Surviving Sine Die

This tranquil scene is part of the deserted Western Maryland railroad corridor, yet to be connected to the Rail Trail.  If luck (and $$$$) hold, Phase IV of the plan will receive the necessary design funds to carry the popular 22.5 mile linear park an additional four miles,  winding through mountains and across streams from Pearre to Little Orleans.

Yes, this is the segment which includes Indigo Tunnel, winter home of the endangered Indiana Bat and their hibernating friends.  The latest proposal calls for something called "bat gates" to accommodate the fuzzy fliers on either end of the mile long tunnel.

(That's right -- die fledermaus  prevailed.  The latest proposal calls for the trail to detour round the bend.) 

Tunnel aficionatos will have to settle for a trip through Knobley Mountain in Carpendale, WVa.  Instead of bats, they share custody with a local utility, so their tunnel is blessed by Robert Byrd, funded by stimulous, and illuminated by Verizon.  It should open sometime next year and connect to the Maryland trails in Cumberland.

Nonetheless, the inclusion of funding for Phase IV in Allegany County (which you can read here) is wonderful news, and we'll be keeping our fingers crossed that nothing happens between now and midnight when the confetti falls in Annapolis.

Also tucked away in the capital budget is matching money for expansion of the Ocean City Convention Center, one of the premiere venues in the state for a multitude sports-related and other uses.

So even in a tough (make that VERY tough) budget year, there are bright spots for the Maryland sports and recreation scene.