The Queen Anne’s County Commissioners will partake in a ground breaking ceremony 4 p.m. September 28 in celebration of the first phase of building 10 multipurpose playing fields for youth sports.

Citizens’ requests for more recreational playing fields and preserved open space on Kent Island were heard and acted upon in 2007, when Queen Anne’s County acquired 94.52 acres, known as the “Philip Davidson Farm” located on the south side of Benton Road, in Stevensville near Old Love Point Park with the aid of Department of Natural Resources Program Open Space Funds.

The $3.2 million purchase price was funded 50/50 by the county and Department of Natural Resource’s Program Open Space Fund.

The property’s zoning would have allowed up to 3.5 homes to be built per acre, translating to about 329 homes.   Now, however, the land will retain its original character, yet meet the ever rising needs of additional playing fields for youth sports.

Steve Walls, director of Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation, said, “The benefits derived from this acquisition include more opportunities for active recreation, preservation and conservation.” A master plan has been completed and approved by Maryland Department of the Environment and Critical Areas. This park will be a prototype to develop active recreation in the 1,000ft Critical Area Buffer and increase plant diversity through conservation plantings on the property.

Queen Anne’s County has actively sought and been fortunate to receive funds from Program Open Space, not only to acquire property, but to improve it as well. Program Open Space funds are collected and earmarked for pubic use. When someone buys a house or land, a percentage of the state real estate transfer tax goes into a special fund for Program Open Space. In this way home buyers help improve the quality of their neighborhoods and the entire state.