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Taneytown officials say Memorial Park expansion stalled; leagues eye temporary field options
Summary
City staff told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that work on the Memorial Park expansion remains delayed by the project engineer, putting about $900,000 in federal grant funding and local field capacity at risk. Board members discussed interim field space and next steps, including possible city-manager and mayoral intervention.
Lorena, a Parks and Recreation staff member, told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on July 16 that the Memorial Park expansion project remains stalled while the hired engineering firm works through regulatory comments from State Highway.
"I wish I had better news, but it's basically, the same. And it's not no news is good news. It's no news is bad news because we're still stagnating," Lorena said, urging the board that the delays are increasing costs and risk reducing the buying power of nearly $900,000 in federal grant funding encumbered for the project.
The board heard that the project consultant — identified in the meeting as Arrow — has been slow to provide plan revisions. Lorena said Arrow has been providing minimal status responses such as "let me check with the CAD manager," and she described repeated requests for weekly updates that have not produced firm timelines.
Board members discussed options to prompt movement. Several members urged involving the city manager and possibly the mayor to press Arrow; one board member said engaging the town attorney could be considered if communications do not improve. Lorena said she will ask the city manager to intervene first and that the city could consider other remedies if no progress appears in the coming weeks.
Because the expansion has been pending for years, board members also discussed interim measures to meet fall field demand while the expansion remains on hold. Suggestions included using a grassy area between the tennis courts and Route 140 as temporary space for fall activities and continuing field-sharing agreements between football and lacrosse. Board members also revived an earlier idea — previously discussed with baseball leadership — to place back-to-back tee-ball fields where a current tee-ball field now sits; the town would assist with some costs but the leagues would provide labor and detailed plans.
The board noted additional constraints: Mountain Brook development land that might supply two 60-foot fields is not yet available, and drainage issues exist on some existing fields. State Highway staff previously reviewed stormwater concerns related to runoff near 140, and the board recorded that those comments are being handled in plan revisions.
Board members expressed concern that the combination of consultant delays and rising construction prices could reduce the impact of the federal grant funding. No formal direction to terminate or rebid the engineering contract was made at the meeting.
The staff pledge: Lorena said she will keep leagues informed by email as soon as any substantive updates arrive from Arrow or the city manager's office. Board members said they expect more aggressive outreach from city leadership if the consultant fails to produce a schedule in the next several weeks.
