The Anne Arundel County Government consists of Departments and Offices as well as Boards & Commissions. These entities work together to serve our Citizen's needs.
With almost 54,000 businesses, Anne Arundel County is a major hub of commerce and development. With a $35 billion economy, low taxes, a vast multi-modal transportation system, highly skilled workforce and excellent educational institutions, Anne Arundel County is the premier location to do business.
The Office of Central Services is responsible for managing a program intended to beautify, revitalize, and recognize local neighborhoods, personalities, or events.
The Office of Central Services manages the Beautification Program, which is designed to provide decorative landscaping throughout the County, encourage adopting a median or roundabout, and support local art projects executed on County building exteriors.
Artists: Future History Now and the Stanton Community Center
Location: Whitmore Garage, between Washington and Calvert streets
Future History Now partnered with the Stanton Community Center to honor singer and actress Pearl Bailey, known to frequent Annapolis stages in the historically black Fourth Ward. The Pearl Bailey mural, a monochromatic painting in purples, black and white, features the icon mid-song with her hands spread wide.
Glen Burnie Vignettes
Artists: Matt Klos and students from Anne Arundel Community College
Location: Anne Arundel Community College at the corner of Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard and Ritchie Highway.
The Community College partnered with Anne Arundel County Government and was supported financially by the Anne Arundel County Arts Council. The balloons painted by students feature the annual carnival that has been in existence since the 1900's, a historic smelting furnace, the much adored and family friendly ice rink plus other images reflective of the community.
Star Theater Mural Project
Through this mural, we pay respect to the St. Anne's Cemetery with a nod to the vanitas genre of painting, celebrating both the beauty and impermanence of life, and to the old Star Theater, which once occupied this very location from 1926 until 1965. The project grew from a vanitas-inspired concept rendering by local artist and FHN co-founder, Julia Gibb, which includes depictions of native species. The design evolved to include some history of the Star Theater, the only African-American movie theater in Anne Arundel County during its time; pays tribute to Levin's Store, which was located on the next block, along with a portrait of store owner Joseph “Jake” Levin; and a 1920’s era map of this Annapolis location.
Future History Now is a 501(C)(3) organization who collaborates with youth from under-resourced communities in the creation of public art projects that encourage pride of place and gives a voice to those who struggle to be heard.
The Adopt-A-Road Program is open to any licensed, insured, and Maryland registered landscape design or installation firm in Anne Arundel County, MD.
Businesses are encouraged to adopt one or more medians and roundabouts from the available list of medians or roundabouts and make a two year commitment to design, install, and maintain said location. Litter should be picked up from your adopted location as needed. We request a minimum maintenance commitment of three times a year with a major cleanup in April for spring cleaning.
Only specific locations identified by the County Adopt a Median/Roundabout Program are available for adoption.
The business agrees to provide a landscaping and/or public art plan to the Anne Arundel County Beautification Manager for approval prior to installing any plants, landscaping materials, or art installations. We remind participants to consider lines of sight and view cones in any and all landscape or public art plans. Plans shall be approved by County staff prior to installation to ensure sight lines and view cones are protected.
The business agrees to abide by the terms of a Program Agreement.
A designated contact will be required for each organization to serve as the liaison with the Anne Arundel County Beautification Manager.
Participants in the Group agree to obey and abide by all laws and safety procedures consistent with industry practices regarding work in high traffic areas. The business must have a safety plan for working on medians or roundabouts and work must be performed at appropriate times of day to ensure safe working conditions. The County may stop a business from performing work if unsafe traffic conditions occur.
The designated contact should notify the Beautification Manager at least 24 hours prior to every prior to every scheduled clean-up date at your site.
The Business should avoid installation or maintenance activities on the median or roundabout during heavy traffic periods such as: Memorial Day extended weekend, July 3 through 5 and Labor Day extended weekend.
No permanent onsite advertising or signage other than that provided by Anne Arundel County will be permitted. Adopt a Median/Roundabout signs including your organization's name will be installed at each end of the adopted sections after initial project installation and clean-up is complete. No other permanent signage or advertising is permitted.
When picking up litter or removing other debris, participants are encouraged to separate appropriate materials for recycling.
In the event that your location becomes overgrown or in need of maintenance, Anne Arundel County reserves the right to conduct necessary maintenance and may terminate the Program Agreement at its sole discretion.
After submitting an application, businesses will be contacted to discuss the concepts and plans for the requested median or roundabout, if the site is available for adoption. The Beautification Manager has the final authority with respect to approval of a site plan and no work may begin until the business has received an executed Program Agreement.
Businesses are encouraged to use native plants where possible and to integrate the design of the landscape plan with the surrounding area. Designs that are distracting to motorists will not be approved.
Businesses are responsible for contacting Miss Utility in advance of any work requiring ground marking.
The County at its sole discretion may provide in kind services such as site preparation to assist the business with implementing their landscape plan.
Interested landscape firms are encouraged to apply to adopt a County-owned median or roundabout and express your creativity. Program participants will help improve the aesthetic appearance of Anne Arundel County through the installation of enhanced landscapes or public art in traffic structures.
