Citing the fact that Baltimore and Howard Counties do not have any municipalities, these two counties have banded together to introduce HB 203/SB 614 and SB 962 to allow them to apply to the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program HB 203 Community Parks and Playgrounds. MML will be testifying in opposition to this bill on Friday, February 21 before the House Environment and Transportation Committee. This has been a municipal-only grant program since 2010 and is funded at only $2.5 million per year. Allowing these two large and wealthy counties to access this small amount of funding could decimate what little parks and recreation monies municipalities currently have available through this over-subscribed grant program.
MML is asking your municipality to send a letter of opposition to this bill by Thursday afternoon, February 20, so that we can deliver your letters with our testimony at the hearing on Friday. Your letter should include a description of project(s) that you have completed using grant money from the Community Parks and Playgrounds program. A link to a full listing of all projects for the past 18 years can be found here: Community Parks and Playgrounds Projects 2002-2020.
Letters should be addressed to: Chairman Kumar Barve, House Environment and Transportation Committee, Room 251, Lowe House Office Building, Annapolis, MD 21401. Individual emails can also be sent to the Chair at kumar.barve@house.state.md.us and to members of the Committee. A full listing of Environment and Transportation members and their contact information can be found here: Environment and Transportation Committee membership. Thank you for your assistance!