Consultants launch five‑year parks plan update; county urged to tie priorities to grant eligibility

Consultant Barry Dunn told the St. Mary's County Citizens Advisory Board for Recreation and Parks on Tuesday that the county's Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan (LPPRP) must be updated every five years to keep eligibility for state and federal conservation funds. "The plan is mandated by the state to be updated every five years so that you're eligible for land and water conservation funds," Dunn said, describing a schedule that calls for a draft by the end of August and a subsequent state review.

The presentation outlined five core goals guiding the LPPRP update: equitable access, strategic investment, natural resource protection, agricultural preservation (including aquaculture), and policy and funding alignment. Dunn and county staff described a mixed‑methods outreach campaign that included community sessions, library events in Charlotte Hall and Leonardtown, an intercept presence at the farmers market, an appearance at Leonardtown's 1st Friday, and online engagement tools — an interactive map, ideas wall and a $100 budget prioritization exercise — to collect input from users and nonusers alike.

County grants staff summarized funding sources that hinge on an approved LPPRP. They highlighted Program Open Space (planning, land acquisition, development), the Land and Water Conservation Fund (outdoor recreation only), the Waterway Improvement Fund (boating access and dredging), Transportation Alternatives and Maryland Bikeways (trails), and competitive grant programs. A specific example: Snow Hill Park has received a $500,000 Waterway Improvement grant and a $500,000 modification, producing $1,000,000 toward dredging and water access improvements.

Director (name not specified in the transcript) said the department leverages grant funding for most capital projects and cited a decade of grant activity: "We've brought in over $22,000,000 in grants since 2017," staff reported, an average of about $2,000,000 a year. The director noted that roughly 20% of capital projects use county funds while most rely on one or more grants.

Board members repeatedly flagged the need to plan for maintenance following capital expenditures. One member recalled a large past investment for baseball fields that lacked a long‑term maintenance plan: "The updates were made, but I know some of the league leaders at the time were a little upset a year or two later when there was not really a plan to maintain those fields to those standards," the member said. Members said the LPPRP should align project prioritization with realistic funding and maintenance commitments and explore partnerships with nonprofits and private providers to expand indoor and specialized facilities.

The consultants said engagement continues through scheduled sessions and a random‑sample mailed survey later in the month to capture the views of nonusers. The LPPRP team urged residents to use the interactive website and participation tools to shape priorities that will guide capital planning and competitive grant applications.

The board did not take formal action on the LPPRP at the meeting; consultants and staff will return with a draft as the outreach phase concludes.