Troy Park Plays Waiting Game with County, State

Six weeks after requesting to conduct a study in Elkridge, the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) has yet to hear back from the state.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman approached the MSA to help evaluate a tennis and sports complex planned for Elkridge; however, the MSA must receive legislative approval before proceeding with its study of .

The Howard County Tennis Patrons came up with the idea of Troy Park, an 8,000-seat stadium with regulation courts north of Route 100 off US 1.

Earlier this week, one of the tennis group's supporters testified at the county executive's public forum and asked why the MSA study was needed.

"Troy Park...has the potential to be an economic engine for the county, for the region, as well as the Route 1 revitalization," said Mike Couch, volunteer with the tennis patrons. "Can you comment on what you are looking for in the Maryland Stadium Authority's study?"

"The original agreement was we [the county] provide the land, and the tennis patrons raise the money," continued Ulman. "Obviously, the economy took the turn it did, and it became very difficult to raise the money."

The plan is for the MSA to help determine whether the tennis complex is financially viable, said Ulman.

"A favorable study should assist Howard County Tennis Patrons in lining up private financing," said county spokesman Kevin Enright in an email.

On June 15, the MSA filed a request with the state to conduct the study. Within 30 days, legislators were to have responded. As of July 27, they had not, said officials.

"Sometimes in the summer, it is harder to find key people for their signatures," said Gary McGuigan, project executive for the Maryland Stadium Authority. "It has varied from three to five weeks historically."

It's been six weeks as of this publication since the MSA made its request, and officials continue to wait. In their court, the Howard County Tennis Patrons, who have invested more than five years in the project, will continue to wait as well.

"I'm still optimistic about it," said Ulman at the forum. "But I want to make sure that if we’re going to commit any public funds, that it's worth the public investment."