On Thursday, March 5, MML staff joined a panel with other local government officials to oppose HB 1098, which would have precluded any state funds from being used in the acquisition of artificial turf fields and synthetic playground surfaces.
At the hearing, the sponsor Delegate Solomon offered an amendment to remove a provision that would have also required a local government give preference to grass surfaces over synthetic -- even with their own money.
One issue that was brought to the surface (pun intended) was the benefits of pour-in-place playground surfaces that provide clear ADA compliance advantages over wood chips and other alternatives.
Staff will work with the sponsor and committee to ensure continued access to state funding. If you have any questions, contact Justin Fiore at justinf@mdmunicipal.org.