LEONARDTOWN, Md. — St. Mary’s County will receive funding for park accessibility improvements and land conservation following approvals by the Board of Public Works on June 18, 2026.
The Board approved $8,760 in Program Open Space – Local funding to install recreation communication boards at Cecil Park, St. Clements Shores, and Leonard Hall Childcare Center. The boards will display photos, symbols, and illustrations to help individuals with limited language skills communicate while using play areas, improving accessibility for residents with communication challenges.
In addition, the Board approved the acquisition of 390.43 acres in St. Mary’s County through the Program Open Space – Stateside program. The land will be managed by the Maryland Forest Service as working forestland and will provide new public recreation opportunities. This acquisition is part of a larger package of six Stateside projects totaling $9.73 million that will protect approximately 1,146 acres statewide.
Program Open Space – Local provides funding to county and municipal governments for the planning, acquisition, and development of recreational land and facilities. The St. Mary’s County projects were selected locally and focus on enhancing existing parks and play areas.
The communication boards represent a targeted investment in inclusive recreation. By adding visual supports at Cecil Park, St. Clements Shores, and Leonard Hall Childcare Center, the county aims to make outdoor play spaces more welcoming and usable for children and adults who benefit from alternative communication methods.
The nearly 400-acre land acquisition will expand the county’s protected natural areas while allowing continued public access for recreation. Working forestland management supports both conservation goals and sustainable outdoor activities such as hiking and wildlife viewing.
These approvals reflect ongoing state support for local parks and natural resource protection in Southern Maryland. Program Open Space is funded through the state’s property transfer tax and has helped preserve land and develop recreational facilities across Maryland since 1969.
St. Mary’s County residents and visitors are expected to benefit from both the improved accessibility at existing sites and the addition of new protected land for public use.
