Howard County spent $6 million to acquire Camp Ilchester | The Locally Times
The county purchased 21 acres to satisfy state land-use requirements for the construction of High School #14.
Howard County spent $6 million to acquire the 21-acre Camp Ilchester property from the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. The June 18, 2026, county government release states the purchase satisfies Maryland Department of Natural Resources Program Open Space regulations, which require local jurisdictions to replace parkland repurposed for non-park use with equivalent protected land. ## Land Conversion Requirements State law requires the county to protect an equivalent amount of land when it converts parkland for other uses. The county plans to transfer 48.64 acres of undeveloped land at Troy Park to the Howard County Board of Education for the construction of High School #14. To meet the state mandate, the county placed a Program Open Space easement on 48 acres, including the Camp Ilchester site and other recent acquisitions. The Howard County Council approved the $6 million budget allocation for the purchase in May 2026. ## Future Site Use County records indicate the county will maintain the 21-acre Camp Ilchester site as public green space. The acquisition prevents the development of 105 planned housing units on the property. Proposed future uses for the site include outdoor adventure camps, sports programs, a nature center, and educational programming. The county government scheduled site work for the Elkridge Community and 50+ Center for February, with a grand opening planned for spring 2028. ## Legislative Timeline County Executive Calvin Ball plans to submit legislation to the Howard County Council next week to transfer the 48.64 acres of undeveloped land at Troy Park to the Howard County Board of Education. This transfer allows the school system to incorporate the site into its construction planning. The provided records do not specify the total projected cost for High School #14 or the construction timeline. Additionally, the records do not detail long-term maintenance costs for the former camp or the impact on existing park amenities within the 48-acre Troy Park section. ## Key Questions **How does the $6 million purchase facilitate the new high school?** State law requires the county to replace parkland used for non-park purposes with protected open space. Purchasing Camp Ilchester allows the county to meet this requirement and legally transfer 48.64 acres of Troy Park to the school board. **What is the status of the Camp Ilchester property?** The county will preserve the 21-acre site as public green space and incorporate it into the Howard County Recreation & Parks system. The purchase prevents the construction of 105 housing units previously planned for the site. **When will construction for High School #14 begin?** The provided records do not specify a construction timeline or the total cost for the new school building.