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Commissioners approve $5.7 million in state grant adjustments for Ward Farm Recreation & Nature Park
Summary
The board approved two budget amendments that increase state grant revenue for the Ward Farm Recreation & Nature Park project by $5,735,985, aligning county accounting with state-verified CRRA/Grant balances and enabling phase‑2 construction work including a multipurpose building and maintenance facility.
The Calvert County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 16 approved two budget amendments that adjust the capital project accounting for Ward Farm Recreation & Nature Park and add roughly $5.74 million in state grant revenue to the project.
Amanda Snowwagen, parks and recreation chief, said an amended state grant application increases the park's total estimated cost to $17,157,424 with $11,422,653 requested in state contributions. The two budget amendments—BA 2026‑512 and BA 2026‑513—update the county’s CIP to reflect a FY2026 C‑Roth award of $2,042,536 and true up a remaining state balance of $3,693,449, for a combined increase to state grant revenue of $5,735,985.
Snowwagen described planned work in phase two: construction of a multipurpose community building (to include restrooms, rentable event space and an early‑voting center for the northern end of the county), a new maintenance facility, additional paved trail segments and possibly a new well near the farmhouse. She said the multipurpose building “will serve as a restroom building” and “it’ll also be used for an early voting center for the Northern end of the county.” When asked about accessibility, Snowwagen said the building will be ADA compliant.
County staff advised that the amendments merely align county accounting with state‑verified C‑Roth resources and do not affect the county general fund. After a public-hearing period with no in‑person speakers, a motion to close the record and approve both the resolution and the two budget amendments passed by voice vote.
The approved adjustments allow the Ward Farm project to advance into phase two procurement and design work; final construction schedules remain subject to contracting and permitting timelines.
