ANNAPOLIS - Gov. Martin O'Malley has announced Board of Public Works approval of more than $8 million in Program Open Space funding for land acquisition and park improvements in seven Maryland counties.

Washington County will receive $205,123 for the following projects:

• $125,000 for a recreational area in Boonsboro; the town says the money will go toward Shafer Park projects.

• $37,350 to pave and extend an existing walking trail at Martin L. "Marty" Snook Memorial Park in Halfway.

• $22,500 to replace existing wood carpet mulch with safer rubber mulch around playground equipment at Martin L. "Marty" Snook Memorial Park.

• $10,800 to resurface basketball courts at Taylor Park in Keedysville.

• $9,473 to replace the roof of the arts pavilion at Doub's Woods Park.

Since 2007, O'Malley and the Board of Public Works have preserved more than 21,762 acres of natural areas for public recreation, and watershed and wildlife protection across Maryland, according to an e-mailed release from the state.

Since 1969, Program Open Space has provided funding for acquisition of 341,473 acres for open space and recreation areas, the release says.

An interactive, statewide map that shows the land protected by Program Open Space can be found on the Web at www.greenprint.maryland.gov.

The three-member Board of Public Works, chaired by O'Malley, includes Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

The board is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.