State Funds Park Expansions in Montgomery County

Montgomery County got the green light Wednesday to create and expand parks in Burtonsville, Aspen Hill and Fairland.

Funding for the parks comes through Program Open Space, which is administered by the state Board of Public Works.

The board approved the following Montgomery County projects for funding Wednesday, according to a statement by the Department of Natural Resources:

• "$1,376,500 to acquire three parcels of land totaling 14 acres to create a new local park for the Burtonsville community."
• "$80,000 to acquire a half-acre for the existing 56.6-acre Matthew Henson Greenway, Unit 3. The greenway features a heavily-used, paved, hiker/biker trail that serves central and eastern Montgomery County."
• "$119,000 to acquire 1.55 additional acres for 367-acre Fairland Recreational Park. This acquisition will eliminate an in-holding as the property is surrounded on all sides by the parkland, except for the road frontage. The total amount of Program Open Space assistance to be requested is $419,000. Future requests for the remaining $300,000 will be made in installments as funds become available."

Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties also received funding for parks. Gov. Martin O’Malley chairs the Board of Public Works, whose other two members are Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.