Rockburn Branch Park To Be Protected

From HoCo: Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman today signed an agreement with the Howard County Conservancy that places restrictive covenants on environmentally sensitive land in Rockburn Branch Park in Elkridge. The land to be placed under the new covenants was briefly considered as a site for a future high school.

“During our research to consider the possibility of using this land, we learned it includes environmentally sensitive areas and archeological sites that must be preserved,” Kittleman said. “Many in the community asked for a stronger commitment to preserve Rockburn as open space and parkland, as was intended when the park was acquired in the 1960s. We have now taken the necessary steps to ensure it is protected in perpetuity.”

The covenants will impact about 100 acres in the northeast section near Landing and Montgomery roads, approximately 45 of which were evaluated for the school site. Howard County will continue to own the acreage, but the Howard County Conservancy will have the authority to enforce the covenants, which legally restrict what can be done with the land. The Conservancy is a nonprofit established to promote the preservation and protection of natural resources within Howard County.

“We’re happy to be a part of conserving this important environmental area,” said Meg Boyd, Executive Director of the Conservancy. “Thousands of students in our biodiversity programs have documented more than 300 species in the area. These covenants will not only protect forest, streams and wildlife habitats, but also ensure that our children can learn and connect with nature in this park for generations to come.”

“This is an important new tool for ensuring the protection of environmentally sensitive parkland in the county,” said John Byrd, Director of Recreation and Parks. “We’re pleased to strengthen our partnership with the Conservancy to preserve this invaluable park property.”

Rockburn is a 415-acre wooded park offering nine miles of trails winding through scenic woodlands. The eastern side offers ball fields, multi-purpose fields and a skills track, and the western side has ball fields, multi-purpose fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, a disc golf course, picnic pavilion and playground.

Kittleman tasked the Recreation and Parks Department with determining the best approach to preserving the parkland. After talking to the community and Conservancy members, a “Declaration of Park Property Preservation Covenants” was created to restrict the use to recreational purposes on the 100 acres known as Parcel M. Uses could include trails, open air pavilions, rest rooms, parking areas, no more than six lighted outdoor athletic fields, and “other typical park and recreation amenities.”

“This is a great victory for the Elkridge community,” said Nikki Marlatt-Young, who along with Sandy Baker launched a “Save Rockburn Park” effort. “I really want to recognize all the people who worked so hard, collecting more than 4,000 signatures on the petition. We’re so excited that it turned out this way.”

Last year, two County Council members requested that the land in Rockburn be considered as a future high school site. Members of the Board of Education then asked the county for a site evaluation, prompting Kittleman to request a feasibility review by the departments of Public Works and Recreation and Parks.

The land was deemed inappropriate due to environmentally sensitive areas and Native American archaeological sites located on the property. The site contains wetlands, steep slopes and utility lines, all of which would have required extensive mitigation. Additionally, building a school on the property would have cost significantly more than building at a different location.

After the Rockburn site was eliminated as an option, Kittleman created a task force last March to consider alternative sites in Elkridge that could be used for a future high school.

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