Parks, recreation, and public lands receive a single-digit percentage of the operative budgets of the State of Maryland, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City. Despite comparatively lower government funding, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Departments of Recreation and Parks of Baltimore County and Baltimore City provide some of the most loved government services, programs, and spaces for recreation.

Yet these departments face continued pressures, particularly when government budgets tighten. Aging facilities, deferred maintenance, and competition for land use, among other issues, strain current systems and hinder long-term planning. Moreover, persistent questions about equity and access remain among the most important and often political challenges.

Join us for an event that explores the big questions, everyday operations, and accomplishments in parks and recreation from the perspective of the state, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Joshua Kurtz will deliver a keynote, followed by a panel discussion with Reginald Moore, Director of Baltimore City Recreation and Parks; Bryan Sheppard, Director of Baltimore County Recreation and Parks; and Angela Crenshaw, Director of the Maryland Park Service.

Fine Arts Recital Hall