As part of Agency Landscape + Planning, we assisted in updating Howard County Department of Parks and Recreation’s strategy for purchasing, maintaining, and programming land for parks and recreation. In Howard County, historic, cultural, recreational, and agricultural assets often overlap, making for a unique approach for the Department of Parks & Recreation.

Team members investigated, mapped, and developed recommendations for the County’s agricultural lands and historic sites owned by the Department. This included analysis of the county’s land easement programs, and investigation into historic tax credits and preservation programs. Recommendations needed to be multi-faceted, protecting working farmland, allowing for future land preservation, and funding the preservation of important historical resources.

Check out the plan here.