Proposal for Henryton park taking shape
Development options include short- and long-term plans
By Charles Schelle
cschelle@patuxent.comPosted 8/02/09
State agencies are working to prepare a plan to submit to the Maryland General Assembly on how the closed Henryton State
Hospital in Marriottsville can be turned into park land."The Maryland Park Service is definitely interested managing this as a part of Pataspco Valley State Park," said Kristin Saunders Evans, state Department of Natural Resources assistant secretary for land resources.
Henryton hospital closed in 1985. Opened in the 1920s, it initially served black patients who suffered from tuberculosis, then later served patients who had developmental disabilities.
Over the past several years, local officials have petitioned the state to get rid of the 17 buildings on the 46-acre campus. The property has become popular among trespassers, and was the site of a fire in 2008 that drew response from several area fire companies.
In May, officials from the departments of Natural Resources, Public Safety and Correctional Services said they would like to explore turning the oft-vandalized and maligned property into parkland after Del. Susan Krebs (R-9B) brought it to the attention of the governor's cabinet.
Now, the talk is being put into action and is expected to be in the governor's budget in January 2010.
Officials are examining how much the project will cost and how to fund it, Evans said.
"We're in the process at looking at various funding options and trying to look at best options between cost effectiveness and timing," she said.
In one scenario, the demolition and cleaning of the property would be done up-front with a large costs and paid over time, she said.
Another possibility is demolishing and cleaning over the years as money is available, she said.
"In terms of budget discussion, we won't know anything concrete until the governor submits his budget in the next legislative session," she said.
Corrections Secretary Gary Maynard said in a prior interview that he would like inmates involved in removing the brick and provide to nonprofits and could have the Department of Environment train inmates on asbestos removal.
Since then, Maynard toured the property with Krebs and directed Corrections Commissioner Mike Stouffer to have the department's public works director to tour the buildings and see how the inmates could be used for the project, said Mark Vernarelli, spokesman for the department.
Krebs said she was surprised to learn of the progress.
"I'm very pleased they're putting together a plan," she said. "Anything moving in the right direction is a positive."
How the park should be funded will have to be determined later when a cost is available, Krebs said.