Passed in March, the Great Maryland Outdoors Act provides funding to expand parks, maintenance, and hiring permanent employees once the law launches this July 1.
Since the bill’s creation, Delegate Michele Guyton has supported it, emphasizing the importance of having children outdoors.
“The problems that kids are having from sitting in front of the screen — they’re not just because they’re sitting in front of a screen,” Guyton said, “They’re because of what they’re not doing … What they’re not doing is going out and interacting with their natural world.”
Guyton also said the Great Maryland Outdoors Act would help county parks and their programs for underserved communities.
The bill addresses the needs of outdoor infrastructures, capacity, and accessibility. It will use around $80 million to buy land, expand parks, and improve transportation directed to the parks.
The new law will also require the Department of Natural Resources to hire more full-time employees in the Park Service to 100 permanent, classified positions by July 1.
Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management must conduct staff reviews as part of a long-term strategic plan.
This article originally appeared on WTop News.