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St. Mary’s County Rec & Parks director seeks $75,000 to expand youth sports scholarships; highlights capital projects
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Summary
Director Ryan Hanley told the advisory board he has requested $75,000 from the general fund to expand a limited scholarship program to cover recreational sports fees for low‑income families, and reviewed capital projects including splash‑pad grant, field study and a Feb. launch of a new GolfNow reservation system.
Ryan Hanley, director of St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks, told the county’s Citizens Advisory Recreation and Parks Board that his department has asked county administration to include a $75,000 general‑fund allocation to expand an existing scholarship fund so it can help families pay recreational sports league fees. "We're requesting $75,000 from the general fund to add to this fund," Hanley said, adding the expanded rules would allow the department to pay up to 50% of a child’s fee for eligible families and would raise the current $700 per‑family cap if funded. He said the program could begin in July if the commissioners include it in their budget.
Why it matters: Hanley framed the request as a way to reduce financial barriers to youth participation at a time when the department is serving more than 1,000 children across basketball and cheer programs and when leagues report persistent field shortages. The proposed scholarship expansion would supplement existing Little League and Little League International supports and would be administered under the department’s existing award guidelines.
Hanley also reviewed capital and operational priorities that could affect program delivery. He said the governor’s recommended budget lists a $300,000 grant for a splash pad at Madinski Park (WIC) and that the department has a separate, larger grant request to replace the Nicolette splash pad. On parks operations, Hanley said pavilion reservations will move to a one‑year rolling reservation window so organizers can immediately rebook recurring annual dates, and that staff will launch a GolfNow reservation and point‑of‑sale system at Wicomico Shores in February to improve user experience and marketing.
On historical and museum operations, Hanley said staff will present a 30‑year lease renewal with Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for St. Clements Island; the county does not own the island property and the lease would add adjacent land and parking to county use. He also noted a public dedication for a Pomeroy Foundation marker recognizing St. Mary’s County as the birthplace of stuffed ham on March 29.
Hanley described the department’s capital budget request for a countywide field‑inventory study to identify gaps and where larger diamonds (for example, 90‑foot fields) are most needed, particularly near Leonardtown. He said staff will pursue public‑private partnerships where feasible and that any new facilities would require planning for long‑term maintenance. "We have a study in our capital budget to see geographically where we need what kind of fields," he said.
Next steps: Hanley said department staff will learn whether the county administrator’s recommended budget retains the requested amounts in May. The advisory board did not vote on the scholarship request; it remains a request to enter the formal county budget process.
