EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1358*
HOUSE BILL 1358
M1 4lr2169
CF 4lr2668
By: Delegates Ruff, Attar, Addison, Amprey, Boyce, Clippinger, Conaway,
Edelson, Embry, R. Lewis, J. Long, Rosenberg, Smith, and Young
Introduced and read first time: February 9, 2024
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation and Appropriations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Natural Resources – Establishment of Gwynns Falls State Park 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Natural Resources to establish Gwynns 3
Falls State Park as a partnership park between the Department and Baltimore City; 4
requiring that Gwynns Falls State Park consist of certain properties in Baltimore 5
City and include certain landscapes and facilities; requiring the Department and 6
Baltimore City to take certain surveys, convene certain focus group meetings on 7
certain subjects, and establish a certain advisory committee and develop a list of 8
priority needs and associated costs for park improvements; and generally relating to 9
the establishment of Gwynns Falls State Park. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Natural Resources 12
Section 5–1012(a) and (b) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Natural Resources 17
Section 5–1012(f–1) 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 20
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 21
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 22
Article – Natural Resources 23
5–1012. 24
2 HOUSE BILL 1358
(a) In this section, “partnership park” means a unit of the State park system 1
managed by the Department in partnership with a local government, a bicounty agency, or 2
a nonprofit organization. 3
(b) The Department may enter into: 4
(1) A memorandum of understanding with a local government, bicounty 5
agency, or nonprofit organization to establish a partnership park in the State; or 6
(2) A partnership agreement with a local government, bicounty agency, or 7
nonprofit organization to manage a partnership park in the State. 8
(F–1) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH GWYNNS FALLS STATE 9
PARK AS A PARTNERSHIP PARK BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND BALTIMORE CITY 10
THAT SEEKS TO PROVIDE VISITORS WITH ACCESSIBLE OUTDOOR , NATURE–BASED 11
RECREATION AND LEARN ING OPPORTUNITIES . 12
(2) GWYNNS FALLS STATE PARK SHALL BE HELD BY THE STATE AS A 13
STATE PARK UNDER THE PROTECTION AND ADMIN ISTRATION OF THE 14
DEPARTMENT . 15
(3) (I) GWYNNS FALLS STATE PARK SHALL CONSIST OF 16
PROPERTIES THAT ARE : 17
1. OWNED BY THE STATE AND DESIGNATED BY THE 18
DEPARTMENT TO BE ADMINISTERED AS PART OF THE STATE PARK; OR 19
2. A. OWNED BY BALTIMORE CITY OR A NONPROFIT 20
ORGANIZATION ; AND 21
B. DESIGNATED AS PART OF THE PARK BY A 22
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMEN T BETWEEN THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND THE 23
DEPARTMENT . 24
(II) GWYNNS FALLS STATE PARK SHALL, AT A MINIMUM , 25
INCLUDE: 26
1. LEAKIN PARK; 27
2. THE GWYNNS FALLS TRAIL; 28
3. WINANS MEADOW/CARDIN PAVILION; AND 29
4. THE CRIMEA SECTION. 30 HOUSE BILL 1358 3
(4) THE MEMORANDUM OF UND ERSTANDING ESTABLISH ING THE 1
GWYNNS FALLS STATE PARK SHALL DEFINE : 2
(I) THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES , INCLUDING FINANCIAL 3
RESPONSIBILITIES , OF THE DEPARTMENT AND BALTIMORE CITY IN MAINTAINING 4
AND OPERATING THE STATE PARK; AND 5
(II) A PARTNERSHIP ROLE FOR THE FRIENDS OF GWYNNS 6
FALLS/LEAKIN PARK IN SUPPORT OF TH E STATE PARK ’S MISSION AND 7
VOLUNTEERS . 8
(5) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A SUMMER CONSERVATION 9
JOBS CORPS PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUD ENTS AT GWYNNS FALLS STATE 10
PARK. 11
(6) THE DEPARTMENT AND BALTIMORE CITY SHALL: 12
(I) 1. TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF BALTIMORE 13
CITY RESIDENTS REGARD ING THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD : 14
A. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GWYNNS FALLS STATE 15
PARK; AND 16
B. OUTDOOR RECREATION IN GENERAL, INCLUDING 17
THEIR INTERESTS IN AND OPPORTUNITIES FO R OUTDOOR RECREATION AND 18
BARRIERS TO OUTDOOR RECREATION ; AND 19
2. CONVENE FOCUS GROUP M EETINGS ON THE 20
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATE PARK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBE RS AND 21
STAKEHOLDERS THAT RESIDE OR OPERA TE IN THE VICINITY OF T HE PROPOSED 22
STATE PARK; 23
(II) DEVELOP A LIST OF PRI ORITY NEED S AND ASSOCIATED 24
COST ASSESSMENTS FOR PARK OPERATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS , INCLUDING: 25
1. CAPITAL IMPROVEMEN TS; 26
2. CRITICAL MAINTENANCE ; 27
3. ENHANCED N ATURAL RESOURCE MANA GEMENT AND 28
RESTORATION , INCLUDING IMPLEMENTA TION OF A BIOHABITATS STUDY; 29
4 HOUSE BILL 1358
4. HISTORIC SITE RESTORA TION; 1
5. ENHANCED O UTDOOR RECREATION AM ENITIES, 2
INCLUDING TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS ; AND 3
6. ADDING PARK STAFF AND PROCURING EQUIPMENT 4
AND SUPPLIES; AND 5
(III) ESTABLISH A STAKEHOLD ER ADVISORY COMMITTE E TO 6
ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT AND BALTIMORE CITY ON THE SCOPE AND MANAGEMENT 7
OF GWYNNS FALLS STATE PARK THAT CONSISTS OF : 8
1. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FRIENDS OF GWYNNS 9
FALLS/LEAKIN PARK; 10
2. AT LEAST THREE REPRES ENTATIVES OF 11
NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZ ATIONS FROM NEIGHBOR HOODS THAT BORDER TH E 12
STATE PARK; 13
3. AT LEAST TWO REPRESEN TATIVES OF 14
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANI ZATIONS IN BALTIMORE CITY; 15
4. AT LEAST ONE REPRESEN TATIVE OF A HISTORIC 16
PRESERVATION ORGANIZ ATION IN BALTIMORE CITY; AND 17
5. ANY OTHER MEMBERS AS DETERMINED BY THE 18
DEPARTMENT . 19
(7) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2024, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 20
SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF 21
THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON: 22
(I) PROPERTY OWNED BY THE STATE IN BALTIMORE CITY 23
THAT IS SUITABLE FOR INCLUSION IN GWYNNS FALLS STATE PARK; 24
(II) PROPERTY OWNED BY BALTIMORE CITY OR A NONPROFIT 25
ORGANIZATION IN BALTIMORE CITY THAT IS SUITABLE FOR INCLUSION IN GWYNNS 26
FALLS STATE PARK AND FOR WHICH TH E LANDOWNERS ARE WIL LING TO ENTER 27
INTO A PARTNERSHIP A GREEMENT; AND 28
(III) THE FUNDING NEEDED TO ESTABLISH AND PROMOT E 29
GWYNNS FALLS STATE PARK. 30
HOUSE BILL 1358 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 1
1, 2024. 2