Local governments develop long-range plans on land preservation and recreation, and individual projects for which they seek reimbursement must be approved by the state's Board of Public Works. Public comment can be made at several times in the process.
"It's a wide-open, very public process," said Kristin Saunders Evans, assistant secretary for land resources at the natural resources department.
But some lawmakers said that the program's original intent seems to have morphed over the years, and they expressed interest in examining more closely how the money is spent.
"It is clearly worth a debate on legislation as to how globally the program should be defined and used," said Sen. Paul G. Pinsky, a Prince George's County Democrat who often works on environmental issues. "I don't want to pass judgment on a certain project, but if you're starting to do more indoor, bricks-and-mortar projects, that would raise some concerns."
Del. Joseph C. Boteler, a Baltimore County Republican who sits on the Environmental Matters Committee's open space panel, said the expenditures on indoor projects are "troubling." He said his community is quickly losing green space to development and that some proposals to acquire undeveloped land have been denied.
"The program has nothing to do with indoor activities," Boteler said. "Not that I wouldn't support those activities. They're good for the community too. But at the same time, with the lack of open space out there and the needs for funds to purchase open space, we should not be using the funds for something else."
Some environmentalists said indoor facilities may be needed in inner cities, for instance, or to provide a place for athletics in inclement weather. They also said the indoor facilities help build support for the overall program.
"I don't really care whether the soccer field is indoors or outdoors," said Ned Gerber, of the conservation group Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage. "Outdoors is wonderful and preferable, but the reality is a covered facility might be appropriate."
The pool of open-space money has long been the subject of political quarreling. For several years, governors diverted money from the program to balance the budget. Govs. Parris N. Glendening, a Democrat, and Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican, diverted $480 million over several years. Ehrlich later restored funding. Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, has pledged to fully fund the program.
"We weren't fighting over whether the projects were indoor or outdoor," Schwaab said. "We were just fighting for the money to be spent on the program."
laura.smitherman@baltsun.com
