Trappe council approves application to seek state grant for girls softball field at Home Run Baker Park

The Trappe Town Council voted on Aug. 19 to approve submitting an application to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Community Parks and Playground Program seeking funds to build a girls softball field at Home Run Baker Park. President Schmidt presided over the meeting; the motion to approve the application was made by Commissioner Jeremy Newnam and seconded by Commissioner Michael Sullivan.

Cheryl Lewis presented the completed grant application and told the council the project team recommends including a draft joint‑use agreement with Talbot County in the application packet but delaying any signatures until state review. "The Town would enter into a joint-use agreement with Talbot County and the County would continue the maintenance of the park," Lewis said. Assistant Town Attorney Carly Landolfi pointed to the draft agreement in the packet, stating that "paragraphs 3, 4 and 6 of the draft joint‑use agreement in the grant application packet states that the Town’s responsibility ends when the project construction has been completed and turned over to the County."

Council members asked about logistics and constraints. Mr. Bowman asked about field orientation, parking and lighting; Lewis said "no lighting is included in this proposal due to the cost" and that the County was aware of parking issues and was reviewing them. Commissioner Rose Potter said she would support approval contingent on the joint‑use agreement being put into place; Commissioner Walter Chase recorded an abstention. The motion passed with four yes votes, one abstention and Potter’s conditional yes noted by the clerk.

The council’s action authorizes the town to submit the application; it does not commit the town to sign the joint‑use agreement or to fund construction. If the state awards the grant, the town and Talbot County will need to finalize and sign the joint‑use agreement before the state releases funds.