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Taneytown moves to revise Memorial Park expansion plans as grant deadline looms
Summary
City staff told the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board that revised plans for the Memorial Park expansion will be resubmitted to State Highway and must clear county and planning approvals to meet a $865,000 National Park Service grant timeline.
Taneytown staff said revised designs for the Memorial Park expansion will be resubmitted to State Highway for approval and then routed to the county for forest conservation and planning commission reviews, with the aim of issuing a construction RFP and beginning work in about three to four months.
The update matters because the town’s schedule is tied to grant funding. “We’ve got $865,000 from National Park Service grant funding riding on this,” Lorena, parks staff, told the board. She said the project has been delayed while State Highway and the design consultant re-evaluate a sidewalk that is contributing to stormwater runoff.
Board members were told the consultant (Arrow) would take “one last look” at the sidewalk but staff expected the plans would need revision. After State Highway sign-off, Lorena said the town still needs county forest conservation approval, planning commission approval and conveyance of county easement deeds before soliciting bids. She said the town aims to have construction start within three to four months if approvals and permitting proceed on schedule.
The discussion also touched on related land and field provisions that have been delayed by private development timelines. Land intended for two additional baseball fields is owned by a private developer (Mountain Brook). Lorena said Mountain Brook paused its development; because of that, the town has moved the baseball-field expansion from fiscal 2026 into fiscal 2027. As an interim option, staff said Festival Park on Stumptown Road could potentially host temporary “scratch” fields, but that site lacks utilities and would be daytime-only without lights.
Lorena emphasized the project deadline tied to the grant and the need to proceed quickly: “We’ve got to get shovels in the ground because this is just going on too long.” She said State Highway is unlikely to approve the existing sidewalk configuration that is worsening runoff, so plan revisions are expected.
No formal vote was taken; this was an informational update during the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board meeting. Board members asked clarifying questions about the developer-owned parcel and alternatives for temporary field space.
Looking ahead, staff said they will revise and resubmit plans to State Highway, then seek county approvals and aim to post an RFP once easements are conveyed and permits are in place. If the Mountain Brook parcel becomes available, staff said it would be preferable because it abuts the expansion area and offers parking and circulation advantages.
