Maryland § 25-801

§ 25-801.

    (a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

        (2)    (i)    “Nontraditional recreational opportunities” means sports, recreational activities, programs, or facilities in the county with a reasonable promise of growth in:

                1.    popularity; or

                2.    participation or demand among youth populations that are otherwise under–represented or underserved by traditional recreational activities.

            (ii)    “Nontraditional recreational opportunities” may include:

                1.    skate parks;

                2.    lacrosse walls;

                3.    remote–controlled car courses;

                4.    pickleball courts;

                5.    disc golf courses;

                6.    cricket fields;

                7.    pump tracks; and

                8.    any other new or innovative recreation or leisure activity recommendation included in a park and recreation plan.

        (3)    “Park and recreation plan” means:

            (i)    a functional master plan of parks and open spaces adopted under § 21–106(a)(3) of this article; or

            (ii)    a local land preservation and recreation plan approved under § 5–905(b) of the Natural Resources Article.

    (b)    The county planning board shall:

        (1)    provide an adequate and balanced program of recreation to serve the needs and interests of various age groups among the residents of the county that includes appropriate nontraditional recreational opportunities;

        (2)    offer a comprehensive youth sports program that provides a variety of sports programming, leagues, and teams throughout the county; and

        (3)    coordinate the programs with the Commission’s park functions.

    (c)    The county planning board may develop programs of recreation that may include physical, social, mental, and creative opportunities that the county planning board considers appropriate to offer in:

        (1)    major recreation centers, playfields, athletic fields, playgrounds, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, swimming pools, golf courses, community centers, and social centers on publicly or privately owned land or buildings made available for these purposes or over which the county planning board has sole or joint jurisdiction; or

        (2)    land or buildings of a municipal corporation or political subdivision in the county, if the municipal corporation or political subdivision requests the services of the county planning board.

    (d)    (1)    The county planning board may contract with recreation or sports groups or associations to incorporate the activities of the groups or associations into the programs established by the county planning board under this subtitle.

        (2)    Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, as part of the programs established under this subtitle the county planning board shall create a youth sports division to:

            (i)    coordinate youth sports programming, leagues, and teams; and

            (ii)    incorporate youth sports activities into the programs.

    (e)    (1)    There is a Nontraditional Recreation Fund.

        (2)    The Nontraditional Recreation Fund shall finance and account for the development and maintenance of nontraditional recreational opportunities in the county.

        (3)    The Commission shall record revenues from the development and maintenance of nontraditional recreational opportunities in the county in the Nontraditional Recreation Fund.

        (4)    The Commission shall use the revenues of the Nontraditional Recreation Fund:

            (i)    for capital improvement projects that contribute to providing nontraditional recreational opportunities;

            (ii)    to provide patrons of the Commission access to equipment necessary to participate in nontraditional recreational opportunities; and

            (iii)    for supplies and other direct program costs associated with providing nontraditional recreational opportunities in accordance with this section.