Planning Board Schedules January 25 Public Hearing for Bicycle Master Plan  The Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Working Draft as the Public Hearing Draft for the Bicycle Master Plan at its meeting on Thursday, December 7. The Board's public hearing for the Bicycle Master Plan is scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the Planning Department Headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD) when the community is invited to comment on the Plan's recommendations.
The public is also invited to submit comments about the Bicycle Master Plan via email to mcp-chair@mncppc.org. These comments will become part of the public testimony and public record for the Plan. |
White Flint 2 Sector Plan Approved by Montgomery County The Montgomery County Planning Department is pleased to announce that the Montgomery County Council approved the White Flint 2 Sector Plan at its full session meeting on Tuesday, December 5, 2017.
"We are pleased with the approval of the White Flint 2 Sector Plan," says project manager N'kosi Yearwood. "This action concludes a long planning process, but it is just the start of an exciting chapter for the North Bethesda area of Montgomery County. The plan prioritizes walkability and connections for pedestrians, while providing opportunities to transform single-use shopping centers into mixed-used places."
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Technology Expert Peter Leyden Will Be the Keynote Speaker at Montgomery Planning's Makeover Montgomery 4
The conference will be held from May 9 through May 11, 2018 in College Park and Silver Spring, MD. It will bring together planners, architects, developers, real estate professionals, economists, social scientists, ecologists and others to discuss cutting-edge ideas for transforming the suburbs. Conference presentation proposals are now being sought. Participants should base their presentations on four themes: Healthy, Smart, Inclusive and Competitive Communities. The deadline for submitting presentation proposals online is December 15, 2017 at 5 p.m.
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Veirs Mill Corridor Master Plan Meeting Will be Held on December 13
 The Montgomery County Planning Department will host its sixth public meeting for the Veirs Mill Corridor Master Plan on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Albert Einstein High School. Planners will present preliminary recommendations for land use and zoning; urban design; transportation; parks, trails and open spaces; sustainability and community facilities. The Planning Department invites the community to provide feedback on the preliminary recommendations. |
 Garden of Lights Exhibit
Open nightly through January 1, 2018 Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens has delighted families nightly with its imaginative and illuminated forms that help usher in the holiday season. Dress warmly and plan to spend about one-hour walking through the gardens and see over one million lights transform the gardens into whimsical winter scenes. But the fun doesn't stop outdoors. The conservatory features G-scale model trains racing through a wintry landscape. And no wintertime shindig would be complete without mugs of piping hot cocoa, s'mores and live musical performances at the Visitors Center. |
 Updated M-NCPPC Parks Rules & Regulations Are In Effect Updates to the M-NCPPC Rules & Regulations will improve access to parks and amenities and provide greater flexibility in the rules. |
 Upper Paint Branch Limited Area Trail Plan Montgomery Parks Staff recently hosted a Public Meeting to review and provide feedback on the preliminary recommendations on a new Natural Surface Trail Plan in the Upper Paint Branch area. Your input will help us make this the best plan possible for the Paint Branch area.
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Festivals and Events  Looking for a different type of fun for the entire family? Maybe, a new experience in your backyard? Montgomery Parks has all the excitement just around the corner. Check out our Festivals and Events Page for all the happenings. Don't miss a chance to see what Montgomery Parks has for you! - Experience a rich and inviting interactive exhibit at Brookside Nature Center. Created by the Franklin Institute, the exhibit will run through January 5, 2018 daily. Come out and be inspired by the Harvard classic, "A Forest Journey: The Role of Wood in the Development of Civilization", by science writer John Perlin. It will shed new light on the history of the use of wood throughout the world, on forest products (from paper to lifesaving pharmaceuticals) and on the relationship between forests and the benefits of trees.
- Pop Up in Montgomery Parks- Montgomery Parks is aiming to attract more people to our parks - particularly our urban parks in the densely populated parts of Montgomery County. So, we are bringing fun and free "Pop Up" programming to select parks all winter, including Movie Night, Cozy Community Day, Rock Wall and our new Pump Track! Check out our upcoming programs taking place this fall.
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Community Meetings and News
Make plans to attend upcoming community meetings. Park Staff will be presenting plans for upcoming project renovations and scheduled improvements to the parks. The community is encouraged to attend these meetings and provide input on the upcoming projects: -
- Parks staff hosted a Public Meeting on the interim plan to improve Wall Local Park at the Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center. Under the guidance of the current White Flint Sector Plan, Parks staff presented the interim plan to the park as well as reviewed future plans to the park that will feature the realignment of Executive Boulevard and Market Street. Also presented were plans to construct a new parking garage. Visit the park project page for more information.
- A Second Community Meeting for the renovation plans to improve Acorn Urban Park was held at the Eastern Village Cohousing Common House in Silver Spring. Park staff presented the preliminary concepts for the park and seek community input. Visit the Acorn Urban Park project page for more information.
- Parks staff recently presented amendments to the North Branch Hiker-Biker Trail Plan to the Montgomery County Planning Board. The proposed amendments include relocating the project's parking lot and trailhead from Muncaster Mill Road to Meadowside Lane, removing a bridge crossing near Meadowside Nature Center, and adding a bridge crossing just south of the Intercounty Connector. For additional information about the project, please visit the project page.
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Accessibility Improvements Continue |
Park Projects - Forest Glen Neighborhood Park work to improve the park features including installation of a new water fountain, better access to parking and storm water management upgrades is in progress. Work will continue into the fall with minimal interruptions expected to park users.
- Stratton Local Park is closed. The one-year project will improve overall access to park and parking lot enhancements. A pedestrian walkway from Democracy Boulevard and a sidewalk entering the park from Harrogate Road is planned. The ball field, shelter, and courts will be closed and inaccessible to the public.
- Good Hope Local Park is closed as part of the Department of Recreation's Good Hope Recreation Center construction project. Ball fields, tennis courts and other park areas will be inaccessible to the public. Work is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2018.
- Wheaton-Claridge Local Park is closed as the entire park undergoes renovations. The Park Activity Building will also get a makeover to improve access. The project is scheduled to be complete by Spring 2018. Park users are encouraged to visit other parks in the area as park amenities will not be accessible to the public. View more information on the project.
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Olney Square Neighborhood Park will have the asphalt parking lot and other hard surface areas removed this fall. Park users should use caution around work area, south of Gelding Lane, as plans to reforest the area are underway. -
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Emerald Ash Borer in Montgomery Parks  A non-native invasive beetle in Montgomery County is wreaking havoc on ash trees, many which are in stream valleys on parkland. Learn more on how the department is addressing the issue. |
Bikers and Runners should use caution around work areas as improvements are taking place on several trails in Montgomery Parks:  - Trail work is underway on the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail that may interrupt trail use. Parks will be installing a 20' span steel truss bridge on Beach Drive between Old Spring Road and Stoneybrook Drive. The project will have a temporary mulch path detour at the project site to safely allow trail users continued use of the trail.
- Trail improvements on the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail near Parklawn Local Park continue. The project includes a new connector to the trail, bridge installation, stream sediment control and storm water management when complete.
- Trail repairs on the southwestern portion of the Matthew Henson Trail is starting in December. Parks will be repairing the boardwalk and bridge near Grenoble Drive and Turkey Branch Parkway. The trail section is currently inaccessible. Please use caution when seeking alternate routes. Vehicles should share the roadway at all times.
- Share the Trail - A section of the Cabin John Trail now allows bikes. Montgomery Parks has recently authorized a section of the trail from the trailhead across Goya Road to the parking area on Seven Locks Road, by the 495 overpass of the Cabin John Trail to be accessible to hikers/walkers and bikers. All trail users should share the trail and always yield to the appropriate trail users.
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WSSC work to improve stormwater management and sediment control will be starting at this fall on the Northwest Branch Trail SVU#3 area. The project requires heavy excavating equipment to be delivered so workers will need to use the trail to gain access. Park patrons should use caution around designated work areas.
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  The 2017 Winter Program GUIDE is here! |
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