| Attend or watch the Montgomery County Planning Board Thursday, July 14. View the full agenda for that meeting here. |
Planning Department Announces Calendar of July 2016 Events
The Montgomery County Planning Department is pleased to announce its July 2016 calendar of community meetings, work sessions 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.
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NEW: Countywide Park Trails Plan Amendment, Planning Board Worksession #2 - Thursday, July 14
The Countywide Park Trails Plan Amendment is almost complete! Check out what's in store for the future of trails in Montgomery Parks as the Planning Board continues their final review. This item is currently scheduled for the morning session, please check for a more precise time on the Planning Board agenda closer to the meeting.
The amendment proposes a new plan framework based on a new "Loops and Links" system, and also updates methods and tools for park trail planning and analysis. Learn more about the proposed plan amendments at ParkPlanning.org.
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Help Us Predict Tomorrow's Parks Today!
Tell us what's #trending in parks! We need your help with the 2017 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan Update to predict future needs and determine how to put the right parks in the right places and steward our natural and cultural resources. Park Staff will give a Presentation to the Planning Board on Thursday, July 28. Click here for more information. |
Community Meeting On Park Activity Building Lease Renewal
Montgomery Parks will host a community meeting to discuss the current lease renewal for the Lynnbrook Local Park Activity Building. The public is invited to come out and comment on the current use of the Lynbrook Park Activity Building. Click here for further information. |
New Giant Chess Game at Germantown Town Center Urban Park
Checkmate! Play giant (we're talking life-sized!) chess set at Germantown Town Center Urban Park and enjoy fun, sun and new friendships to boot. Capture your opponent's king while having fun playing a popular and challenging game all while exploring the outdoors. The giant chess set is available to sign out at the Germantown Library. Game on!
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County Council Approves FY17 Work Program for Planning Department
The Montgomery County Planning Department has secured the County Council's approval to proceed with an ambitious work program for fiscal year 2017 (FY17), starting July 1, 2016.
The Montgomery County Council approved the Department's $19.5 million budget for FY17 at its meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2016. These funds support the work program for 148 employees. View the full list here. |
Submissions to 2016 Design Excellence Award Competition Due on July 21
The Montgomery County Planning Department seeks to recognize exceptional work in architecture, landscape architecture and urban design in Montgomery County through its annual Design Excellence Award competition. Developers, property owners and their design teams are invited to submit built projects that contribute to improving the quality of physical environments throughout the County.
This call for entries marks the second year of the Design Excellence Award competition. Last year's award winner, the Silver Spring Civic Building, and four jury citations received recognition throughout 2015 and 2016 with photos and descriptions of the projects displayed at various venues, including a new display in the County Council chamber. One of the design architects of the winning Silver Spring Civic Building, Boston-based Rodolfo Machado, was invited by the Planning Department to speak about his work at a public presentation in May 2016. Learn more here.
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Planning Department Congratulates Montgomery County Winners of 2016 Commuter Connections Employer Recognition Awards
The Montgomery County Planning Department is pleased to announce that the Toole Design Group of Silver Spring, MD and United Educators of Bethesda, MD have won 2016 Commuter Connections Employer Recognition Awards from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
The two Montgomery County organizations were honored on Monday, June 27, 2016 at an awards ceremony at the Marriott Washington at Metro Center hotel in downtown Washington, DC. Three other groups from the region were also honored at the event. Applicants were evaluated by a selection committee of transportation officials and winners were chosen for their ability to offer measurable commuter benefits and reduction of fuel consumption and emissions. Learn more here. |
Public Input Invited on Updates to Park Rules and Regulations
Montgomery Parks invites the public to provide input on proposed revisions to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's Park Rules and Regulations. More information is available here.
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Woodlawn Visitor Center Now Open
Make plans to visit and explore the county's newest historical exhibit that echoes the past and tells the story of a bustling farm, its community, and those who made a bold bid for freedom on the Underground Railroad. The Woodlawn Visitor Center, is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm through November. The trail and grounds are open year-round, sunrise to sunset. Click here for more info. |
UPDATE: Community Meeting to Review Southern Entrance Closure
Montgomery Parks hosted a Community Meeting to review a plan to permanently close the southern entrance to Olney Manor Recreational Park on Wednesday, June 22. The public was invited to attend the meeting to hear the current park plan and comment. The presentation and a summary is available for public viewing here.
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UPDATE: Olney Manor Recreational Park South Entrance Closure Postponed
The plan to permanently gate and close public vehicle access through the south entrance at Batchellors Forest Road into Olney Manor Recreational Park has been postponed until a community meeting is held to allow the review and public comment on the plan. Click here for additional information. |
UPDATE: Community Meeting Scheduled to Review Renovation Plan for Dewey Local Park
Montgomery Parks hosted a Community Meeting to review the renovation plans for a new playground for Dewey Local Park. Park staff also sought input on ideas of the renovation and reuse of the existing hard surface courts. For more info, click here. |
Western Grove Urban Park Scheduled to Be Closed
Western Grove Urban Park, formerly the Chevy Chase Open Space Urban Park is scheduled to be closed for renovations starting in June 2016. 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. |
We're getting a face-lift!
The Meadowside Nature Center - Raptor Walkway Exhibit renovations to increase accessibility for all of our visitors are underway. Work will began in June and will require the exhibit to remain closed until construction is completed by the end of August. The Enrichment and Lunchtime Talks for the raptors will be on hiatus until the Walkway re-opens. For additional information on the work scheduled, click here. |
Ready for Some Summer Fun?
Don't miss out on summer camps, nature programs, aquatics, gardening, golf lessons, yoga and more with Montgomery Parks and Montgomery County Recreation! Registration for summer camps is open now.
Visit ActiveMONTGOMERY.org to learn more.
Don't forget to reserve community rooms, picnic shelters, park activity buildings, campsites, mooring sites, meeting rooms, social halls, train station party rooms, and more through while you are there! |
Wings of Fancy 10am-4pm daily
Brookside Gardens is happy to announce the return of its premier Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly and Caterpillar Exhibit. The seasonal display features hundreds of live butterflies from all over the world. Families, students, nature lovers, and everyone in between can get an up close experience of these brilliant butterflies from North America, Costa Rica, Africa and Asia as they soar among colorful flowers. Visitors can learn about their amazing metamorphosis, the important role butterflies play in having healthy ecosystems, and how to ensure these beautiful insects thrive in our own gardens.
For more info, click here. |
Emerald Ash Borer in Montgomery Parks
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 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, Meadowside Nature Center - Raptor Walkway Exhibit, 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. |
Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan Update
Attention Wheaton Regional Park fans! Montgomery Parks is in the process of updating the Master Plan for this park. Be sure to tell us what you think! Public input is encouraged throughout the planning process.
Learn More. |
| Park Projects: Road work will be closing the section of West Old Baltimore Road, between Black Hill Regional Park entrance and Clarksburg Road on or around June 28, for approximately 6-8 weeks. Detours to enter Black Hill Regional Park will direct vehicles to enter using Frederick Road (Route 355) & W. Old Baltimore Road. Follow all state and local traffic laws at all times. For more info, please contact MC- DPS.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 intermittently close Sligo Creek Parkway daily. Traffic will be detoured and encouraged to seek alternate routes. Use caution around work areas and continue to share roadways. For more info.Tennis Courts at Calverton-Galway Local Park, Randolph Hills Local Park and Battery Lane Urban Park are scheduled to be closed as part of the Outdoor Tennis Court Renovation Program. Courts will not be accessible to public during renovations. All work is expected to be completed by early June. Please click here for a list of other parks with tennis courts available for use near you.Quince Orchard Valley Neighborhood Park: WWSSC work as part of the WSSC Sewer Repair, Replacement and Rehabilitation Program is scheduled to begin. Work will also include the removal of the tennis court and hard surface path to allow reforestation. Click here for more information.. Falls Road Local Park: Trail improvements 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. 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 a list of alternative parks in the area. 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: Playgrounds at John Haines Neighborhood Park, Plumgar Local Park, and Timberlawn Local Park are closed as part of the Playground Renovation Program. All work is scheduled to be complete by spring 2016. Click here for more information. |
| Trail Work in Parks Bikers and Runners should use caution as improvements are taking place on several trails in Montgomery Parks: NEW: Work to improve Sligo Creek SVU#3 Trail at Forest Glen Road will is underway. The project will include intersection modifications, trail improvements and storm water management. The trail will remain open during project.Trail work, south of Wheaton Regional Park to replace a bridge connecting the Northwest Branch Trail to the Rachel Carson Greenway Trail is in progress. Trail users should exercise caution around work zone. NOTICE: Parklawn Local Park - Trail improvements to the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail are at Veirs Mill Road connector onto trail continue through the summer. 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. 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. 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. |
Summer Festivals & Events in Montgomery Parks
Enjoy festivals and events in Montgomery Parks! Come enjoy open houses at our many facilities, special skates at our ice rinks, urban park 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. |
Montgomery Parks Volunteer Opportunities Butterfly Show at Brookside Gardens - Click Here!Summer Nature Camp Counselors - Click Here!Gardening and Outdoor Opportunities - Click Here!Weed Warrior Events - Click Here!Trail Workdays - Click Here!
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