Montgomery Parks Playing it Forward Through Partnership With ‘Leveling the Playing Field’

Montgomery Parks is partnering with local nonprofit Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) to collect new and gently used sports equipment. The donations are distributed to schools and organizations that provide them to under-resourced youth groups, community programs, and schools in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and the District of Columbia. Equipment can be dropped off at bins located at three Montgomery Parks locations: Olney Manor Recreational Park (near the softball field, next to the indoor swim center), Ridge Road Recreational Park(near the accessible parking spots and baseball field), and Wheaton Regional Park­ – Orebaugh Area (near Wheaton Indoor Tennis).

 “Our parks play a critical role for youth sports, and we are pleased to be able to provide convenient and central locations where people can donate this much-needed equipment,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “Getting kids outside and engaging them in physical activity is a key part of our mission, so this is a great program and a natural partnership for Montgomery Parks.” 

“We are so excited to partner with Montgomery Parks to not only keep sports equipment out of the landfill, but also to put it into the hands of a kid looking to get off of the sidelines,” said Max Levitt, founder and executive director of Leveling the Playing Field. “The bins we have placed at parks throughout the county will significantly increase the amount of gear coming into our warehouse and will allow us to make a much deeper impact on our local community and the planet.”

LPF accepts gently used equipment for:

• baseball/softball
• basketball
• field hockey
• football
• golf
• hockey
• lacrosse
• racquet sports
• soccer
• volleyball
• and miscellaneous fitness and playground sports.

LPF does not accept the following items:

• bicycle helmets
• bicycle/skateboard elbow/knee pads
• clothing (except full sets of uniforms)
• croquet sets
• fishing gear
• football helmets (must be certified or capable or recertification)
• hats
• partial sets of uniforms
• ping pong equipment
• protective cups/jock straps
• racquetball equipment
• running/athletic shoes (cleats only)
• scooters
• trophies

Montgomery Parks encourages the public to drop off donations at the three parks. Visit Leveling the Playing Field for a detailed list of items that can be donated. Tax-deductible receipts are available upon request.

About Leveling the Playing Field

Leveling the Playing Field was founded in 2013 in response to the growing inequity between those who can afford to play sports and those who cannot, and the prominent role the cost of sporting goods was playing in that gap.

After working in youth sports, college athletics and professional football, our founder, Max Levitt, realized the volume of equipment that goes to waste from elementary school aged kids all the way up to our professional sports franchises. In response, he decided to develop a “food bank” for sports equipment.