HAGERSTOWN, MD (February 9, 2026) – The Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning is proud to announce that on January 29, 2026, Washington County preserved a 202-acre farm, adding to the more than 43,000 acres of permanently preserved land within the County.
The preservation was achieved through a Rural Legacy Program (RLP) easement on a farm located on Dam 4 Road in Williamsport. The property is an almost entirely wooded parcel, abundant in scenic and natural characteristics. Its inclusion in the preservation initiative strengthens a significant block of thousands of acres of permanently protected land in the area and supports neighboring properties in their pursuit of permanent easements.
The Rural Legacy Program, a cornerstone of Washington County’s land preservation strategy, has been instrumental in safeguarding nearly 9,800 acres, representing more than 22% of the County’s permanent land preservation easements. Funded and administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and locally managed by the Land Preservation Office of the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning, the program focuses on protecting agriculturally, historically, and environmentally important lands throughout the County.
RLP is one of several programs that make up Washington County’s comprehensive land preservation strategy. Additional programs include the Maryland DNR Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Program Open Space–Stateside, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPF), the County’s Installment Purchase Program (IPP), local forest conservation easements, the federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP), Federal Scenic Easements, and easements through partner organizations such as MARBIDCO, the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), the Antietam Battlefield Trust (ABT), the Mid-Maryland Land Trust (MMLT), and others. While the majority of funding is typically provided through State sources, Washington County has taken significant additional financial steps in recent years to strengthen and sustain its preservation efforts.
For more information about land preservation programs in Washington County, contact Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, at 240-313-2447 or via email at [email protected].
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