Governor Hogan’s newly released FY22 budget includes full funding for Program Open Space, a program that actively underwrites open space conservation and community park amenities.
Program Open Space funding has long been a tenet of Preservation Maryland and Smart Growth Maryland’s legislative advocacy. As a member of Partners for Open Space, a statewide coalition of over 100 groups seeking to secure, save and protect Maryland’s land conservation programs, Preservation Maryland applauds Governor Hogan for his support of this essential funding for land conservation, heritage and historic resources, and environmental protections.
While Maryland’s Program Open Space is most often associated with the preservation of agricultural and natural landscapes, the program has also invested millions of dollars in protecting cultural landscapes, historic buildings and provides dedicated funding for the state’s twelve heritage areas.
With the unprecedented budget crisis that the state now faces in the midst of the pandemic, we stand ready to protect the full funding for Program Open Space as the budget moves through the General Assembly. While the state’s financial health is absolutely vital, we must not forget the value of open space and heritage sites to the health of our society and the important role they played during the pandemic and will continue to play far into the future.