The county's purchases come on the heels of another significant development for the greenway: A pair of property owners put 61 acres of land into a conservation easement, which means it will never be developed.

Frank Marzucco, the county's director of recreation and parks, said many pieces are falling into place for the South River Greenway.

"We have hit a high-water mark in a cooperative, collaborative effort," Marzucco said.

The county government is just one partner in the South River Greenway effort.

While the county is buying land, private groups are working with property owners to put conservation easements on their land, which forever bar development.

All told, about 10,000 acres of forests and wetlands have been identified for potential inclusion in the greenway through some means of conservation.

The county's goal is to buy outright 1,100 acres for the greenway, and the latest purchases bring the total to 306 acres.

The county has been mostly using its share of state Program Open Space money to buy land for the greenway. The greenway is the county's top preservation priority, Marzucco said.

"The headwaters of the South River lie in the heart of Anne Arundel County," said County Executive John R. Leopold. "The South River Greenway contains the largest tract of unbroken forest in the county. This recent addition ... helps enable us to secure land for future generations."

Leopold said even in "challenging fiscal times" it's important to preserve land whenever possible.

The biggest chunk of the greenway is about 550 undeveloped acres that are part of the old Crownsville Hospital Center, west of Interstate 97. The state is still in the process of transferring that land to the county for $1.

Once enough land purchases are complete, the county plans to set up a committee to work out how people can visit the publicly owned parcels.

So far, there are occasional nature walks and volunteer efforts in the greenway, but there's no coordinated public access.

Marzucco envisions the committee will be made up of representatives from all the groups involved in preserving land for the greenway: the county, the Biophilia Foundation, Maryland/DC Audubon, Maryland Environmental Trust, Scenic Rivers Land Trust, South River Federation, Trust for Public Land and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The land will remain mostly untouched and won't be developed as an "active use" park. Rather, Marzucco envisions the committee will approve specific events for the greenway, such as equestrian tours, managed hunts or bird-watching expeditions.

Marzucco said it's important for county residents to enjoy and appreciate the land. Once people visit the property, which has breathtaking woods, a large pond with a beaver dam and an abundance of wildlife, they'll care for it, he said.

"We have some wonderful properties the public doesn't have access to," Marzucco said.

Alyssa Domzal, who coordinates greenway efforts for the Scenic Rivers Land Trust, said the new land purchases will help both people and wildlife.

"This is a big win for the environment and secures land for the enjoyment of current and future generations," she said.

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