County Parks

There are 28 parks in Carroll County, including five in Westminster. The newest will soon have a name, to be chosen from suggestions by the public. "This is the first time we've had this promotion," said Jeff Degitz, the county's Director of Recreation and Parks. "It's not designed to be a popularity contest," he said. "Over 100 people have submitted ideas, and we've asked each of them to detail why their suggestion would be appropriate for the community. So far, a lot of people have come up with creative ideas and names.

A Cecil County zoo that got its start as a personal hobby for its owner, survived political controversies and delighted children and other visitors for 24 years has closed its doors. Ed Plumstead, 82, of Rising Sun, the founder and owner of Plumpton Park Zoo, could not be reached for comment, but the county's tourism director, Sandy Turner, said Plumstead had contacted her last week to tell her he would close the zoo because tending its more than 300 animals had become too hard for him. He shut the business down sometime last week, she said.

County Executive Eileen M. Rehrmann has asked the Parks and Recreation Department to look into a proposal to limit grass mowing along streams and brooks on public land.Rehrmann's request came last week after two conservationists called on the county to change its policy for mowing grass on public parkland as a way to protect water quality in streams that feed Chesapeake Bay.The conservationists, Helen Richick and Carol Kehring, got a little help in their efforts to protect streams from about 40 Magnolia Elementary School students who tended trees and other plants along a stream as part of a project to improve water quality.

Gary J. Arthur, acting director of Howard County's Department of Recreation and Parks since January 1997, has been appointed permanently to the post by County Executive James N. Robey.Arthur, 51, will earn $84,533. The appointment means he will continue to preside over one of the key projects in the department's history -- development of Blandair, the 300-acre farm in the center of Columbia once owned by the late Elizabeth C. "Nancy" Smith."Gary has proven himself," Robey said. "His management skills and experience are a great asset to the citizens of our county.

Harry G. Coulter, a retired Baltimore County Recreation and Parks official, died of cancer Feb. 24 at the Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. The Timonium resident was 76. Born and raised in Norfolk, Mass., he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Arnold College in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1952. After service in the Navy during the Korean War, he earned a master's degree in recreation and parks management from Boston University in 1957. He had been parks and recreation superintendent in Gorham, N.H., and Auburn, Maine, before moving to Maryland in 1962 and joining the Baltimore County Recreation and Parks department, where he retired in 1992 as an assistant director.

The county parks director outlined plans last night to build two new community parks, continue construction of a 30-mile path linking parks and renovate a cramped recreation center, and replace an outdoor pool in Ellicott City.About 20 residents attended the county Recreation and Parks Board's hearing in Ellicott City on the parks department's proposed $7.75 million budget for 1995-1996 to build new parkland and design future projects.Several residents urged parks director Jeffrey A. Bourne and the advisory board to move up ball field construction projects several years in the five-year improvement plan and add lighting to more fields to meet the increasing demands of baseball and softball leagues.

Vandals intent on spray painting Baltimore County's artificial turf fields, defacing park property and destroying playgrounds will soon find themselves captured on camera. The County Council has authorized $600,000 to install 24-hour video surveillance cameras at five regional parks and at athletic fields that have frequently been the targets of vandals. "We have too much investment in these parks to let vandals have their way," said Robert J. Barrett, county director of recreation and parks.

Golf tourney to benefit Broadneck High sportsCounty golfers are invited to play in the Bruin Golf Tournament Monday at Bay Hills Golf Club in Arnold.The $75-a-person tournament, sponsored by the Broadneck High School Athletic Boosters, will benefit the school's athletic department.The tournament will be a best ball format, with registration at 8:30 a.m. and tee-off at 9:00 a.m. There will be many prizes and drawings, including a dozen dinners for two and trophies for winning teams.Those interested may contact Dave Branning at 757-7822 in the evenings.

Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks Director William Rinehart will resign next month to take another county job supervising construction of a North County golf course and coordinating the acquisition of parkland.Mr. Rinehart's new job is not a demotion, said Louise Hayman, a spokeswoman for County Executive Robert R. Neall.Mr. Neall "has long wanted to acquire more parkland, and you can't do it through the old tried and true means," because state grant money for land purchases has dried up, Ms. Hayman said.

After a public outcry, Baltimore County officials have placed on hold a plan to link neighborhood parks off Old Court Road near Randallstown by a new pathway, and the area's councilman has withdrawn his support of the plan.The proposed pathway would run from the area behind the Old Court Metro Station to Liberty Road and link Sudbrook, Silver Creek and Villa Nova parks. But in a public meeting this week, some residents from the six communities that surround the parks opposed the plan."It would bring additional traffic into the community and could be conducive to increasing crime," said Julian Klaff, president of the Silver Creek Community Association.