Approximately…

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July 28, 2026

County News / Education / Environment / Parks and Recreation

Wicomico County To Gain First State Park

When Wetipquin Creek State Park opens, Wicomico County will become the final Maryland county to have a state park, marking a statewide milestone in access to public lands. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently celebrated the acquisition of the 445-acre Wetipquin Creek property, which will become Maryland's newest state park. Located along Wetipquin Creek near the Nanticoke River, the property includes marshland, forests, and the historic Long Hill house, a mid-18th century home…

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July 23, 2026

Parks and Recreation / Summer Conference

The Funding of Fun: Parks, Partnerships, and Public Value

At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, county leaders will explore how public-private partnerships and other innovative guidelines are helping expand parks, recreation facilities, and community amenities while managing long-term costs. As demand for parks, trails, athletic fields, and recreational programming continues to grow, counties are finding new ways to leverage private investment, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and other partners. These partnerships can create opportunities to deliver projects and services that might otherwise be out of…

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July 20, 2026

Read more about the article Busy Maryland Parks Could See New Reservation Requirements

Photo from MD Dept of Natural Resources - Sandy Point State Park

Parks and Recreation

Busy Maryland Parks Could See New Reservation Requirements

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is preparing to expand the state’s online park reservation and entry system to additional parks and recreation areas as early as this summer. In an article from Maryland Matters, the state is considering a registration proposal to manage growing visitation and traffic at state parks. The proposal from the Department still requires final approval from the Maryland Board of Public Works, which delayed action last week and requested additional…

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May 13, 2026

Read more about the article Park & Planning Retirement System Seeking Montgomery, Prince George’s Trustees

County project map, image courtesy of Prince George's County Planning

Parks and Recreation / Pensions & Public Funds / Planning and Zoning

Park & Planning Retirement System Seeking Montgomery, Prince George’s Trustees

The Retirement System serving Park and Planning officials in the two DC-adjacent counties has Trustee vacancies, and is seeking interested parties to apply to serve. The Board of Trustees for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) is seeking two trustees, one each from Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. Public Trustees serve a three-year term, from July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029. The Board holds fiduciary oversight of the…

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April 28, 2026

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2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 448th legislative session unfolded under significant fiscal pressure. Lawmakers closed the fiscal 2027 gap, preserved reserves, and fully funded principal commitments, such as the Blueprint, but did not resolve the larger structural deficits projected for the years ahead. That budget pressure shaped debates across nearly every policy area, from…

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April 17, 2026

Environment / MACo Testimony / Parks and Recreation

2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: Environment

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of environment policy in the 2026 General Assembly session. Counties remain on the front lines of environmental policy, tasked with implementing and enforcing ambitious statewide goals while balancing local realities. As such, MACo continues to advocate for practical, flexible solutions that empower counties to meet environmental objectives without imposing unworkable mandates or unfunded burdens. Maryland’s 448th legislative session unfolded under significant fiscal…

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April 15, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Environment / Parks and Recreation / Risk Management

Frederick Moves Forward on Green Infrastructure Plan

Frederick County is moving ahead with a long-range planning effort aimed at protecting natural resources, improving resilience, and shaping how growth and conservation work together over time. The County Council is set to begin reviewing the county’s Green Infrastructure Plan, a policy framework focused on preserving and connecting environmental, agricultural, and recreational assets across Frederick County. While the title may sound technical, the larger question behind the plan is straightforward: "How should the county protect…

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April 9, 2026

County News / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use / Parks and Recreation

Baltimore County Expands Senior Services in Jacksonville

Baltimore County is making a significant investment in services for older adults, breaking ground on a new Jacksonville Senior Center designed to better meet the needs of its growing and active senior population. The new facility will replace the current center with a space that is three times larger, giving the county more room to expand programming, improve accessibility, and support a wider range of activities and services. County officials say the project was shaped…

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April 2, 2026

MACo Testimony / Parks and Recreation

Counties Flag Operational Challenges With Proposed Pesticide Notification Registry

On March 4, Legislative Services Assistant Charlotte Fleckenstein gave in person testimony on behalf of Karrington Anderson to the Environment and Transportation Committee in opposition to HB 1237 - Pesticide Applications - Subscription Contract Requirements and Registry Establishment. This bill establishes the Residential Pollinator Protection and Neighbor Notification Registry within the Department of Agriculture for individuals to receive advance notification of pesticide applications on neighboring properties. Counties already follow strict pesticide safety regulations and public…

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March 9, 2026