St. Mary’s County approves tree-planting funds but rejects park grant

St. Mary’s County commissioners have approved several local initiatives, including a partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust to manage over $368,000 in environmental fees. These funds, collected from property owners who could not meet tree-replanting obligations within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, will be used for tree-planting projects to offset development along local waterways.

However, the commission also reached a deadlock regarding Shannon Farms Park. A 2-2 split vote prevented the county from applying for a $3.5 million federal grant through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program. The grant was intended to fund improvements at the Chesapeake Bay-front property, which the county has been developing for passive recreation since 2023. Commissioner Eric Colvin expressed frustration over the decision, noting that matching funds for the park are already allocated in the county’s Capital Improvement Program budget.