Montgomery Parks announced that trails in and around Germantown have earned national recognition from International Mountain Bicycling Association, which designated Germantown as a 2026 IMBA Trail Town.
Montgomery Parks
As cherry blossom season begins, Montgomery Parks is encouraging residents to explore blooms closer to home using its online cherry tree map, which highlights locations across dozens of local parks, trails, and gardens throughout the county.
Montgomery Parks has announced the opening of a new skate park at Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park in Clarksburg, adding a major new recreational amenity in the northern part of Montgomery County.
Montgomery Parks announced that grass athletic fields across the county will open later than usual this spring due to persistently wet winter conditions. The department said it anticipates opening all grass fields on April 1, 2026.
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Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton is adjusting its schedule this spring and summer as Montgomery Parks completes several major improvements to the facility. Brookside Nature Center is managed separately from Brookside Gardens. Brookside Gardens’ hours are not affected by closings at the Nature Center.
Montgomery Parks and community members gathered Sunday to celebrate new interpretive signs honoring the history of Emory Grove, an African American community in Gaithersburg founded by formerly enslaved people in 1864. Nearly 100 residents and descendants of Emory Grove attended the March 1, 2026 gathering at Johnson’s Local Park, where the new signs were unveiled. The bilingual signs, presented in English and Spanish, highlight the stories of the people who built the community and describe daily life, religious gatherings, and the generations who lived there. An audio post installed at the park also allows visitors to hear first-person accounts and reflections tied to Emory Grove’s history.
Montgomery Parks is expanding the hours for its popular Open Parkways program as daylight saving time begins this weekend, giving residents more opportunities to enjoy car-free roads for walking, biking, skating, and other outdoor activities.
Montgomery Parks is inviting the public to experience the beauty of North America’s waterfowl through a special art exhibit opening this week in Wheaton.
Montgomery Parks is unveiling new interpretive panels and a listening post at Johnson’s Local Park that spotlight the powerful and often untold history of the Emory Grove community in Gaithersburg.
Founded in 1864 by formerly enslaved African Americans, Emory Grove grew into a self-sustaining community rooted in faith, tradition, and resilience. For nearly a century, it thrived as a cultural and spiritual center for Black families in Montgomery County.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has announced the passing of Marye Wells-Harley, a transformational leader whose legacy shaped parks, recreation, and planning across the National Capital Region for generations.
One of Montgomery Parks’ most beloved seasonal traditions is set to return this spring. The Butterfly Experience will once again take flight at Brookside Gardens from Wednesday, April 1, through Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, with timed tickets now on sale.