New & Ongoing Projects

Once the funding for a project is approved, the time it takes to design and build the facility varies by project type. Facilities that involve the construction of a new building, such as a community center, take much longer than smaller projects such as play areas.

Design

Typically, the design of a project does not begin until about twelve months after the date that funding is available. During this twelve-month period, design staff are assigned to coordinate the project and perform topographic surveys and environmental investigations, talk with the community to gather their ideas, talk with staff to learn about operational and maintenance needs, obtain the requirements for environmental permitting, roads and access to the park, and complete land acquisitions. When this is completed, the design of the park may begin. Community meetings are held to inform interested people about the progress of the design and receive their input.

Permits & Contracts

Permits take at least six months to a year to obtain, depending on the size of the project. These regulations include:

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements
• Building
• Fire safety requirements
• Grading
• Storm-water management
• Water and sewer

There are also contractual issues that take time, such as preparing bid documents, advertising the bids for 30 days, evaluating and selecting the contractor, preparing contracts that detail the work to be performed, and getting insurance and bonds to guarantee the job.

Average Completion Times

A great deal goes into getting the right design and construction teams to build public park facilities. With this in mind, the following are typical completion times for building different types of parks:

• Buildings – 48 months
  • Community Center
  • Recreation Building
  • Special facilities such as an indoor pool or ice rink
• Community park – 36 months
  • Ball fields
  • Parking
  • Picnic area and pavilion
  • Play area
  • Trails
• Lighting for ball fields or parking area – 16 months
• Neighborhood park – 27 months
  • Basketball and tennis courts
  • Picnic area
  • Play area

M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation utilizes nine geographic service areas to assess park and recreation needs. These nine service areas are based on the premise that people will drive 15 minutes for recreational activities. Three-mile radius circles were used for areas inside the beltway and five-mile radius circles were used for areas outside the beltway. Major roadways often provide the boundaries of these service areas.

Formula 2040 Service Areas (PDF)

The Land Preservation Parks and Recreation Plan (LPPRP) provides goals, objectives, and policy guidelines for the delivery of parkland, open space, and recreation opportunities in Prince George’s County. The LPPRP specifies standards to help identify the need for parkland and recreation facilities in an ongoing effort to provide equitable opportunity and benefit to county patrons.

The Department of Recreation and Parks is in the process of developing its 2022 LPPRP which serves the following purposes:

• Guides policies and actions throughout Prince George’s County to ensure that the recreational needs of County residents and visitors will be met in ways that are efficient and cost effective.
• Emphasizes the need for preserving and protecting valuable natural, agricultural, cultural, and historical resources in Prince George’s County.
• Contributes to the preparation of state plans, policies, and programs for land preservation and recreation.
• Helps ensure that local actions in Prince George’s County related to land preservation and recreation are an integral part of the state and local growth management strategy.
• Qualifies Prince George’s County for State Program Open Space grants pursuant to Title 5, Subtitle 9 of the Natural Resources Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland to assist local governments with acquiring and developing parks, recreation, open space, and resource lands.

News & Updates

Some of the most important assets in Prince George’s County are parks, open spaces, and recreational facilities. M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County has an inventory of more than 28,000 acres of parkland, which encompass an array of facilities and amenities to meet the active and passive recreational needs of County residents and visitors.

The Land Preservation Park and Recreation Plans (LPPRP) are comprehensive planning documents used by Counties throughout the State and the City of Baltimore to convey data related to the evaluation of parks, recreation, and land preservation. LPPRP for the Department is being finalized. Provided below is the Draft LPPRP that includes several key findings and recommendations. In addition, the Executive Summary from the Needs Assessment Survey will be used to establish priorities for the development of parks and recreation facilities, programs, and services.

Final LPPRP 2022 (PDF) LPPRP Survey Report Executive Summary (PDF)

Timeline

Preview Version For Update

2017 Land Preservation Parks and Recreation Plan (PDF)

Fall 2021: Public Outreach – Parks Survey
Fall 2021: Public Outreach – Town Hall Meetings
Spring & Fall 2021: Plan Development
Winter 2021: Draft Plan to Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Spring 2022: Notify Planning Board of LPPRP and Submittal to DNR
July 1, 2022: Submit Plan to Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Project Contacts