BILL NUMBER:  S2446

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act requiring the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic
preservation to take a parcel of land through the eminent domain
procedure for a state park commemorating Marylander Green, America's
first battle memorial

 PURPOSE :

This bill would require the State Commissioner of Park, Recreation and
Historic Preservation to acquire the 170 Eighth Street in Brooklyn by
eminent domain for the purpose of creating a state park commemorating
Maryland Heroes from the Battle of Brooklyn (Long Island) in the
American Revolution., America's first battle memorial

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section 1:  Legislative findings, Location of site

Section 2: Effective Date

 EXISTING LAW :

No current law dealing with Marylander Park
              

 JUSTIFICATION :

The subject property, 170 - 8 Street, Lot 11 on Block 1003 in the
Borough of Brooklyn, has long been recognized as part of the area
where the 256 Maryland Heroes were buried who died covering the
retreat of the Continental Army on August 27, 1776. The Gowanus/Park
Slope area, where the site is located, has undergone drastic changes
in the last 15 years. Deindustrialization, coupled with a striking
increase in property values, have led to the demolition of many older
buildings in the neighborhood that were part of the first wave of
commercial and tenement construction after 1890, and which were cited
in the historical evidence as overlying the Marylanders' graves,
making locating any human remains more difficult. Many have already
been replaced by luxury housing.

The subject property, the only vacant land that is part of the
Marylander Burial Site, is for sale and is likely to be redeveloped as
luxury housing absent any public action, leading to obscuring the
burials forever.

There is no onsite recognition of the Maryland Heroes, who have been
the subject of memorialization efforts by both the states of New York
and Maryland, the federal government, and local citizens, since at
least 1900. The sacrifice of the Maryland Heroes saved the American
Revolution, and remains a subject of historical research by the state
of Maryland. Substantial assistance from Maryland, the federal
government and other jurisdictions is anticipated.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Legislation

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

Fiscal Impact to the State to be determined by land acquisition cost
as well as there will be future costs to operate and maintain the
newly created park.

 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.