Meadowbrook Park stands as a good example of how much Howard relies on state Program Open Space money.
“For us, that [money] is essential for our park development and land preservation,” said Director of Recreation and Parks Gary Arthur as he walked through the Ellicott City park with local and state officials Monday.
Gov. Martin O?Malley met with County Executive Ken Ulman and other local officials Monday, touring the 84-acre park, which opened last June.
The park, complete with a large playground built on recycled rubber tires, was funded in part by $3.1 million of open space money, Ulman said.
Construction is expected to begin this summer on phase two of the park, a 35,000-square-foot indoor recreation facility, Arthur said.
O?Malley has fully funded Program Open Space, after his predecessor used the money for other programs.
“We?re in a race with development for remaining open space,” O?Malley said, adding he wants to help redirect development by filling in older cities and towns.
The program is funded through the transfer tax, which is charged when a change of ownership occurs on real property.
One way to increase the funding would be to close a loophole that allows limited-liability corporations to transfer real estate without paying the tax, O?Malley said. This could add another $80 million to $100 million a year, he said.
In this year?s budget, Howard received more than $6.6 million, down from last year?s $9.3 million, because of a slowing real estate market.
Howard owns about 8,400 acres of open space, roughly 900 acres of which has been developed into parks, Arthur said.
And the county has plans for more open space with a 15-year plan that identifies several properties for acquisition.
