Recreation department presents draft capital-improvement program; 3 Notch Trail construction and park priorities highlighted

Phil (parks staff) presented a draft six-year capital-improvement program (CIP) to the Recreation and Parks Board on Dec. 2 that focuses on trail construction, targeted park improvements and ongoing maintenance.

The CIP shows design and engineering funding to begin the next 5-mile segment of the 3 Notch Trail (phase 6), with construction funding proposed in fiscal 2014. Phil said the department will apply for federal transportation-enhancement funds and noted the current phase received $750,000 in federal funds. "We will be applying for over $1,000,000 in federal funds for this next phase to be developed," he said.

The draft also includes a phase 7 design request (FY15) to extend the trail further and described property-rights and easement challenges where SMECO utility corridors or privately negotiated easements may require additional negotiation to place the trail in the preferred alignment.

Phil briefed the board on multiple maintenance and improvements across the county parks system: painting recreation centers, replacing pool covers and inflatable dome elements, upgrading athletic-field lighting at 5th District and Dorsey Park, gym-floor replacement at Leonard Hall, fencing replacements, picnic shelters and shade structures, and court resurfacing. He said many of the items respond to normal life-cycle replacement and heavy facility use.

On land acquisition funding, Phil said the county currently has about $1.3 million in Program Open Space (POS) funds available for parkland acquisition, but cautioned that state budget actions in future years could alter that balance. "You are able to accumulate your POS funding. If you don't use it in a given fiscal year, it can be, you know, carried forward and you can you can save it, if you will. And we currently have $1,300,000, in POS funding that can only be used for land acquisition," he said.

The department proposed a new Leonardtown-area park on the Hayden property, an acquired parcel that is also being planned for school uses. Phil suggested designing park elements in coordination with the school-site design and flagged a potential, longer-term option: a synthetic-turf field on that site, which he estimated would cost about $1 million.

Other priority items in the draft CIP included Lancaster Park improvements (practice fields and parking to address overcrowding and safety concerns), Elms Beach master planning, tennis- and basketball-court renovations, Chaptico Park continuation (moved later in the program pending field availability), Piney Point Lighthouse Museum continued funding, and public-landing maintenance including derelict-boat removals.

Phil asked the board to review the draft and said he hoped the board would provide formal recommendation or endorsement at the January meeting so staff could carry input to the Board of County Commissioners during January budget sessions.

Ending: Board members discussed sequencing and priorities; staff said they would return with any changes. The board did not take a formal vote on the CIP at the meeting but expected to review it again in January.