County staff outline FY08 capital requests: 3 Notch Trail, tennis courts, Chancellor's Run lighting among priorities

St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks staff reviewed a draft Fiscal Year 2008 Capital Improvement Program during the March 1 board meeting, outlining several projects the department plans to advance if funding is approved.

Phil (staff member) told the board the FY08 request includes about $688,000 to advance multiple phases of the county's 3 Notch Trail. He said roughly $178,815 of FY08 county funds are earmarked to complete the Charlotte Hall section, with the balance proposed for work in the California/Chancellors Run area. Phil said the department will also seek federal and state grants where available to supplement county funds and that larger federal transportation dollars would be pursued for later phases.

Bill (staff member) reported that the county commissioners adopted the Charlotte Hall master plan on Feb. 20; the plan includes concepts for senior housing and an indoor recreation center with a pool on the county-owned 35-acre site behind the Charlotte Hall Senior Center. Bill cautioned the adoption is a planning step, not an authorization to build: "It doesn't mean anything's going to happen anytime soon," he said, noting the lack of public sewer and expected road improvements on Wayland Road as constraints.

On tennis courts, staff described a change in scope since last year's CIP. The department applied to the United States Tennis Association for roughly $50,000 in grant support to help fund an approximately $250,000 project to build two new courts and replace two at Cecil Park; the broader six-year tennis program request now totals roughly $700,000 versus about $275,000 last year. Phil said the larger price tag and scope prompted questions from county commissioners about cost and the lack of an operating-cost increase tied to the project.

Chancellor's Run Park was another major focus. The FY08 CIP requests about $450,000 to install lights on two soccer/multipurpose fields to expand evening playtime without building new fields, Phil said. The plan also includes replacing an aging playground and adding a picnic pavilion in later years. Staff discussed a State Highway Administration road project along Route 5 that will affect green space near the park but said existing park facilities should not be lost.

Other highlights included the opening of Lancaster Park's off-leash dog park on March 1, plans for expanded parking at Chaptico Park, and a proposed new approach to parkland and facility acquisition: rather than budgeting for a single parcel, the department would hold acquisition funds in a standing account to act quickly when opportunities arise.

Staff said many projects will depend on competitive grants, federal transportation funds, or later appropriations, and they will return with design, engineering, and bid results as projects move forward.