Taneytown Memorial Park is about to get 50 percent bigger.

The state Board of Public Works approved yesterday a Program Open Space grant for $321,000 for the city to purchase 21.4 acres of farmland adjacent to the 40-acre park on Taneytown's west side.

The acquisition will boost Taneytown's parkland to about 125 acres. Much of that, such as a 51-acre site along Route 194 recently donated to the city, is not developed.

"That's a lot of land for a town our size," said Mayor W. Robert Flickinger.

The city has about 5,000 residents and an active recreational sports scene. Taneytown Memorial Park, with its ball fields and pavilions, is the most heavily used park in the city.

Flickinger said he hoped to see about four ball fields added to the park.

"We're going to have to get someone to really lay that out to get the most efficient use," Flickinger said.

He said the city was eyeing that parcel for expansion of the park for some time, and about six months ago, when he heard about the availability of state open space money, he and city manager Chip Boyles applied.

"This is a wonderful acquisition, and I credit the town for looking to the future before the cost escalates," said Sandi Trent, assistant regional administrator for Program Open Space, which is part of the Department of Natural Resources.

"Here Taneytown has a really nice, scenic park already, and this is adjacent to that," Trent said.

The state's Program Open Space was begun in 1969, Trent said, to protect land and water in the face of development. Money from real estate transfer taxes helps pay for the purchase of key parcels, many of which are in or next to residential hubs and might otherwise be snapped up for development.

Flickinger said this 21.4-acre parcel was just right.

"It runs right into our park -- it just lays right in there," he said. "It's not going to need much grading because it's a rather level piece of land."

Pub Date: 3/11/99