| Attend or watch the Montgomery County Planning Board Thursday, March 31. View the full agenda for that meeting here. |
Westbard Sector Plan Transmitted to County Council for Approval
Staff from the Montgomery County Planning Department met with the County's Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee on Monday, March 14, to hold the last work session for the Westbard Sector Plan.
The PHED Committee, which comprises County Councilmembers Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal and Hans Riemer, met at the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. County Council member Roger Berliner also attended the work session to discuss the plan for Westbard. Learn more here.
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Planning Department Announces Calendar of April 2016 Events
The Montgomery County Planning Department is pleased to announce its April 2016 calendar of community meetings, work session and public events. These events offer opportunities for the Planning Board and Planning Department staff to discuss policies and engage with the public. Review the full list of events below and go online to www.montgomeryplanning.org for more details on projects and plans. View the full list here. |
Registration Opens for Makeover Montgomery 3 Conference Scheduled for May 4 through May 6
The Montgomery County Planning Department has opened registration for its conference, Makeover Montgomery 3: Balancing Change in America's Suburbs, to be held from Wednesday, May 4 through Friday, May 6, 2016 in College Park and Silver Spring, Md.
The Makeover Montgomery 3 conference is being organized through a partnership between the Montgomery County Planning Department and the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education at the University of Maryland. The 2016 event follows similar conferences held in 2011 and 2014 by the Planning Department and University of Maryland.
Register now for the Makeover Montgomery 3 Conference. Learn more here. |
8th Annual Clarksburg Kites Festival
Join Montgomery Parks and the Clarksburg Foundation for free family fun day!
The 8th Annual Kites Over Clarksburg will be held at Ovid Hazen Wells Recreation Park, 12001 Skylark Drive in Clarksburg. Bring a canned food item, used eyeglasses or hearing aid to donate to local charities and receive a raffle ticket for prizes from local sponsorsBring a picnic Toast marshmallows with Little Bennett Campground Staff Discover local businesses, clubs and associations |
NOTICE: Carroll Ave Bridge Over Sligo Creek and Sligo Creek Parkway To Be Closed
Major rehabilitation of the MD 195 (Carroll Avenue) Bridge over Sligo Creek and Sligo Creek Parkway is underway. The bridge will be closed and traffic detoured through the duration of the one-year project. Work will close Sligo Creek Parkway between 3/28 thru 4/8/2016 from 9am-3pm daily. Traffic will be detoured and encouraged to seek alternate routes. Caution should be exercised around work areas and vehicles should continue to share roadways with bicyclists. For more info.
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History in the Parks Season Opening Celebrations
April 1-3 & 9. Free. Montgomery Parks invites you to join in celebrating the 2016 History in the Parks season! Enjoy historic tours, children's programming and more at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, the Underground Railroad Experience Trail, Josiah Henson Park, Kingsley Schoolhouse and Oakley Cabin. We hope these events serve as an introduction to a life-long lesson in culture, community, and connections right here in Montgomery County. Visit HistoryintheParks.org for exact times and additional details.
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Community Meeting Will Be Held on April 12 to Discuss Transportation-related Changes to the County's Subdivision Staging Policy
The Montgomery County Planning Department is updating the Subdivision Staging Policy (formerly called Growth Policy) for review and approval by the County Council by November 15, 2016. The intent of the Subdivision Staging Policy is to ensure public facilities, particularly schools and transportation facilities, are adequate to meet the needs of new development and growth.
A community meeting focusing on key transportation elements of the policy update will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Montgomery County Planning Board auditorium in Silver Spring (8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD). Learn more here. |
Changes to Westbard Sector Plan Recommended at County Council Meeting on March 22
The Montgomery County Planning Department presented the Westbard Sector Plan to the County Council on Tuesday, March 22. This meeting followed a work session held with the County's Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee on Monday, March 14. Learn more here.
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Winter Speaker Series Held from January to March 2016 Presented Transportation Alternatives to Inform Planning Department Initiatives
The Montgomery County Planning Department concluded its three-part Winter Speaker Series in March 2016. Titled Smart Moves: New Ideas about Bikes, Cars and Transit, the series was free to the public and addressed new approaches to cycling, transit, trails and other alternatives to cars. The ideas generated from the series are helping to inform the Department's current plans and policies, including the Bicycle Master Plan and Subdivision Staging Policy update. Learn more here.
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MARC Rail Communities Design Workshops Held from March 14-16
The Montgomery County Planning Department concluded the second phase of its design workshops, held from March 14 through March 16, for the MARC Rail Communities Plan at the Upcounty Regional Services Center (12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown, MD 20874). The purpose of the workshops was to identify community concerns and gather ideas for the MARC station areas in Boyds and Germantown, and enable all stakeholders to participate and to have a voice in the ultimate vision. Learn more here.
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Celebrate Earth Month with Montgomery Parks!
Looking for a way to give back during Earth Month? Check out Montgomery Parks' special Earth Month volunteer events happening throughout the month of April! Earth Month volunteer opportunities will include Stream & Park Cleanups, Natural Surface Trail Work, and Weed Warrior Projects among others. Most volunteer opportunities are SSL-hour approved. Visit www.MontgomeryParks.org/EarthMonth to find Earth Month volunteer opportunities along with information on how to participate. |
Applications Due on April 1 for Montgomery County Historic Preservation Tax Credits
The Montgomery County Planning Department is accepting applications from county property owners seeking a financial reward for faithfully restoring the exteriors of their historic structures. To be eligible for the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Tax Credit, the property must be listed in the Montgomery County Master Plan for Historic Preservation.
Owners must file an application as well as documentation of the repairs that were done with the historic preservation staff of the Planning Department by Friday, April 1, 2016. The Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission will then evaluate the applications to determine whether the scope of work meets the eligibility requirements for the program. The work must have been completed no later than December 31, 2015.
View a short video about the Historic Tax Credit program offered by the Montgomery County Planning Department Historic Preservation Office. Download the application here. Learn more here.
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Green Matters Symposium: A Garden Gateway at Brookside Gardens
Interested in environmentally friendly landscapes? Want an up-close look at what it takes to plan, design and build landscapes that are both beautiful and benefit the environment? Join us on Friday, April 8th from 8:30AM - 4:00 PM at Brookside Gardens for the 13th Annual Green Matters Symposium. We are bringing together some of the top landscape and public garden professionals to share ideas about how to create attainable, sustainable landscapes. Early bird registration is $85 before March 1; registration increases to $99 per person after that date. To register, enter Course #14881 here. To learn more about the conference, click here.
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Meadowside Nature Center Exhibit to be Renovated
Work affecting access to the Legacy of the Land Exhibit at Meadowside Nature Center has been completed and the exhibit reopened. Expansion improvements around the area for will continue. For additional information, please click here.
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Spring Registration Open
Registration for Montgomery Parks' spring programs is now open! Visit our Community Corner to sign up for nature and garden programs, ice skating, tennis and more! |
Parks Opens Four New Athletic Fields
The athletic fields at Northwest Branch Recreational Park will be open this spring and available to permit. There are four fields which must be permitted for use: three full size rectangles and one adult size baseball, as well as one smaller practice rectangle. For more information on permitting these fields please click here or call 240-777-2716.
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Evans Parkway and Germantown Town Center Win Awards
Montgomery Parks is proud to be recognized for their efforts in design and development for two of our newest parks: Evans Parkway Neighborhood Park and Germantown Town Center Urban Park. Read more |
Emerald Ash Borer in Montgomery Parks
A non-native invasive beetle in Montgomery County is wreaking havoc on ash trees, many which are located in stream valleys on parkland. Learn more on the department's plan to address the issue here. |
Accessibility Improvements Continue
Accessibility Improvement work continues at Olney Manor Recreational Park, Damascus Recreational Park, and Ayrlawn Local Park. Work is scheduled to begin at Ridge Road Recreational Park, Ken Gar Local Park, Clear Spring Local Park, Martin Luther King Jr., Recreational Park and Stratton Local Park this spring. For more information on these and other accessibility projects please visit: Accessibility Information for Montgomery Parks webpage. |
Find an Athletic Field
Did you know Montgomery Parks maintains close to 300 fields for public games, practices and walk-on play? Click here to find out more about our park athletic fields. |
Public Input Needed on Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan Update
Montgomery Parks is updating the Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan and is soliciting input from the public. To find out more about the plan and how you can share your ideas please visit www.ParkPlanning.org. |
| Park Projects: Quince Orchard Valley Neighborhood Park: WSSC work as part of the WSSC Sewer Repair, Replacement and Rehabilitation Program is scheduled to begin this spring. Work will also include the removal of the tennis court and hard surface path to allow reforestation. Please use caution around work areas. Click here for more information. Falls Road Local Park: Trail improvements start this spring which will require portions of the trail to be closed. Look for construction to continue as improvements are made for improved access. Click here for more information on the park project. Olney Family Neighborhood Park: Work is underway to improve access to hard surface trails from Treadway Road. The project is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2016. Kemp Mill Urban Park: The park is closed for renovations to improve overall access, update the pond and expand the playground. Renovations are expected to be completed by spring 2017. Click here for more information.. Sligo Creek Parkway: The parking lot on Sligo Creek Parkway south of Wayne Avenue is closed through the spring of 2016 for WSSC work. For more info on WSSC projects in the park, please click here.Ellsworth Urban Park: Park improvements are underway to construct a new dog park in Silver Spring. Parts of the park will be inaccessible to the public as work includes improved storm water management and better access to park. Click here for more info. UPDATE: Waters Landing Local Park, Plumgar Local Park and Saddlebrook Local Park: playgrounds are closed at each park as part of the Playground Renovation Program. All work is scheduled to be complete by spring 2016. Plumgar Local Park: Playground is closed as part of the Playground Renovation Program. Work is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2016. |
| Trail Work in Parks Bikers and Runners should use caution as improvements are taking place on several trails in Montgomery Parks: NOTICE: Parklawn Local Park - Trail improvements to the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail are scheduled to begin this winter at Veirs Mill Road connector onto trail. NEW: Wheaton Regional Park - Pine Lake trail work will start this winter season to improve access and storm water management. Watch for detours posted around designated work areas. Work is scheduled over the next few weeks along the Capital Crescent Trail at the DC Line. Trail users should use caution around work zones. Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail work is underway to coordinate the removal of high risk trees and limbs including Emerald Ash Borer infested trees along the Rock Creek Hiker- Biker Trails on Beach Drive. For more information on tree inspection and maintenance, click here. Black Hill Trail Connector Project is underway to build a new shared-use natural surface six-mile trail along the western side of Little Seneca Lake in Black Hill Regional Park. Numerous construction phases will take place over the course of the next year until the trail is complete. The pedestrian bridge at the Ten Mile Creek tributary to Little Seneca Lake in Black Hill Regional Park will be closed until spring 2016.Work continues on the Rock Creek trail in Rock Creek Regional Park around Baltimore Road and Norbeck Road. Trails will be partially closed for bridge work, stream work and the repaving of the trail leading to bridge. A detour will be posted when trail repaving begins. Rock Creek Trail Signs are being installed to improve wayfinding on the trail and adjacent neighborhood trail connectors leading to main trail of the 14 mile Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail. Little Bennett Regional Park The bridge on the Beaver Valley Trail is impassible due to recent flooding. The bridge will not be accessible until repairs can be made. For more information on Montgomery Parks Trails please visit www.MontgomeryTrails.org. |
Spring Festivals & Events in Montgomery Parks
Enjoy spring festivals and events in Montgomery Parks! Come enjoy open houses at our many facilities, special skates at our ice rinks, Earth Day events and volunteer opportunities around our parks, and events and festivals at our four nature centers and Brookside Gardens. Visit www.MontgomeryParks.org/festivals for upcoming events and information. |
View Montgomery Parks Program GUIDES Online
Click here to see all the various programs, classes and events Montgomery Parks has to offer you and your family. Browse the eGuide from your computer or cell via at Montgomery Parks eGuides. |
| Montgomery Parks Volunteer Opportunities Butterfly Show at Brookside Gardens - Click Here!Summer Nature Camp Counselors - Click Here!Earth Month in April - Green Volunteer Opportunities - Click Here!Gardening and Outdoor Opportunities - Click Here!Weed Warrior Events - Click Here! |
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