New, Public Garden To Be Created in Western Howard County
Howard County aims to create a premier Public Garden destination featuring beneficial flowering native and non-native plant species from multiple regions for the public to enjoy.
For information on this project, all related meetings, and focus group meetings, click here.
About
Howard County aims to create a premier Public Garden destination featuring beneficial flowering native and non-native plant species from multiple regions for visitors to develop a greater understanding of and appreciation for the value of plants to sustain human life and a healthy environment. It will feature sustainable practices used to build and maintain the Public Garden, showcasing the County’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
The Public Garden will serve as gathering place for all to deepen their connections to nature, thereby improving their physical and mental well-being. It will be a place of cultivated beauty that mixes a variety of landscape design styles within formal and natural settings to create rich and diverse ways to interact with plants.
We also anticipate the Public Garden will serve as a hub for lifelong learning so the community can connect to plants and to each other through engaging classes, camps and garden events.
A Focus Group was created by Executive Order in 2024. The Focus Group met nine times and then presented recommendations on the garden’s preliminary concept plan to the County Executive and the Department of Recreation & Parks.
Media
Press Release: Howard County Executive Ball Releases Focus Group Recommendations for County’s First-Ever Public Garden: January 2025
Press Release: Howard County Executive Calvin Ball Unveils Location of First-Ever Public Garden: April 2024
Info
For questions or comments, email publicgarden@howardcountymd.gov.
Focus Group
Members, Media Announcements, and Meetings are HERE.
December 4, 2025 Meeting
Howard County’s Department of Recreation & Parks invites the public to a Public Meeting on Thursday, December 4, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Howard County Recreation & Parks Headquarters, Conference Rooms 1 & 2 (7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia). There will be a presentation by the consulting team of Micheal Graves and EDSA, Inc. on the concept for the public gardens at the property that sits at the intersection of Route 97 (Roxbury Mills Road) and Burntwood’s Road. After a presentation, the public is welcome to share their ideas and ask questions.
Howard County aims to create a premier public garden destination featuring beneficial flowering native and non-native plant species for visitors to develop a greater understanding of and appreciation for the value of plants to sustain human life and a healthy environment. A focus group consisting of experts and resident volunteers met multiple times in 2024 and presented recommendations towards the garden’s preliminary concept plan that can be read online at www.howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/public-garden-focus-group.
Beginning Thursday, November 13, citizens can sign-up online to speak at the meeting by visiting https://www.howardcountymd.gov/boards-commissions/recreation-parks-advisory-board and clicking on “Public Comment.” Attendees will be allowed to speak for up to three minutes per person.
Those who do not wish to sign up online, will still be able to sign up in person at the meeting starting at 5:30 p.m. on December 4.
Beginning Thursday, November 13 and ending December 5 at 3:00pm citizens will have the option to provide online comments by visiting https://www.howardcountymd.gov/boards-commissions/recreation-parks-advisory-board and clicking on “Public Comment.” Citizens are reminded that internet testimony is considered public information and is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act.
Information about the public gardens project (including future meetings and notes from this public meeting) will be posted at www.howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/public-garden.
An interpreter for any person who is hearing impaired will be at the meeting. For other accommodations, contact Susan Potts at 410-313-4628 (voice/relay) or spotts@howardcountymd.gov at least seven working days prior to the meeting.
To attend/watch virtually: https://howardcountymd.webex.com/howardcountymd/j.php?MTID=m577af21ef553b6a165c70f68f31063f5
Webinar number: 2310 618 0811
Webinar password: public (782542 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by phone: 1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
Access code: 231 061 80811
DOCUMENTS POSTED FOLLOWING ABOVE MEETING
Document
HoCo Public Garden_Concept Plan_12-4-25.pdf
Document
HoCo Public Gardens_COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 2 - 2025-12.04.pdf
July 29, 2025 Meeting
Notice of Public Meeting
Howard County’s Department of Recreation & Parks invites the public to a Public Meeting on July 29, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center in multipurpose rooms 2 and 3 (located at 2400 MD 97, Cooksville, MD 21723). There will be a presentation by the consulting team of Micheal Graves and EDSA, Inc. on the concept for the public gardens at the property that sits at the intersection of Route 97 (Roxbury Mills Road) and Burntwood’s Road. After a presentation, the public is welcome to share their ideas and ask questions.
Howard County aims to create a premier public garden destination featuring beneficial flowering native and non-native plant species for visitors to develop a greater understanding of and appreciation for the value of plants to sustain human life and a healthy environment. A focus group consisting of experts and resident volunteers met multiple times in 2024 and presented recommendations towards the garden’s preliminary concept plan that can be read online at www.howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/public-garden-focus-group.
While the goal is to allow for a dialogue between the consultants and attendees, if unable to attend, members of the public may provide online testimony starting on July 15 at 6:00 a.m. and ending on July 29 at 3:00 p.m. by visiting apps.howardcountymd.gov/E_RAPTestimony/. Please note that online testimony is considered public information and is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act.
Information about the public gardens project (including future meetings and notes from this public meeting) will be posted at www.howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/public-garden. An interpreter for any person who is hearing impaired may be available if requested seven working days prior to the meeting. Please contact Susan Potts at 410-313-4628 (voice/relay) or spotts@howardcountymd.gov.