The Energized Public Spaces Functional Master Plan (EPS Plan) is a countywide plan to provide public spaces within walking distance in the county's most densely populated areas. With rising populations in mixed use and higher density residential neighborhoods, parks and open space serve as "outdoor living rooms" that play a critical role in promoting livable and healthy communities, social interaction, and equity for residents of all ages and incomes. The EPS methodology provides data driven analysis that measures and prioritizes the park amenities needed to support contemplative, active recreation, and social gathering activities. The EPS Plan identifies multiple strategies to fill identified public space deficits with park activation programs, alternative providers, public-private partnerships, repurposing and improving access to existing public parkland, and acquisition of new parkland. This PDF provides the funding to acquire parkland to fill needs identified in the EPS Study Area using State of Maryland Program Open Space grants. Acquisitions will be prioritized based on multiple factors, including providing service to lower income and racially diverse areas, addressing the largest public space deficits, seizing on opportunity acquisitions, and locations of highest population growth and associated park needs. Sites within the EPS Study Area that are identified for park acquisition in other sector, master or functional plans also may be acquired with this PDF. The County Council encourages the Commission to seek supplemental appropriations if approved CIP funding is insufficient.

The overall project budget remains at $150 million, with additional expenditures in FY29-30 due to increased efforts to manage the high acquisition costs in urban areas.

Designing Public Spaces - Energized Public Spaces Design Guidelines, 2019; Energized Public Spaces Functional Master Plan, 2018; Park, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan, 2022; Vision 2030 Strategic Plan for Parks and Recreation, 2011; Legacy Open Space Functional Master Plan, 2001

FY22 transfer of $400k of FY21 State Aid from Acquisition: Local Parks (P767828) for the Willett Branch Greenway bond bill. In FY22, added $550k State Aid for a FY22 bond bill for the Willett Branch Greenway. In FY24, added $2.7 million of Program Open Space funding. FY25 transfer $696K M-NCPPC Bonds from Legacy Open Space. Shift of M-NCPPC Bonds from Legacy Open Space to Legacy Urban Space to support POS-funded acquisitions in Legacy Urban Space and the addition of FY29 and FY30 funding with adjustments to maintain historical $150 million total.

Expenditures will continue indefinitely. M-NCPPC asserts that this project conforms to the requirement of relevant local plans, as required by the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act.

Park Acquisitions 872301, ALARF: M-NCPPC 727007, Bethesda Park Impact Payment 872002, Mid-County Park Benefit Payments 872201, Legacy Open Space 018710, Urban Parks Elements 871540, State of Maryland.