Planning for Garrett County's Parks, Recreation, and Open Space
Garrett County is updating its Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan (LPPRP). The LPPRP is a five-year planning document that helps guide decisions about parks, trails, recreation facilities, agricultural land preservation, and natural resource conservation throughout the County.
The plan looks at what Garrett County has today, what our communities may need in the future, and what projects, improvements, and partnerships should be considered over the next several years.
What Is the LPPRP and Why Is It Required?
Maryland counties prepare Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plans in accordance with Title 5, Subtitle 9 of the Natural Resources Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, commonly referred to as the Program Open Space Law.
The plan is generally updated on a five-year cycle in coordination with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Department of Planning. It inventories and evaluates local recreation, agricultural preservation, and natural resource programs and identifies goals and priorities for the future.
Maintaining an up-to-date LPPRP also supports Garrett County's eligibility for Program Open Space funding and provides an important foundation for other State and federal recreation, conservation, and community improvement funding opportunities.
Why Your Input Matters
Public input helps us understand how people use Garrett County's parks, trails, recreation facilities, and open spaces; what is working well; where barriers or unmet needs exist; and what residents would like to see improved in the future.
The LPPRP also helps create a community-supported list of future recreation needs and project priorities. Having projects and needs identified through an adopted planning process can help Garrett County, municipalities, and community partners demonstrate community need and be better prepared when grant funding becomes available.
Identifying a project in the plan does not guarantee that it will be funded or constructed. It does, however, help the County document priorities, coordinate future investment, and make sure limited resources are directed toward needs identified by the communities we serve.
Have Your Say
Countywide Parks and Recreation Survey
We want to hear from residents, seasonal residents, visitors, students, and people who work in Garrett County. The countywide survey asks about the parks, trails, facilities, and recreation opportunities you use, what may keep you from participating, and where you think future investment is most needed.
Take the Countywide Parks and Recreation Survey →
What We Are Hearing
You do not have to wait until the plan is finished to see what we are hearing. The interactive results below allow you to explore responses received through the countywide survey and learn more about the people and communities participating in the planning process.
Community Surveys and Local Outreach
In addition to the countywide survey, Garrett County is working with municipalities and community partners to better understand recreation needs at the local level. Community-specific surveys, meetings, and conversations help identify priorities that may not be as visible in countywide results.
Friendsville
Help identify priorities for parks, recreation, river access, trails, facilities, and future improvements in the Friendsville community.
Take the Friendsville Survey | View Friendsville Results
Grantsville
Share your ideas about recreation opportunities, facilities, community spaces, and future priorities in the Grantsville area.
Take the Grantsville Survey | View Grantsville Results
Loch Lynn Heights
Help us better understand recreation needs, existing community assets, and future opportunities in Loch Lynn Heights.
Take the Loch Lynn Heights Survey | View Loch Lynn Heights Results
Don't see your community listed? The countywide survey is for everyone, and additional outreach will continue as the LPPRP is developed.
Bring the Conversation to Your Community
Garrett County Planning staff welcome opportunities to meet with municipalities, community organizations, recreation groups, schools, civic organizations, and other interested groups during the LPPRP update.
If your organization would like to share ideas, discuss recreation needs, identify a potential future project, or invite us to an upcoming meeting, please reach out.
Siera Wigfield, Senior Planner
Garrett County Planning & Land Management Division
301-334-7477
swigfield@garrettcountymd.gov
Invite Planning to a Community Meeting →
Current and Previous Plans
The adopted LPPRP provides the policy and planning framework for Garrett County's parks, recreation, agricultural preservation, and natural resource programs. Previous plans are retained below for reference.
2022 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan
Document Garrett County 2022 LPPRP (23.27 MB)
2017 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan
Document 2017 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan (full document) (4.3 MB)
