Montgomery Parks Archives - Page 25 of 50

Montgomery Parks Director, Mike Riley, Announces Retirement after 38 Years of Service

Published October 9, 2023 at 10:51AM

The Director of Montgomery Parks, Mike Riley, has announced he will retire at the end of the year after completing 38 years of service with The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). Riley was hired in 1985 as a staff civil engineer charged with designing and building parks and subsequently served as Chief Engineer, Park Development Division Chief, Deputy Director of Administration, and Director of Parks since 2014.

“I truly believe I have held the best job in all of local government,” said Riley. “The Department of Parks attracts highly talented and dedicated staff who provide open space, recreational facilities, trails, and programs that make Montgomery County a great place to live, work, and play. All I have to do for job satisfaction is visit our parks and watch the many ways they are enjoyed by county residents.” During his career, Riley is most proud of his role in:

Tree Falls in Parking Lot By Playground in Cabin John Park; No Injuries

By MCS Staff

Published October 8, 2023 at 6:02PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to Cabin John Regional Park, 7400 Tuckerman Ln. near Westlake Drive, for a tree that fell and damaged some nearby (unoccupied) parked cars in the parking lot by playground around 5pm on Sunday evening.

According to a tweet by MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, “Cabin John Regional Park, 7400 Tuckerman Ln. near Westlake Drive, parking lot by playground, large tree down damaged some nearby parked cars (unoccupied), powerlines damaged/down, no injuries” Featured photo courtesy of Instagram user @jimson92

Halloween Special Events and Programs For All Ages in Montgomery Parks This October

By MCS Staff

Published October 6, 2023 at 4:34PM

Join Montgomery Parks for some not-too-scary Halloween fun this October! From Halloween Eye Spy miniature train rides to Frankenskate roller skate Halloween party, we’re pumpkin spicing things up for Howl-oween. Halloween-themed events in Montgomery Parks include:

Halloween Eye Spy Trains | Saturdays and Sundays during October, starting October 7 | 10 a.m.‒ 6 p.m.: Cabin John Miniature Train, 7410 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda &Wheaton Miniature Train and Ovid Hazen Wells Carousel, 2002 Shorefield Road, Wheaton. Tickets on sale now! Ride through “Trainsylvania” with your Eye Spy card to look for seasonal objects along the tracks during the ride. Purchase tickets for Cabin John train. Purchase tickets for Wheaton train. A small number of tickets will be available for purchase onsite, but ride times will not be guaranteed. $6.

Hybrid Meeting for Planned Skate Park in Clarksburg Takes Place October 14; Four Additional New Skate Parks Planned Across The County

By MCS Staff

Published October 5, 2023 at 4:10PM

New state-of-the-art skate park to be developed at Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park

Montgomery Parks is hosting an in-person and online community meeting to brainstorm design ideas for a new skate park to be built at Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park in Clarksburg. It will be the first of five skate parks built in Montgomery Parks in the coming years. At the meeting, Montgomery Parks planners, and representatives from the private skate park design firm Spohn Ranch will take ideas from the public about the design of the skate park. Spohn Ranch a California-based firm well-known in the skating community for its unique and contemporary skate park designs.

Garden of Lights Display at Brookside Gardens Returns; Tickets Go On Sale October 10th

By MCS Staff

Published October 3, 2023 at 9:55PM

The Garden of Lights display transforms Brookside Gardens into a magical winter wonderland. Stroll through the one-half mile, outdoor, walk-through exhibit and enjoy the twinkling lights and glimmering one-of-a-kind displays adorning the flowerbeds and grounds throughout the 50-acre horticultural gem in Wheaton. Hot chocolate and light snacks will be available for purchase.

Garden of Lights will open on November 17, 2023. The exhibit is open every night through December 31, 2023, except November 20-23 and December 24-25, 2023. Event information:

Montgomery Parks Announces October Nature Center Programs

By Patrick Herron

Published October 3, 2023 at 7:52PM

Per Montgomery Parks: Trick or treat yo’self this Halloween season at Montgomery Parks with many spooky activities as well as other programs celebrating autumn.

October nature center events include:

Man Shot at Wheaton Forest Park; Non-Life Threatening Injuries Sustained

By Patrick Herron

Published September 30, 2023 at 8:54PM

Detectives are on the scene of a shooting that occurred Saturday, September 30 in Wheaton. According to safety reporter Cordell Pugh, a male was shot in the leg around 7:20PM at Wheaton Forest Local Park. The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries and Montgomery County Police 4th District Officers applied a tourniquet prior to EMS arrival. Montgomery Parks Police in handling the investigation.

We will post an update if additional information becomes available. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

Local Artist To Begin Work to Transform 300-year-old historic Linden Oak to Public Art

By MCS Staff

Published September 29, 2023 at 3:15PM

Montgomery Parks’ 300-year-old historic linden oak tree was loved by many. The tree was taken down in July due to declining health, however, the wood salvaged from the tree will carry on its legacy as a park bench. Local chainsaw artist Colin Vale will begin carving the wood from the tree the first week of October. Once complete, the bench will be placed at Ken-Gar Palisades Local Park.

What: Linden Oak tree carving

Halloween Eye Spy Trains Return On Weekends in October

By MCS Staff

Published September 28, 2023 at 5:38PM

On Saturdays & Sundays in October (starting October 7) from 10am – 6pm, Cabin John Miniature Train and Wheaton Miniature Train will take a ride through “Trainslyvania.” Each rider is given an “Eye Spy” card with seasonal items to look for along the tracks during the ride. Great for families of all ages!

Visit ActiveMontgomery.org to purchase tickets and guarantee a seat for your ideal train date and time. Online registration closes the morning of the scheduled ride, so don’t wait, book your online reservation today! For tickets purchased online, any train canceled due to weather or mechanical issues will result in a full refund automatically credited to your method of payment.

29th Annual Harvest Festival Takes Place on Saturday, October 7 in Derwood

By Patrick Herron

Published September 27, 2023 at 2:02PM

Per Montgomery County: The 29th Annual Montgomery Parks Harvest Festival will be a day of fall activities and opportunities to meet farm animals up close. The festival will take place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Montgomery County Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood.

The park is located at 18400 Muncaster Road in Derwood. The charge for entry will be $20 per car.

11 Great Places in MoCo for Fall Foliage

By MCS Staff

Published September 26, 2023 at 8:31PM

Fall is here and the colors around us are about to change. Whether it’s the taste of a warm pumpkin-flavored latte, the cool breeze of a crisp fall morning, weekends full of football, or the yellow glow of the sun on a tall birch tree, autumn is often a contender for MoCo residents’ favorite season (however short it may be). Many locals are looking forward to combining all the best parts of fall and enjoying the foliage outdoors, so we’ve put together a small list of 11 where you can enjoy the foliage across the county:

Agricultural Reserve: A drive through the rural areas that the 93,000 acre Agricultural Reserve encompasses, along with the larger rural communities of Damascus and Poolesville and small crossroad communities such as Beallsville, Sunshine and Dickerson, are sure to give you your fill of fall foliage.