Southern Maryland National Heritage Area seeks cap lift in Program Open Space funding and outlines statewide Liberty Tree program

LUCILLE WALKER, executive director of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, briefed the delegation on the heritage area's work and pending legislation on Feb. 6. She said the program’s funding comes through Program Open Space rather than the general fund and that legislation to lift a cap on the program (SB638 and HB654) was reintroduced this year after a veto last session; she asked delegation members for support and cosponsors.

Walker said the heritage-area program's current funding supports grants and economic stimulus across the state: "the current funding, the 6,000,000 that we get over 5,100,000.0 of that goes directly back to the communities by way of grants and economic stimulus," she said. She characterized the bill as a cap lift (not a funding mandate) and said it had no fiscal note; the bill would allow the program to receive more funds in future years when Program Open Space is replenished.

Walker outlined several initiatives: a statewide Maryland Liberty Tree Project with plantings and a March 25 Maryland Day opening event; a near-final master management plan for the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area that will be released for public comment before submission to the National Park Service for final approval; a newly signed interpretive and programming agreement with Thomas Stone National Historic Site to share space and expand local programming; and a new 15-site passport tourism program.

She asked delegation members to consider cosponsorship and support letters for the bill and noted the heritage area would follow up with details about public review dates for the management plan.