Howard County Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan

Howard County’s Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan (LPPRP) is a comprehensive plan that guides the department on key issues, trends and plans for managing and enhancing the systems of preserved public lands, parks and recreation facilities. Howard County is a thriving community known for its high quality of life, ample open space, myriad recreation opportunities and planning legacy. As the County continues to grow and change demographically, the LPPRP enable the Department to keep pace and stay current moving forward.

The 2017 Howard County Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan (LPPRP) is the result of a 16-month research, engagement, and planning effort that aims to provide Howard County residents and visitors greater access to programs and amenities, expand and preserve protected agricultural land, and enhance the long-term benefits of natural resources and open space – ensuring that the system will prosper for future generations. The LPPRP is prerequisite for Howard County’s participation in Maryland’s Program Open Space, which provides grants for the acquisition of land for conservation and park purposes as well as for the development of public recreation facilities.  The plan was led by Gina Ford and Brie Hensold while principals at Sasaki.

Beginning with a comprehensive inventory of park amenities, the process included an in-depth analysis of the county’s recreation and park system. In concert with an analysis of the physical and programmatic amenities, the existing planning framework and current Department operations and policies provided a strong foundation. A statistically valid survey helped gauge user satisfaction and desires for the future. Finally, visioning, development of an action plan and alignment with capital priorities and budgetary goals ensured that the plan would be implementable.