“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,” wrote Robert Frost.

A fence, in the budget bill, is another matter.

Maryland’s budget system gives great power to the Governor.

But the legislature can fence off money by saying that the Governor can spend a certain allocation only for a specific purpose.

Including a specific recreation center.

Governor Hogan’s budget includes Program Open Space money for Baltimore City.

A House Appropriations Committee amendment provides that $3.7 million of this appropriation shall be allocated for seven park or recreation center projects.

One of them is the Mary E. Rodman Recreation Center in the Allendale community, near Edmondson Av. and Hilton St.

The Rec Center is next door to the Mary E. Rodman Elementary School, which will be fully renovated as part of the 21st Century School Program.

Senator Nathaniel Oaks, community leader Wanda Wallace, and I came up with the idea of upgrading the Rec Center after attending a meeting about the renovation of the school.

This appropriation must still be approved by the State Senate, but I will work hard to make sure that it is.