Howard County Recreation & Parks requests $13.8 million in FY26 capital funding, proposes several project transfers

Howard County Recreation & Parks Director Mooneyhan presented the department—Y26 capital improvements request to the County Council, describing a $13,772,000 funding package that the department expects to amend to $13,172,000 after several internal transfers and scope reductions.

The presentation outlined grants, PAYGO and "T tax" funding for a series of parks, historic-structure and trail projects. "We're requesting $250,000 in grants" for preservation work at Blandair Regional Park, Mooneyhan said, adding the county received an African American historic preservation grant for the site and is requesting T tax for a new bridge and path connection at Blandair South.

The request lists project-by-project funding and several planned transfers. Mooneyhan described transferring $200,000 in Program Open Space (POS) grants and $300,000 in previously approved T tax to a combined historic structures project (N3984), and moving $500,000 in previously approved T tax from the Patapsco Female Institute scope to N3982 (park systemic improvements) so that the Patapsco scope can be reduced to a stand-alone restroom and storage facility.

Why it matters: the department reallocated money from a larger building scope at Patapsco to fund exhibit design at the B&O Railroad Museum and to provide contingency funding for Centennial Park West ball fields and Belmont Bridge repairs. Those changes shift the capital priorities while keeping some historic- preservation work moving forward.

Key project highlights presented by Mooneyhan and staff: - Blandair Regional Park (N3102): $250,000 in grants for preservation of the slave quarters plus $500,000 in T tax for a new bridge and path connection at Blandair South, with an approved $250,000 grant currently held in a fund block. - Patapsco Female Institute (N3959): original multi-room building scope scaled back to a standalone restroom/storage facility; $200,000 POS grants and $300,000 T tax are proposed to transfer to the consolidated historic structures project (N3984); $500,000 T tax proposed to transfer to N3982 (park systemic improvements) to fund Centennial Park West ball field contingency and Belmont Bridge repairs. - Robinson Nature Center (N3960): requesting $250,000 in grants and $50,000 in T tax toward an amphitheater. Mooneyhan said the amphitheater concept is designed with poured-in-place concrete seating and turf behind the walls and estimated seating of roughly 100 to 150 people. - Parkland Acquisition Program (N3978): $600,000 in grants and $100,000 in T tax requested to continue acquisitions aimed at furthering the Patuxent Greenway, expanding park access and supporting the 2027 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan update. - Park systemic improvements and resurfacing programs (N3982, N3983): funding reallocated to cover matches, playground safety surfacing and ball-field work including Alpha Ridge pickleball courts and Schooley Mill resurfacing.

Council questions and staff clarifications: council members pressed on Program Open Space funding levels, grant timelines and design details. Mooneyhan told the council that state Program Open Space funding has fallen from an elevated "catch up" period and that amounts are lower going forward because POS is tied to state transfer tax receipts. She said some state bond bill requests were partially funded rather than fully funded, prompting the requested transfers and scope reductions.

Councilmember Young praised the completed bird-safe window work at Robinson Nature Center. Director Mooneyhan said the county has banked POS funds for Robinson and estimated the amphitheater total cost between $800,000 and $1 million; existing POS and Robinson capital funds should cover the initial phases.

Mooneyhan said the B&O and Fire Museum exhibit design and Waverly Mansion work are included in the N3984 historic-structures package; the department expects to begin exhibit design work well ahead of the B&ORailroad Museum's 2030 bicentennial.

Ending: Mooneyhan closed by noting additional slides of completed FY25 projects were available and that a few amendments to the submitted FY26 request were forthcoming. No formal council action on these proposals was recorded in the meeting transcript.