Montgomery Parks is hosting a special event in celebration of Disability Pride Month, marking the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The event, titled “Disability Pride Outside,” offers a morning filled with various outdoor activities that are both accessible and adapted for individuals with disabilities. This family-friendly event is set to take place on Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Black Hill Regional Park’s Discovery Center, located at 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Clarksburg, MD. All activities are free of charge, although advance registration is required.
Jennene Blakely, the program access manager for Montgomery Parks, emphasized the importance of providing accessible activities in parks and programs year-round. She noted that “Disability Pride Outside” serves as an opportunity to highlight these inclusive programs for both new and returning visitors while celebrating the progress made in the disability rights movement over the past 35 years.
The event schedule is packed with a variety of activities. It kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with welcoming remarks. From 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., attendees can participate in general admission activities such as a nature scavenger hunt, mud kitchen, birding, an adaptive mountain biking demo, self-guided hiking, picnicking, and Black Hill boats rentals. Ticketed events, which require choosing a specific time slot, include two sessions of kayaking from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and noon to 1:00 p.m., two sessions of pontoon boat rides from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and five sessions of fishing throughout the event duration.
General admission tickets are available to everyone but must be secured in advance. Ticketed events are specifically open to individuals with disabilities and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
To ensure accessibility, several accommodations have been arranged, including a wheelchair-accessible shuttle cart, accessible parking and restrooms, American Sign Language interpretation, sensory retreat tents, amplified sound, and support staff and volunteers. Additional accommodations can be requested by contacting [email protected] or calling 301-495-2581.
The event is presented in collaboration with the Montgomery County Commission on People with Disabilities, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of General Services Office of Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance. Support from the Black Hill Nature Center and Catalyst Sports also contributes to the success of this program.