The comment period on the Improvements to the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (Capital Project N-3965) has ended; thank you to all those who responded. On June 18, 2008 at 7:30 p.m., the Park Advisory Board held a work session. The plans include parking, new restroom facilities, and a storage structure for park equipment.

The Department is continuing to acquire parkland and preserve sensitive areas along County Greenways. Property being appraised includes: 20 acres along the Patuxent River Greenway and 49 acres along the Patapsco Greenway.

The Department of Recreation and Parks and the design firm of McCrone, Inc., and GVA Architects, Inc., are currently finalizing plans for a 40,000 square foot indoor sports facility. This facility will house four regulation basketball courts with the flexibility to accommodate volleyball, soccer, in-line hockey and lacrosse. Construction is planned for the summer of 2008.

The URS Corporation of Hunt Valley is currently preparing plans and specifications for numerous site improvements that will enhance the experience of visitors to the historic Patapsco Female Institute. The proposed improvements include a restroom, a multi-purpose activity room, a theatrical stage, antique fencing and landscape gardens. All plans are subject to the review and approval of the Maryland Historical Trust, which maintains a historic easement on the grounds.

The Department has installed six synthetic turf fields; two at Cedar Lane Park, two at Rockburn Branch Park, and two at Western Regional Park. The benefits of synthetic turf as compared to natural turf are: continuous play even during inclement weather, reduced injury, no chemical applications, reduced water usage, less maintenance and a consistently uniform playing surface.

It costs approximately $22,000 annually to maintain a typical multipurpose field. This includes hauling equipment to the site, weekly mowing and painting lines, fertilizing, aerating, and over -seeding. On heavily used fields irrigation is also essential. All of these tasks require motorized equipment. With the exception of annually painting game lines that are not permanently sewn in, none of this is required on an artificial field.

Artificial fields are considered by Maryland Department of Environment to be permeable surfaces, essentially a filtering system for rainfall. A worn and compacted natural field frequently erodes and sheds water like a parking lot.

Artificial fields always have safe and consistent playing conditions no matter how many games are played. If more than 5 adult games per week are played on natural turf, grass cannot be sustained resulting in compacted soil, erosion, exposed aggregate material and unsafe playing conditions.

Since more games can be played on artificial turf fields, fewer fields are needed overall, which allows more land to remain naturalized.

According to the manufacturer, Over 40,000 tires are recycled per field and the entire field can be recycled again when time comes for replacement.

The Department of Recreation and Parks plans to use the Troy House in Elkridge as a visitor’s center and program space for the future Troy Regional Park. The Department has contracted with the National Park Service to develop architectural plans and perform the rehabilitation. The interior of the old stone house was completely destroyed by fire, so the plans will focus on an adaptive re-use of the interior, while maintaining a historically appropriate exterior. Extensive archeological investigations have been conducted in the vicinity of the house to assist in the planning process.

Phase IV of Western Regional Park will proceed to construction in the spring of 2008. This phase includes 4 miles of asphalt pathways, 1.5 miles of equestrian trails, five picnic shelters, two restrooms and a playground. Phase IV is scheduled for completion the summer of 2009.