Attend or watch the Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday, February 22, 2018. View the full agenda.
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DC Planners Will Discuss Creative Placemaking as a Tool for Community Planning at Planning Board Event on February 22
The Montgomery County Planning Department is hosting the presentation titled "Crossing the Street: Building DC's Inclusive Future through Creative Placemaking" during the Planning Board meeting on Thursday, February 22, 2018 from 1 to 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend the event in the auditorium of the Department's headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD).
Speakers Sakina Khan and Joshua Silver of the DC Office of Planning will explain how they updated Washington, DC's comprehensive plan by using creative placemaking, the intentional use of arts and culture to engage diverse communities in shaping their physical, social and economic future.
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Community Invited to Discuss Transportation Issues at Forest Glen/Montgomery Hills Sector Plan Meeting on February 27
The Montgomery County Planning Department will hold a community meeting for the Forest Glen/Montgomery Hills Sector Plan on Tuesday, February 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Department's auditorium (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD). Residents, business owners and other stakeholders are invited to this event to learn more about the existing condition analysis for walking, cycling, and transit. RSVPs are encouraged but not required.
The community meeting will begin with a staff presentation about walking, biking, and transit opportunities along Georgia Avenue in the sector plan area. A question and answer session at the meeting will allow attendees to express concerns about these transportations issues and learn more about the plan and next steps in the process. The meeting will be streamed live at montgomeryplanning.org/forestglen and will be available on demand.
Read more and RSVP |
Third Session of Winter Speaker Series on February 28 Will Focus on Placemaking as a Tool of Economic Development
The Montgomery County Planning Department will hold the third and final session of its three-part Winter Speaker Series on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at its headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD). RSVPs are encouraged but not required.
The series, titled The Economic Future of the Suburbs: Infill, Commerce, Placemaking, focuses on the changes that are occurring in the suburbs as they adapt to market forces: infill housing added to neighborhoods of detached homes; office building conversions into residential units; digital technology's influence on retail and commerce; and placemaking as a strategy for economic development.
The third session will feature speaker Ethan Kent, Senior Vice President of the New York-based Project for Public Spaces. Kent's presentation will include the Power of 10, the elements of successful public spaces and why they attract investment, people and activity. He will explain the strategies of creating such places and their potential economic impact on the suburban and urban-style communities of Montgomery County.
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Community Invited to Attend a Listening Session About a New State Development Plan at Planning Department on March 12
The Montgomery County Planning Department is hosting the public event, A Better Maryland: Community Listening Session Agenda, on Monday, March 12, 2018. The session will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Department's headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD).
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 Maryland's goals and objectives for growing responsibly, protecting our resources, supporting existing communities and creating quality places.
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Community Invited to Presentation by Winners of the Planning Department's 2017 Design Excellence Awards on March 17 at the Silver Spring Library
The Montgomery County Planning Department is hosting a presentation by the winners of its third annual Design Excellence Awards at the Silver Spring Library (900 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring, MD) on Saturday, March 17 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. The talk, titled Two Inspiring Designs: A Park and a Healing Institution, is free and open to the public. RSVPs are encouraged but not required.
The most recent Design Excellence Awards, selected by an independent jury and announced in October 2017, honor both buildings and landscapes in Montgomery County that are currently in use and less than 10 years old. The top honors went to Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring and its new tower designed by the SmithGroupJJR of Washington, DC, and phase one of the day use area of Little Bennett Regional Park in Clarksburg, owned and managed by the Montgomery County Department of Parks.
At the March 17 event, project manager Ching-Feng Chen, a landscape architect with the Montgomery County Department of Parks, will explain the design of the Little Bennett Regional Park Day Use Area. Architect Brian Martin of SmithGroupJJR will discuss the design of the Holy Cross Hospital expansion.
Read more and RSVP |
Power of Parks- Montgomery Parks Speaker Series
Montgomery Parks' monthly speaker series on the power of parks continues February 21, with park visionary and innovator Guillermo (Gil) Penalosa, founder and chair of 8 80 cities. The non-profit organization was created centred on a simple but powerful philosophy; if you create a great city for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, you will create a successful city for all people.
Mr. Penalosa, who is also chair of World Urban Parks, has worked in over 200 different cities across six continents transforming spaces into healthy, vibrant and sustainable communities. His revolutionary ideas will change the way you think about public spaces and cities. To register for the free series, visit montgomeryparks.org/speakerseries. |
2018 Montgomery Parks Arbor Day Video Contest
Montgomery Parks is pleased to invite 3rd-5th grade students to participate in a video contest for a chance to host an Arbor Day Celebration at their school this April! In a short video, tell us how "Trees are Superheroes." Trees provide oxygen, wood and food. They filter pollutants from the air, provide shade and provide shelter to a variety of critters. That's why trees are super! Submissions will be posted to the Montgomery Parks' YouTube Channel and the winning video will be displayed on Montgomery Parks' social media channels and website. More information. |
| 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! Black History Month Celebrations- Special tours highlighting the stories, struggles and success of African Americans continue at Montgomery Parks' historic landmarks on February 17 at Josiah Henson Park and February 24 at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park. Maple Sugaring Days- February is Maple Sugaring Month at Brookside Nature Center. Every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday you'll have an opportunity to experience an American tradition: maple sugaring! Watch the whole maple sugaring process from start to finish, from seeing sap drip from trees to tasting the completed treat. Space is limited, so pre-registration is encouraged. Green Matters Symposium- Join us at the annual symposium sponsored by Brookside Gardens that concentrates attention on the intersection of horticulture and environmental issues. Register for the Friday, February 23 event and listen to a broad spectrum of actors from home gardeners to professionals in the horticulture and landscape architecture industries to learn how we can be proactive stewards of our own piece of the pie. |
| Park News and Community Meetings Residents are encouraged to participate in the development of the parks. Plan on attending a community meeting, visit our park project web page or leave a comment on our Open Town Hall web page. Montgomery Parks is currently welcoming public commentary on ideas to improve the Archery Range at Rock Creek Regional Park. Input can be submitted online at the Open Town Hall forum. |
| Accessibility Improvements Continue Accessibility Improvement work is scheduled at Black Hill Regional Park Boat House. Other access improvement projects include the Archery Range at Rock Creek Regional Park and the Archery Range at South Germantown Recreational Park. For more information on these and other accessibility projects, please visit: Accessibility Information for Montgomery Parks webpage. |
Playground Updates Playgrounds at South Gunner's Branch Local Park, John Haines Neighborhood Park, and Wheaton-Claridge Local Park are closed as part of the Playground Renovation Program. Work is scheduled is to continue through the Winter and early Spring 2018.
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| Park Projects Construction of the Capital Crescent Trail Plaza is underway. The eight-month project is in partnership with the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail and Montgomery Parks Foundation and will build a plaza on the west side of the Capital Crescent Trail, just north of River Road. The plaza will improve the trail connector from River Road with a stone sitting wall and a decorative pergola. Trail access may be interrupted as improvements to the trail connection continue.Fleming Local Park improvement project is starting this winter. Installation of light fixtures at the tennis court will require parts of the parking lot and path to the hard surface courts closed off to the public. Additional work will include installation of lights to the basketball court and improved access later. The pavilion and playground will remain open.Construction has started to remove and construct new restrooms in the athletic area in the Wheaton Regional Park, Athletic Complex. The work will impact access and traffic into the Orebaugh Avenue side of Wheaton Regional Park. Temporary restroom facilities will be available for park patrons as work continues through the 2018 summer season. Montgomery Parks recently completed a public commentary period for a project to improve access to the archery range at Rock Creek Regional Park. More information.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 near completion. The park has been closed as part of a major renovation project. The project is scheduled to be complete by the Spring 2018. Park users are encouraged to visit other parks in the area as park amenities will not be accessible to the public. More information on the project. Upcoming projects scheduled- Long Branch Trail, Stream Valley, Dewey Local Park and Caroline Freeland Urban Park. |
| 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. |
Trail Work in Parks
Bikers and Runners should use caution around work areas as improvements are taking place on several trails in Montgomery Parks: The bridge connecting Garland Avenue and Glenside Drive on the Long Branch Trail will be closed and inaccessible to the public this winter. Trail users should not enter the trail area as the existing bridge will be demolished and replaced. Trail users should seek alternate routes with the project continuing through early spring. Trail work is underway on the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail that may interrupt trail use 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 will include 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 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. 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. For more information on Montgomery Parks Trails, please visit www.MontgomeryTrails.org. |
| The Spring GUIDE is Here! Montgomery Parks is offering amazing programs, classes and events great for families, adults, or children, for the spring season. You can browse the eGuide from your computer or cell and register via Active Montgomery. |
Montgomery Parks Summer Camps!
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;Cabin John Ice Rink - Saturday, March 10, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.Wheaton Ice Arena - Sunday, March 11, 12:00-4:00 p.m.
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