The county parks director outlined plans last night to build two new community parks, continue construction of a 30-mile path linking parks and renovate a cramped recreation center, and replace an outdoor pool in Ellicott City.
About 20 residents attended the county Recreation and Parks Board's hearing in Ellicott City on the parks department's proposed $7.75 million budget for 1995-1996 to build new parkland and design future projects.
Several residents urged parks director Jeffrey A. Bourne and the advisory board to move up ball field construction projects several years in the five-year improvement plan and add lighting to more fields to meet the increasing demands of baseball and softball leagues.
"There are really very few ball fields coming on line in the next few years," said John McGuinn, a Columbia resident representing the Atholton Youth Recreation Association. "We have to put children on the waiting list because we don't have the fields to play on. . . . The need is now."
Mr. McGuinn and a Columbia Youth Baseball Association official recommended building more ball fields and adding lights to existing fields at Schooley Mill Park near Highland. The department proposed spending $400,000 to expand the park by 147 acres.
Last night's hearing was the initial step in a long capital budget process that eventually involves reviews by the county Planning Board, county executive and County Council. Financing for projects often is delayed, recreation officials said.
The two 20-acre parks proposed for construction in fiscal 1996, which begins July 1, are Warfield's Pond Park off MacClintock Drive near Glenwood, and Allenford-North Farms Park between Ellicott City and Marriottsville.
Warfield's Pond is a $1.2 million project that will include court games, a children's play area, picnic sites, paths and a pond for fishing.
"It would serve a good number of people in that area," said Bob Buckler, president of the Warfield Estates Citizens Association. "There are no other parks in that area."
Allenford-North Farms, a $187,000 project, is intended for more passive uses, such as nature trails.
The department has requested $1 million to continue renovation of the Roger Carter Neighborhood Center off Ellicott Mills Drive in Ellicott City and build a new pool to replace the county's only public pool. The request may be adjusted pending state action on a $750,000 grant request, recreation officials said, adding that the center is too small for group activities.
The agency also proposed $1.1 million to construct about three miles of paths from Lake Elkhorn in Columbia to Savage Park, including work in flood plain and wetland areas. The link will be part of a 30-mile system that will run from the western county through Centennial
Park in Ellicott City and Columbia along the Little Patuxent River.
Columbia resident George Pangburn, a Kings Contrivance village board member, said residents are growing impatient with delays in the long-planned project and added that they are cut off from other areas of Columbia by busy roads.
"It's been on paper for too long," he said. "We urge the board to do what it can to turn the project into reality," including expediting land acquisition.
The department also proposed spending $1.2 million to restore the historic Clover Hill house and design an indoor sports facility at Rockburn Branch Park in Elkridge; $1 million to acquire land for a park near Dorsey; $159,000 to design the 252-acre David Force Park near Turf Valley; and $114,000 to design a 77-acre park in Columbia Hills.