Attend or watch the Montgomery County Planning Board Thursday, May 11. View the full agenda for that meeting here. |
American Planning Association Honors Montgomery County Planning Department with Two Prestigious National Awards The Montgomery County Planning Department has won two prestigious national awards from the American Planning Association. Planning Director Gwen Wright will accept the Planning Landmark Award for the Agricultural Reserve and the Gold National Planning Award for Transportation Planning for the Bicycle Stress Map on May 8 at the association's national convention in New York City. "These awards represent national recognition for our planning efforts, both past and present, in Montgomery County," said Wright. "We are thrilled that the planning profession understands the value of our Agricultural Reserve as a model of land conservation and our Bicycle Stress Map as a tool for developing safe bikeways that can be adapted to other jurisdictions." Learn more here. |
Planning Department Celebrates Historic Preservation Month with Talk and Exhibit on Midcentury Modern Architecture at Silver Spring Library The Montgomery County Planning Department is celebrating Historic Preservation Month in May 2017 with Montgomery Modern, an exhibit on mid-20th-century buildings and neighborhoods at the Silver Spring Library (900 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring, MD). The exhibit is on display in the library's main lobby through June 30. Its photography and texts are based on the 2015 book, Montgomery Modern: Modern Architecture in Montgomery County, Maryland, 1930-1979, written by Clare Lise Kelly, a preservation planner and an architectural historian with the Planning Department's Historic Preservation Office. Kelly, who also conceived and organized the exhibit, will give a presentation about the county's modern architecture on Thursday, May 4 at 6 p.m. in Meeting Room 1 of the Silver Spring Library. Learn more here. |
Planning Board and Department Announce May 2017 Events The Montgomery County Planning Department and the Montgomery County Planning Board are pleased to announce their May 2017 calendar of events. These meetings offer opportunities for the public to engage with the Planning Board and Planning Department staff. View the full list here. |
Community Invited to Attend Next Veirs Mill Corridor Master Plan Meeting on May 15 at Newport Mill Middle School The Montgomery County Planning Department will host its third public meeting for the Veirs Mill Corridor Master Plan on Monday, May 15, 2017 at the Newport Mill Middle School (11311 Newport Mill Rd, Kensington, MD) from 7 to 9 p.m. RSVPs are encouraged but not required. RSVP for the May 15 Veirs Mill Community Meeting. The community is invited to learn about the county's recreational facility development, existing recreational programs and planned facilities, and the process for the disposition of public property. Learn more here. |
Planning Department Reschedules Planning Board Presentation of Revised Zoning Text Amendment for Short-Term Residential Rentals to May 11 The Montgomery County Planning Department has changed the date of its presentation about a proposed zoning text amendment (ZTA) to regulate online-advertised, short-term home rentals, such as Airbnb, Flipkey, HomeAway and VRBO. The presentation will be made on Thursday, May 11, 2017 instead of May 4, 2017. The ZTA has already been posted online for public review. Comments and suggestions about the proposed ZTA can be sent to Gregory.russ@montgomeryplanning.org. The community will also have the opportunity to testify about the amendment at the Planning Board meeting on May 11. Once the Planning Board reviews the ZTA, it will transmit its recommendations to the County Council. Consult the Planning Board agenda for more details about meeting schedules and public testimony. Learn more here. |
Parks and Recreation of the Future: Voice Your Vision "Parks and Recreation of the Future: Voice Your Vision" is a consolidated outreach initiative to solicit input from people about what they want in their parks. The responses will be used to inform three separate but related projects all seeking public input: 2017 PROS Update, the Energized Public Spaces Functional Master Plan (EPS FMP) and Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Make time to take a survey and help us make our parks better! |
New Interactive Map We want to hear your ideas on how to improve our existing parks and where to build new ones. As part of "Parks and Recreation of the Future: Voice Your Vision", the Department of Parks has developed two maps allowing you to give site-specific comments. Tell us how often you use parks, or leave your comments on park conditions, safety, accessibility and where you think new parks or amenities are needed. Your comments will be used to help us develop recommendations for our parks in the future. You may access the interactive maps here. |
Spring & Summer 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 Spring & Summer Festivals & Events Page for all the happenings. Don't miss a chance to see what Montgomery Parks has for you! Underground Railroad Experience Trail Guided Hikes - Every Saturday, talented "conductors" lead groups on a simulated Underground Railroad experience. The experience covers 2.0 miles from Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park along a wooded, natural surface trail to the historic Sandy Spring, then back to experience the new Woodlawn Museum and Visitor Center. Hikers learn about various techniques that "freedom seekers" used to elude trackers, find food, and navigate their way north to freedom. Interpretive content best suited for children 7 and up. There is a fee to participate and registration is required.Wings of Fancy - Surround yourself with hundreds of brilliant live butterflies from North America, Costa Rica, Africa and Asia soaring among colorful flowers and going about their business of drinking nectar and looking for others of their kind. You will learn about the butterflies' amazing metamorphosis, the important role they play in healthy ecosystems, and how to ensure these beautiful insects thrive in your own garden. Wings of Fancy runs daily from 10am-4pm. Visit Brookside Gardens for additional opportunities to explore the beautiful butterflies through birthday parties, photography and art classes, school groups visits, and after-hours fun. Move More Montgomery - Join Parks staff at the Move More Montgomery Festival, Saturday, May 6, 2017 from 12pm-4pm. The field-day type festival is a part of the Move More Montgomery 100 Miler Challenge. It will feature a community walk, sport and fitness demonstrations, active performances and mini-classes, interactive wellness booths and the Fido Fitness Arena. Take a chance and challenge yourself to climb Montgomery Parks 30 foot climbing wall!Greenfest 2017 - Celebrate the end of Earth Month with Montgomery Parks at the 3rd Annual Greenfest, Saturday, May 6, 2017 from 11am-4pm. Greenfest will be held at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg this year. The free event focuses on making sure kids have fun while learning about the role they play in protecting our environment and offers ways for residents and businesses to actively help make the County a greener, cleaner place. Come out and learn how to be a better green! |
Work on the Capital Crescent Trail Several projects are scheduled to begin on the Capital Crescent Trail. Trail users should use caution around work areas and watch for partial trail closures as park staff works to improve trail use: Montgomery Parks staff will begin a reforestation project in several areas between Massachusetts Avenue and River Road to improve water quality and habitat in the Little Falls Branch Stream Valley. The project will require the removal of several unsanctioned natural surface trails but will also improve access to the Milton/Loughborough Mill with a natural surface trail connector to the historic site.Look for new traffic pattern at trail crossing and Little Falls Parkway. Traffic devices recently installed to improve safety at the intersection of Little Falls Parkway and the Capital Crescent Trail. Visit the following web page for more detailed information.Bike Share Station Installation - MCDOT will be installing a Bike Share Station at the trail intersection on Hillandale Road. Traffic and trail access may be interrupted as equipment is installed. |
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 held a community meeting to present plans to renovate Edith Throckmorton Neighborhood Park in Kensington. The intent of the project is to renew the playground and picnic area. The 1/5-acre park is located within a residential neighborhood at 3925 Hampden Street. Click here for more information on the project and for updates. Updates and findings to the working draft of the 2017 PROS Plan were presented to the Planning Board. The discussion summarized the recent trends to improve the plan, which is a part of the "Parks and Recreation of the Future" campaign. You can leave your thoughts and comments on our interactive maps or take the "Parks and Recreation of the Future" survey and help us make our parks better! Montgomery Parks staff is inviting the public to a community meeting on the Kensington Historic Buildings, on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. The meeting will be at the Kensington Town Hall, 3710 Mitchell Street, which will start at 7pm. Parks staff will be presenting information on the following projects in the area: Kensington Cabin Rehabilitation ProjectWarner Rehabilitation and Reading Garden ProjectNoyes Library Expansion ProjectAll attendees will hear the annual updates to each project. They will also have a chance to provide staff with ideas to activate the buildings and park spaces. Learn more about the Montgomery Parks Cultural Resources by clicking here. |
Accessibility Improvements Continue Accessibility Improvement work is scheduled to begin at Stratton Local Park, Fleming Local Park, Clear Spring Local Park and Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreational Park this winter. For more information on these and other accessibility projects, please visit: Accessibility Information for Montgomery Parks web page. |
Park Projects The Layhill Phoenix, a sculpture of a wooden totem pole located in Wheaton Regional Park, will be removed for restoration and preservation. The totem pole will be removed in the Spring of 2017. A new location in the park to re-install the sculpture is under study along with other park improvement projects. Stratton Local Park is scheduled to be closed starting April 2017. 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. Click here for more information on the project. Western Grove Urban Park is closed for renovations. Formerly the Chevy Chase Open Space Urban Park, the 1.9 acre project, in partnership with the Chevy Chase Village, will enhance park amenities including improved accessible walkways, lighting, a paved seating area, natural play area, green space, fencing, and a water feature when completed. Click here for additional information on the project. Kemp Mill Urban Park: The park remains 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 a list of alternative parks in the area. Playgrounds at John Haines Neighborhood Park, Camp Seneca Special Park, West Fairland Local Park and Wheaton-Claridge Local Park are closed as part of the Playground Renovation Program. All work is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2017. |
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's is addressing the issue here. |
Trail Work in Parks Bikers and Runners should use caution around work areas as improvements are taking place on several trails in Montgomery Parks: A section of the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail will be closed and inaccessible to the public this spring. The second phase of the renovation project between Franklin Street and the trail connector at Saul Road will begin in late April 2017. A half-mile detour using Franklin Street to Parkwood Drive will be in place when work begins. The detour will reconnect to the trail at the Saul Road trail connector. Click here for more information.The bridge at Seneca Stream Valley Trail in the Quince Orchard Valley Neighborhood Park area will be under construction as new abutments and a prefabricated bridge is installed. A temporary bridge will be built for trail usage. Please use caution around work area. 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. Sligo Creek Stream Valley Trail: Work is near completion to repair the culvert and stream stabilization on the Sligo Creek Parkway Trail, just south of University Boulevard. Part of the project required the removal of chain link fence on park property. The trail will remain open with minimal interruption during work, but construction vehicles are designated to access through Wheaton Lane.Wheaton Regional Park: Trail work is almost complete around Pine Lake trails, improving access and storm water management. Work required the southern gate to Brookside Gardens to be closed until a new gate is installed. Watch for detours posted around designated areas as work is scheduled to continue through the spring. For more information on Montgomery Parks Trails, please visit www.MontgomeryTrails.org. |
Carroll Ave Bridge Over Sligo Creek Parkway Remains Closed Major rehabilitation of the MD 195 (Carroll Avenue) Bridge over Sligo Creek and Sligo Creek Parkway is still in process. The bridge will be closed and traffic detoured during the duration of the one-year project. Work may intermittently close Sligo Creek Parkway. Use caution around work areas and continue to share roadways. For more updates... |
The 2017 Summer Camp Guide! Want a warmer thought? Start thinking about summer now! Get ready for our amazing Summer Camps and Programs guide now available. Check out MontgomeryParks.org to see the scheduled summer camps, programs, activities, and offerings throughout Montgomery Parks. |
The 2017 Spring Program GUIDE Is Here and 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 Weed Warrior Workdays, many parks in MoCo - Click Here!Nature Center Opportunities, including upcoming Special Events and Summer Camp Volunteer - Click Here!Butterfly Show Volunteers, training in June, Wheaton - Click Here!Trail Workdays - Click Here! Gardening at Nature Centers, Brookside Gardens, etc. - Click Here! Summer Camp Counselors, Boyds/Bethesda/Wheaton/Rockville - Click Here! |
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