The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Creates Gwynns Falls State Park as Joint Partnership with Baltimore City
Last action · February 14, 2026: First Reading Senate RulesSponsor: Antonio Hayes
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What This Bill Would Do
Senate Bill 971 requires the Department of Natural Resources to establish Gwynns Falls State Park as a with Baltimore City, prohibits entrance fees, and mandates specific 2028 budget appropriations starting June 1, 2026.
Residents gain a new free-admission state park in Baltimore City backed by over $3.1 million in mandated state funding for operations, infrastructure, and master planning.
- Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park is an extensive woodland park located in Baltimore City, containing historic sites and trail networks. context
- The Park System Capital Improvements and Acquisition Fund supports state park infrastructure, land preservation, and accessibility projects in Maryland. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Baltimore City residents
Residents gain a new free-admission state park in their area, increased public access to outdoor recreation, and opportunities to participate in neighborhood planning focus groups.
Department of Natural Resources
The Department is required to establish, manage, and protect the new state park in partnership with Baltimore City and consult on hiring an independent planning consultant.
Friends of Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park
The organization is granted a formalized partnership role to support the state park's mission and volunteers, and holds a seat on the stakeholder advisory committee.
Key Facts
- The Department of Natural Resources must establish Gwynns Falls State Park as a partnership park between the Department and Baltimore City.
- The Department is prohibited from charging any entrance fee to Gwynns Falls State Park.
- The Governor must include an appropriation of $2,880,354 in the fiscal year 2028 budget bill for the establishment and operation costs of the park.
- The Governor must include an additional appropriation of $280,000 in the fiscal year 2028 budget bill to hire an independent consultant for a comprehensive park master plan.
Show all 9 facts
- An amount of $4,000,000 is allocated in fiscal year 2028 from the Park System Capital Improvements and Acquisition Fund for renovating the trail headquarters office in Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park into a joint visitor center.
- The Park System Capital Improvements and Acquisition Fund cap for priority uses is increased from $70,000,000 to $74,000,000.
- The Department and Baltimore City must hire an independent consultant to define exact park boundaries and engage citizens in the planning process.
- A stakeholder advisory committee, including members of local organizations and the Friends of Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park, must meet quarterly to advise on park management.
- The Act takes effect on June 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will visitors have to pay an entrance fee for Gwynns Falls State Park?
How much state funding is dedicated to establishing the park in fiscal year 2028?
Who will manage Gwynns Falls State Park?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.
Procedural history
1 action- Feb 14, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Senate Rules
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Capital Fund Cap
The bill alters the statutory threshold of the Park System Capital Improvements and Acquisition Fund, raising the primary spending cap from $70,000,000 to $74,000,000 to accommodate new allocations.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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