February 19, 2015

The Honorable Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr.

Governor of Maryland

100 State Circle

Annapolis, MD 21401

Dear Governor Hogan:

Merriweather Post Pavilion is an endeared Mid-Atlantic treasure that provides Maryland a nationally acclaimed venue, hosting high profile performances enjoyed by millions. Nearly a half century old, Merriweather Post Pavilion is in need of redevelopment.

The Merriweather Post Pavilion experience begins in the sheltering embrace of the surrounding Symphony Woods forest. In the spirit of other beautiful and artistic parks around the country – such as Chicago’s Millennium Park, and New York’s High Line and Bryant Park – Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods is destined, through a collaborative venture with the Inner Arbor Trust to be a new kind of culture park where the surrounding landscape becomes a setting for arts, culture and civic uses; replete with indoor and outdoor venues for the performing and visual arts, both showcasing the multitude of talented local Maryland artists, as well as bringing internationally acclaimed artists, to the heart of Where Maryland Comes Together.

The nearly fifty acres of Merriweather Post Pavilion and Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods are, themselves, surrounded by more than 50 acres of prime greenfield and redevelopment property, zoned for millions of square feet and more than a billion dollars of mixed-use development.

At the heart of the Baltimore - Washington corridor and in the strategic tradition of the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards, the entertainment and art anchored Inner Arbor represents another extraordinary opportunity for Maryland. As Merriweather Post Pavilion is already a proven destination, this plan is destined to directly and indirectly create significantly more jobs and tax base, while enhancing Maryland’s quality of life, and fostering the arts and Maryland’s critical “creative class” in the process. The local art community will be supported through this collaboration- expanding Merriweather’s talent pool from their historical base of national paid performance artists to include local artists engaged in the visual and performing arts.

For these reasons we, the Howard Chamber of Commerce along with the business and community leaders of Howard County, respectfully urge you to work with County Executive Kittleman, the Howard County Council and the Howard County State Delegation on a funding partnership with Howard County, so this economic development can begin to deliver on its more inclusive strategic, regional potential over the next four years.

Sincerely,

Leonardo McClarty - President, Howard County Chamber of Commerce

Miles Coffman - Chair, Howard County Chamber Board of Directors

CC: Howard County Chamber Board of Directors

Howard County Chamber Membership