Community Meeting to Discuss Program Open Space Scheduled for Feb. 19

News Release # 2026-023

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026

Charles County Residents are invited to join the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism at the Waldorf Senior and Recreation Center on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a community meeting on Program Open Space.

The meeting is an opportunity for residents to learn more about the program, ask questions, and share their perspectives on land use and conservation priorities in Charles County. Discover how this program protects critical natural areas, funds local parks, trails, and recreational facilities, and boosts tourism and supports economic growth. Information will be shared about the suitability of sites for property selection and potential replacement or conversion property sites for Program Open Spaces purposes. Guidelines and requirement information will be shared on how Charles County maintains their eligibility to secure annual allocations of Program Open Space funding for development and acquisition.

Program Open Space is a state-run initiative to ensure dedicated resources for land preservation and recreational development in Maryland. Funds are used to acquire and protect open spaces, parks, and natural areas, enhancing community access to outdoor recreation and preserving Maryland's natural heritage.

The program is administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, which has assisted more than 7,100 park and conservation area projects since the program began in 1969. Funding is provided through a portion of the real estate transfer tax with state allocations determined each year as part of the State budget adoption through the Maryland Legislative session.

For more information about land preservation in Charles County, residents are encouraged to visit the 2022 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan page of the Charles County Parks and Recreation website. Planning and community engagement for the 2027 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan will commence in the spring/summer of 2026.