Signatories below believe that unused property at Spring Grove State Hospital should be placed in a public trust and developed for the following purposes:

1. As a well-maintained, patrolled, and historic recreational park
2. As a site for on-going or slightly expanded human services delivery and academic work

Directly connected to these goals is the strong belief that public land from Spring Grove should not be sold to private developers for any high-density development.

We finally believe that our elected officials should act aggressively to see that the beliefs and goals expressed above are respected, and implemented in a timely and efficient manner.

We, the undersigned, believe that if any property at Spring Grove State Hospital should be deemed "excess" land, it should be held in public trust and retained in perpetuity by the State of Maryland, to be developed as a well-maintained and patrolled regional park that might include biking and hiking paths, picnic areas, historic placards, public art and gardens, orientation signage, and play grounds; and as a slightly expanded human services campus aligned with the current mission of the existing hospital.

Moreover, we believe that any development on Spring Grove surplus property should be aligned with maintaining the quiet suburban feel of the Catonsville region, to preserve open space and history, to continue the region's tradition of assisting those in need, and to create a regional gem that is compatible with supporting the existing and evolving business districts on our main streets on Frederick Road, in Arbutus, and in Paradise.

Note that it is our belief that advocating for the alternatives proposed above does not serve to stifle functional large-scale development, but instead serves to insure that such development happens on private land only, and in areas that are currently developed for such purposes, such as areas along Route 40, Security Square Mall, and Route 1.

Finally, we believe that our position is aligned with State and County efforts to increase and preserve open space.

Thank you for your attention to this letter.