Wisdom from The Action Wisdom In Action

Jul. 10, 2008
The Garrett County commissioners recently approved the allocation of $234,638 in Program Open Space (POS) funding for several local projects. Nine groups had requested more than $524,000 for fiscal year 2009.
Mtn. Lake Park, Loch Lynn, Oakland, Avilton, Crellin, and Accident received all or part of their requests, while the Garrett County Board of Education, Casselman Valley Soccer Association, and Grantsville did not receive any allocations this year.
Mountain Lake Park was allocated $72,829.50 to construct the Crystal Springs Walking Trail. That same amount was awarded to the town in FY 2007 for its B&O Walking Trail Project. But the town has abandoned that initiative and requested that the '07 funding be transferred to the Crystal Springs project.
Mtn. Lake Park is forgoing the B&O project for various reasons, but primarily because of the cost. The trail would have been constructed in a flood plain, making it too expensive, according to zoning administrator Bill DeVore, Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development.
Loch Lynn Heights was allocated $64,800 for an athletic complex/parking area. The money will be used for preliminary planning and design, excavation and tree removal, stormwater management, and an underground conduit.
Pending state approval, Oakland will receive $63,010 to construct rest rooms and a concession stand at the Little League fields at Broadford Park.
The Avilton Community Association was allocated $20,200 to purchase and install playground equipment at the new Avilton Community Center. If the state approves the allocation, this will be the first POS funding that the Avilton community has received.
The association plans to contribute $16,000 toward for the project, according to DeVore.
The Crellin softball field was allocated $7,800 for improvements, including new fencing, a home plate, benches, and bleachers.
Accident received its requested $5,998.50 for aluminum bleachers and six trash cans for Town Park East.
The groups/projects that did not receive POS allocations this year and their requested amounts are as follows: Garrett County Board of Education, $36,900, Northern High School softball field improvements; Grantsville, $13,500, new town park parking area; and the Casselman Valley Soccer Association, $10,000, installation of sidewalks and a patio, gravel and topsoil replacement, and field top dressing.
The county's list of projects and the money appropriated to them by the commissioners will now be submitted to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, which oversees the program, and ultimately to the Board of Public Works for final approval. The actual money for the projects, however, will not be awarded for several months.
Program Open Space is funded by the state and is allotted to counties each year, with the monies appropriated by their fiscal authorities. The funds are to be used to renovate existing Open Space facilities or to buy properties for new Open Space use.
All projects must be for public use. Additionally, development initiatives require a 10 percent local match, but those involving land acquisition do not.