South Branch Park cost unveiled

Developer to appear at April 14 mayor and Town Council meeting to get council, public comment on plan

Sykesville is partnering with Howard County to redevelop South Branch Park for recreational and limited commercial use through a 35-year lease. The park is located outside town limits in Howard County along West Friendship Road and the Patapsco River.

Davis also wants to know what questions the council has and what changes they would make. In the meantime, Howard County and Sykesville residents can do the same by contacting Davis at sdavis@mragta.com. He plans to respond to comments at 7 p.m. April 14 at the mayor and Town Council meeting at the Town House, 7547 Main St., Sykesville.

Town officials will post the plan and costs at www.sykesville.net.

Davis obtained a free estimate from Manekin Construction of Columbia and broke up the costs into the five phases of the park’s master plan.

The most expensive project would be renovating the 60-foot-by-130-foot former warehouse for $378,345. Paving the concrete pad attached to it with asphalt and installing steel rails would add $26,500.

The new plan includes a $175,000, 100-foot pedestrian bridge to be built apart from the existing bridge that connects Main Street and West Friendship Road on the county line over the Patapsco River.

‘‘If something in the future happens to the vehicular bridge – it gets upgraded or whatnot – you don’t have to worry about the pedestrian element of it,” Davis said.

The plan also includes changes from concrete to asphalt on the pad behind the warehouse and for the sports court to even-out the surface, he said.

Skateboarding should be doable on the sports court with asphalt, Davis said.

Concrete becomes more expensive and needs more prep work to get it even, he said. ‘‘... Asphalt is probably the most cost effective and the best surface for it.”

Mayor Jonathan Herman said he liked what he saw so far, but said there is room for improvement.

‘‘Clearly there are things in here we don’t need and things in here I’m not sure we do need, so it will be a little bit of back-and-forth, give and take,” he said. ‘‘It does set out the parameters and gives a good feel for it.”

Herman said it’s good to have a goal, even if it’s high, adding if the town and Howard County cannot pay for it, they can raise money.

John Byrd Jr., Howard County bureau chief of parks and program services, said the plan is ‘‘very feasible” from what he sees.

‘‘I think you’re on a really good track,” he said.

Byrd recommended Herman and Town Manager Matt Candland discuss the plan with Gary Arthur, director of Howard County’s recreation and parks, after the April 14 meeting. Herman added that town officials should also give Howard County Executive Kenneth S. Ulman (D) an update.

Davis still needs costs for a sports court enclosure and a tot lot.

Davis also said town and Howard County officials could find lower prices or negotiate to get lower prices than what Manekin estimated.

The town also needs a boundary map and topographic survey of the land completed, Davis said.

The town applied for a state bond of up to $125,000 to match the $100,000 that Howard County put forth to the project. The House of Delegates’ Appropriations Committee heard the bill March 10 and the House has not taken any action since.

Herman said he would like to use that money to get one building renovated and open.

Davis expects to present a final plan in May, which would be one year after the planning began for the park.

What do you think?

Land developer Sean Davis of Morris and Ritchie Associates wants Sykesville residents to comment on what they think about the South Branch Park master plan and costs. E-mail Davis at sdavis@mragta.com. To view more details about the plan, visit www.sykesville.net.