[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6211952,"mediaKeyId","3686623-714291ceede0fe9c4ec17a68fa7356b8","parentId",3686623,"title","County parks staff list completed playground, skate‑park, stage and accessibility projects; preview larger CIP items","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",130580000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3686623-714291ceede0fe9c4ec17a68fa7356b8&start=130580&end=130580","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3686623-714291ceede0fe9c4ec17a68fa7356b8/thumbnail_130580000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6211952/St-Marys-County/Maryland/County-parks-staff-list-completed-playground-skatepark-stage-and-accessibility-projects-preview-larger-CIP-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211952-7a0af1e58988d3f41343a12bbfbb62ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1775476756&Signature=oFwnF0RcnQQhTjg0UYOpCO-KCloS-0suIR-sZQ6oNXuQacrm9Djzss3zU~-ePpOHfIN5OOsx-ZyNidbX7cUs1d5JCFb17vzvo-hzzwtU6xTv1lAbyB16DEIZIQOG5tLEXFoct-sMqbtH0eifE~ZE5nfseFEVl7~pTCwEximu97U73CSFieeEv1np9mn4cpGaxN0mKt4S2xqP-z7Qyvh0V5xyTm-tzuSIR79zfCs1MN~9dJ6E-BrrPRISkZ-iKroQNkjMysDtQPT1khn204U8dY8cHWXc~PuyYk7fUNzz5uSQ6rTfcQ0IFk80j5pnLT4AY4LrVb-Garr9t3W5nj3JsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-06-06T10:28:17Z","article","Christie, a capital projects staff member with St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks, updated the Recreation and Parks Citizens Advisory Board on completed and planned capital projects.

Completed projects Christie listed included the new playgrounds at Chaptico Park and Seventh District Park, renovations at Nicolette Skate Park, the new stage and sensory path at Lexington Manor Passive Park, and completion of tennis court renovations. Christie said water fountains and bottle‑filling stations were installed at Seventh District and Chaptico, with one part still pending installation at the Nicolette skate park.

Christie said Program Open Space funding supported communication boards included with new playground installations. She confirmed the department is planning LED light retrofits at Fifth District Field 2 and 3 (grant‑backed) and will solicit public input on design options for the Saint Clement Shores playground. She said Cecil Park is planned as a fully accessible playground with particular focus on children with autism and that construction is expected in spring 2027.

Christie also described upcoming sport‑facility work: Dorsey Park’s courts will remain tennis but be fully renovated; Chancellor’s Run Regional Park courts are slated for a basketball renovation and conversion of tennis courts for pickleball use. She said the department has met with the United States Tennis Association and the Mid‑Atlantic Tennis Association to perform a full assessment of tennis and pickleball facilities to guide future dedicated courts and equitable access.

Background and community context: staff noted the county maintains dozens of athletic fields (staff mentioned “41 baseball and softball fields” in total during discussion) and that recent drainage and field improvements at Chancellors Run have helped manage the unusually wet spring. Christie urged board members and residents to expect public input opportunities on playground designs and emphasized partnerships used to complete the sensory path (students from Chopticon High School designed and painted sections under Arts Council sponsorship and corporate paint discounts).

No formal capital appropriations or construction contracts were approved at the meeting; Christie said start dates for several fall projects (including new skate parks) were still to be scheduled and would be shared with the board at future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6/4/25 Recreation and Parks Board","oneSentenceSummary","Capital projects staff reviewed recently completed playground and park improvements (Chaptico, Seventh District, Nicolette skate park, Lexington Manor stage and sensory path) and previewed upcoming work including ADA upgrades, a fully accessible Cecil Park playground (spring 2027) and tennis/pickleball court renovations.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6211957,"St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks reports progress on strategic plan; launches videos, metrics and registration upgrade",809,761670,1570730,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3686623-714291ceede0fe9c4ec17a68fa7356b8&start=761&end=1570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3686623-714291ceede0fe9c4ec17a68fa7356b8/thumbnail_761670.jpg","/articles/6211957/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-County-Recreation-and-Parks-reports-progress-on-strategic-plan-launches-videos-metrics-and-registration-upgrade","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211957-ad13ee27be2593c9a0c6561ee7306ba1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775476756&Signature=gZgtv0i6KbSGh3xDodYhZI36G23NqdLmJfTU8d3S8TashL18sP1Sts8sy55rT3o-0BvZfougPAJxVDhIehTTAEpCe3wamwYuN9QU1Yg0a3rEhzd6KDpFNA7rZavy0qhBgj~8H0OuMBtqT1Xmal0sUH8yF6uMOT6Oob486mujQqOl8oMJkABCE5CABWvUk09XAGEpFfBrbCTV44WHdFN7eu7FK-X8FUVK0xlTO62P3DrB5p2l8QcUk2~lmF8jqgOB8hnGgRWn5X29X--oibRSQPkrcrB7c~ABCT0dWcLQllcd5YACIaAPDpPshaYmxnCr8wZ4WcN6V4ltKe05Y8efXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jessica, a staff member with St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks, told the Recreation and Parks Citizens Advisory Board the department is midway through short‑term objectives from its 2024–2029 strategic plan and is tracking 17 action items slated for completion by December 2025.

Jessica said the plan’s four pillars — customer service, fiscal stewardship, innovation and human capital — drive specific short‑term projects. On customer service, she said the department has produced educational videos, added two TV information displays (including one at Leonard Hall), deployed QR codes in facilities and launched short park‑tour videos to help users find amenities. “We have 2 new TV displays that are on a constant rotation,” she said.

Under fiscal stewardship, Jessica said staff are standardizing participation and financial reporting across divisions and using the National Recreation and Park Association’s park metrics to compare county performance with national benchmarks. On innovation, the department has gathered drone footage of all 23 park sites and is assessing expanded use of the county’s CityWorks asset‑management system. Jessica said a purchase order has been approved for a new web‑based registration platform and implementation planning is underway; staff estimated rollout in December or January, about six to seven months after kickoff.

Human capital items include developing a formal workforce‑development program, internship partnerships with St. Mary’s County Public Schools and St. Mary’s College, and continued support for staff professional certifications.

Why it matters: the short‑term actions are designed to increase program access, improve reporting and reduce operational friction (for example, by enabling online pass purchases and reducing cash handling). Jessica emphasized accessibility and outreach: several new materials and videos have Spanish translations and the department is increasing paper‑based and in‑person options for those not online.

Discussion and follow‑up: board members asked about where drone footage will be published; Jessica said some footage is being released via social media and staff will add park pages with drone video over time. Board members also asked about improving Wi‑Fi in waterfront parks to enable card processing; Jessica said the request is in the county IT budget process and remains subject to IT and budget approvals.

No formal votes were taken on the strategic plan update; staff will return with further progress reports.","Department staff briefed the Recreation and Parks Citizens Advisory Board on progress toward the 2024–2029 strategic plan, highlighting educational media, stakeholder outreach goals, National Recreation and Park Association metrics, drone imaging and a forthcoming web registration system.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6211962,"St. Mary’s County recreation officials say new state law, grants will fund field lights, court changes and a replacement water taxi",99,135010,234995,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3686623-714291ceede0fe9c4ec17a68fa7356b8&start=135&end=234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3686623-714291ceede0fe9c4ec17a68fa7356b8/thumbnail_135010.jpg","/articles/6211962/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-County-recreation-officials-say-new-state-law-grants-will-fund-field-lights-court-changes-and-a-replacement-water-taxi","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211962-2167bdf88de8ca0b3eb496e6eb28f439/orig.mp4?Expires=1775476756&Signature=AxMSSBBNofUs8sbDcB2VpO5iLhpllJX0xD9jqurlZ6uVpW0N0KOXzSXrKrdf7bBa9in8l9YAlkaI095W2Sy7uh7RryjWWwU~hiErhjlH-pUhDHUw5U5F9GBoqMkiW0hHqJArf5g0W1ZOHbjoLxv1CPVuQyvOhj-d0JlF7Pz7GYZ5KT4MRxoYTYjMIVc9p0w3ihA6mjIF6zCqdQanJaklm85P7MMFzvqwqCUlQLyQASgBUAugvmIX48mg8VFMnlXdyiSgxhWcPCExmeFNoRZerPkmrOSCee6xb4xo6ZNzOLXDYbBXhYA5dQtHk9JotoQN9bT-3t1t8~xe1k6xw9eq8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Recreation and Parks staff told the St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks Citizens Advisory Board on the evening they plan to move multiple projects to the commissioners for application and funding now that a state law change expands how open‑space money can be spent.

The department director said that “on October 1, House Bill 717 becomes law,” a change to the open‑space program that, if local land‑conservation targets are met, allows counties to spend the whole apportionment more flexibly rather than reserving most of it for land acquisition. The director said that flexibility will be used to advance retrofit and renovation projects including LED light replacements at Fifth District Park Fields 2 and 3 and court renovations at Dorsey Park and Chancellors Run Regional Park.

Why it matters: the law change and program money will let county staff move some capital projects forward that previously would have had to wait for separate land‑acquisition set‑asides. Director comments and staff presentations tied those grants and Program Open Space funds to several projects the department will bring to the Board of County Commissioners for permission to apply for or to include in the capital plan.

Department staff also discussed a separate federal Economic Development Administration grant the county received to replace the county’s water taxi. The director said the original plan to build a boat had stalled for multiple reasons, including the design firm closing and contractor deaths, and escalating tariffs and costs. “We’re working on the purchase of an already — it’s a used boat. The other challenge ... the money we had was also not gonna be adequate to build a boat. But this used boat is down in Florida,” the director said. She added specifics on planned refurbishment: “It’s going to get all new motors. It’ll be ADA accessible, and it’ll get a new deck, and that will be delivered by, in September.”

Staff and commissioners-level next steps: Christie (department staff) reported Program Open Space funding has already supported some recent projects and said the department will propose these retrofits and renovations to the county commissioners at their next meeting. Christie said Program Open Space funds were also used to buy communication boards for playgrounds and that the department will pursue a light retrofit at Fifth District Park using that funding source.

Discussion and caveats: board members asked about timing and budget impacts. Staff characterized the boat purchase as a contingency approach driven by supply‑chain and cost pressures; no procurement vote or formal contract award was recorded in the meeting. The director described the HB 717 change as freeing up money for applications but did not state guaranteed award amounts or exact apportionment figures.

The board did take two procedural votes at the meeting: unanimous approval of the May meeting minutes, and a unanimous motion to adjourn at the session’s close.

Less critical details: staff noted other cooperative meetings (league leaders, Southern Maryland Football Association) and a middle‑school championship between St. Mary’s and Charles County but did not tie those events to formal budget action.","County recreation staff told the Recreation and Parks Citizens Advisory Board they will apply expected flexible open-space funds and existing grants to LED field lighting, tennis/pickleball court renovations and to buy a used ADA-accessible boat to replace the water taxi.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County parks staff list completed playground, skate‑park, stage and accessibility projects; preview larger CIP items

St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks reports progress on strategic plan; launches videos, metrics and registration upgrade

St. Mary’s County recreation officials say new state law, grants will fund field lights, court changes and a replacement water taxi