Easton, MD – The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $747,000 in grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on March 18, 2026, to support playground improvements and land conservation efforts in four counties, including a recreational enhancement project in Talbot County near Easton.
The funding allocation included initiatives aimed at preserving natural landscapes and enhancing community recreational facilities. Among the approvals was $3,000 designated for the installation of a recreation communication board at the Home Run Baker Sports Complex in Talbot County. This board will feature photos, symbols, and illustrations to assist individuals with limited language skills in communicating within the play area, thereby improving accessibility for all community members, including students and families from the Easton area.
In addition to the Talbot County project, the board greenlit $200,000 from the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program for the renewal of basketball and tennis courts, as well as playground equipment, at Berwyn Heights Elementary School in Prince George’s County. This investment will benefit both students and local residents by rehabilitating existing recreational spaces.
On the conservation front, $125,000 was authorized for the acquisition of a permanent conservation easement under the Rural Legacy Program in Somerset County’s Dividing Creek Rural Legacy Area. This easement will safeguard productive agricultural lands that bolster the local resource-based economy while protecting approximately 1,500 feet of scenic views along a nearby road. The area also serves as habitat for various plant and wildlife species, including the endangered Delmarva Fox Squirrel.
Further, $420,000 was approved for a permanent conservation easement through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) on 59 acres in Queen Anne’s County. This measure will enhance water quality by establishing 2,000 feet of forested stream buffers along a tributary to Southeast Creek within the Chester River watershed, contributing to broader environmental protection in the Chesapeake Bay region.
The Community Parks and Playgrounds Program, established in 2002, has provided flexible competitive grants to local governments for rehabilitating, expanding, or improving parks and creating new recreational areas. To date, it has facilitated over $90 million in approvals for more than 900 projects across Maryland, supported by the Governor and the General Assembly.
The Rural Legacy Program, initiated in 1997, focuses on conserving large working landscapes in 36 designated areas statewide. Recently, alongside the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, it received national recognition from the American Farmland Trust for its efforts in Maryland-specific land conservation.
Since 2009, Maryland’s CREP permanent easement option has enabled the acquisition of easements from willing landowners to maintain conservation practices beyond the expiration of federal contracts, ensuring long-term environmental benefits.
Detailed information on the approved items can be found in the Board of Public Works meeting agenda from March 18, 2026. The board comprises Governor Wes Moore, Treasurer Dereck E. Davis, and Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman.
These grants underscore Maryland’s ongoing commitment to balancing community recreation with environmental stewardship, particularly in rural and coastal counties like Talbot, where projects such as the one at Home Run Baker Sports Complex directly serve Easton residents by promoting inclusive outdoor activities. By protecting agricultural lands and waterways, the state continues to support biodiversity and sustainable land use practices essential for the region’s ecological health. For more information, visit Maryland Department of Natural Resources.