Planning Department and Planning Board Announce their Calendar of January 2018 Events
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Montgomery Planning Hosts Listening Session for Community to Offer Ideas About a New State Development Plan on January 8
The purpose of the session is for state officials to hear from county residents about how best to update Maryland's overall development plan, called A Better Maryland, that is being created by the Maryland Department of Planning. This plan will establish update Maryland's goals and objectives for growing responsibly, protecting our resources, supporting existing communities and creating quality places.
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Preliminary Recommendations for Veirs Mill Corridor Master Plan Will Be Presented to Planning Board on January 11
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Deadline for Proposals Extended for 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 January 12, 2018.
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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 community is invited to sign up to testify on the Bicycle Master Plan at the Public Hearing on January 25 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Sign up to testify online beginning on January 15.
The public is also invited to submit comments about the Bicycle Master Plan via email to [email protected]. These comments will become part of the public testimony and public record for the Plan. |
Planning Board Schedules February 1 Public Hearing for MARC Rail Communities Plan
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Montgomery Planning Announces its Top 10 Plans and Projects of 2017
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Montgomery Planning's Top Five Blog Posts of 2017 Discuss Hot Topics
 The Montgomery County Planning Department features a blog on its website called The Third Place. The title of the blog refers to the social realm separate from home and the workplace where dialogue crucial for community building can occur.
"We refreshed our blog to become The Third Place and spark more conversation by giving the community a fresh view of the latest planning trends and issues we are facing in the county," says Planning Director Gwen Wright.
The online forum allows staff to inform the public about recent research and projects undertaken and discussed at the Planning Department.
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New Developments Approved in 2017 Meet Master Plan Goals
 The Montgomery County Planning Department approved major mixed-use developments in the county as part of its regulatory review process in 2017. These 10 development applications include plans for large projects in downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring.
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 Start 2018 with a healthy challenge for you, your family and your dog. Move More Montgomery is encouraging you to walk, jog, run a mile a day for 100 days. Log 100 miles in 100 days! You can also participate in 20 minutes of continuous physical activity (bike, swim, yoga, aerobics, ski, weightlifting etc.) it all counts as one mile! Get creative and have fun while making a lifestyle change! The 100 Mile Challenge starts January 24, 2018 and runs thru May 4, 2018. |
 Master Naturalist Spring 2018 Training
Help support the conservation of natural resources and assist in the park stewardship. Become a Certified Master Naturalists and help educate the community on the importance of protecting our environment, identify native plants and species, conduct field research, and lead educational programs. Certification classes start this winter.
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 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. |
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! - Power of Parks- Montgomery Parks Speaker Series- Montgomery Parks is hosting a six-session, monthly speaker series on the power of parks in Montgomery County. The series kicks off on January 17 featuring guest speaker Peter Harnik, the founder of the Center for City Park Excellence at The Trust for Public Land. Plan to attend and hear more about the role of parks in urban areas and examples of park creations and solutions from around the country. The free series is open to the public and will feature subject matter experts on a variety of topics pertaining to parks, activation and programming, urban planning, unique designs and safety in urban parks.
- 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: -
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- 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 |
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: -
Montgomery Parks Staff is seeking public f  eedback on the preliminary recommendations on a new Natural Surface Trail Plan in the Upper Paint Branch Limited Area Trail Plan. Your input will help us make this the best plan possible for the Paint Branch area. - 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.
- Work to repair boardwalk and bridge on the Matthew Henson Trail is in progress. The work area is 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.
- 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.
- Share the Trail - A section of the Cabin John Tr
 ail 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. -
WSSC work to improve stormwater management and sediment control near the Northwest Branch Trail SVU#3 area is in progress. 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! |
 Our popular summer camps are back and open for registration beginning on January 16. Find out more about our Outdoor Adventure Camp, Golf & So Much More, Week in the Park, Wee Little Naturalists, Into the Woods, and so much more on our Camps and Classes website. You may also find the perfect camp for your kids at Montgomery Parks' Summer Camp Expos! Montgomery Parks offers more than 100 camps geared towards a wide variety of interests to summer campers of all ages. Many camps even offer before/after care, and camps run throughout the entire summer! Summer Camp Expo will be held March 10-11; |
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