Harford County gets more than $1M for parks renovations and expansions

Harford County will use more than $1.2 million in state funding to renovate and develop sites such as the Emmorton Recreation Center and Norrisville Park.

The funding, provided through the state Department of Natural Resources’ Program Open Space, was approved by the Maryland State Board of Public Works in late January.

“By leveraging state funding, Harford County is able to invest in important parks and recreation projects and upgrades, limiting the burden on county taxpayers,” said Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly. “These investments help improve and expand open space that support the health, well-being and quality of life for residents of all ages and visitors alike.”

Of the $1,206,315 in state funding, $750,000 will fund phase two of Norrisville Park development, according to Matt Button, Harford County’s public information officer.

Located at 5310 Norrisville Road in White Hall, Norrisville Park already has a multipurpose indoor facility, four baseball/softball diamonds, four soccer and lacrosse fields, a pavilion, restrooms, a playground, a and lighted baseball and soccer field, part of an earlier phase of park development.

Phase two will add two multi-purpose fields, field access walking trails, a basketball court, three pickleball courts, parking and stormwater management facilities.

Button said expenses for the project not covered by the grant will be paid through the county’s recordation tax revenues, though the county did not indicate what remaining costs are. The project is expected to begin this summer.

Renovations to the Emmorton Recreation and Tennis Center, which Harford County acquired in 1999, will modernize bathrooms and locker rooms. Outdated and unused equipment at batting cages will be removed and a new batting cage system will be installed.

About $150,000 of the estimated $997,000 project cost will be covered by Program Open Space funding, Button said. The remaining balance will be funded through county capital funds, recordation tax revenues and user-generated revenues from the recreation center.

The remaining $306,315 of Harford’s Program Open Space funding will be used for continued renovations at Mariner Point Park in Joppatowne.

Projects include renovating one of several fishing piers and improving the park’s roughly 1.1-mile trail system to be more accessible for people with disabilities.

County officials said pier renovations are in the design and permit review phase, with construction expected to begin in May and be completed by September. Trail renovations will follow.

This is the latest round of Program Open Space funding that Harford County has received, adding to $475,000 for the acquisition and expansion of Bel Air’s Cedar Lane Regional Park in December and the program’s co-funding of an $8.6 million land sale for a 129-acre public park in Joppatowne.

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