Pedestrians, equestrians, and cyclists share trails at Wheaton Regional and other parks
As we head into the Labor Day holiday weekend, Montgomery Parks is reminding trail users about the importance of trail etiquette. The guidance comes as parks staff have made significant improvements to natural surface trails in Wheaton Regional Park, in compliance with the recently adopted Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan.
Over the weekend, the Montgomery County Community Cat Coalition (MC C³) announced via social media that 33 Himalayan cats/kittens have been found in two Montgomery County parks. All 33 are currently in foster care with a trapper out for another cat that has been spotted.
According to MC C³, Himalayan cats and kittens have been found in the Wheaton area, most of them near the Sligo Creek Trail or in Wheaton Regional Park. Some have also been found in nearby neighborhoods. Citizens are engaged in an active effort to search for these cats and kittens and report sightings. Initially, over 20 of these cats were found and trapped and a later updated stated that 33 were found. Currently, there is no word on who released the cats in the area or why, with efforts concentrated on ensuring their safety.
Montgomery Parks completes lighting project in the Dalecarlia Tunnel portion of the Capital Crescent Trail
Montgomery Parks says pedestrians and cyclists can expect smooth sailing on the Capital Crescent Trail, now that the installation of new lighting inside the Dalecarlia Tunnel is complete and all lanes of the trail have reopened.
Per Montgomery County: The competition for court space between tennis players and players of pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., will be the topic starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8, in the next event in the Montgomery Parks’ Virtual Speaker Series. The online discussion, which is free to join and open to all, will feature a panel of experts discuss the challenges of meeting the rapidly growing demand for pickleball in local park systems, comparing the situation in Montgomery County with other areas of the country.
Registration to join the discussion is available at Register. What a pickle! Balancing pickleball and tennis in parks. A Zoom link will be sent to registrants the day before the session.
Per Montgomery Parks: It’s almost autumn and school’s back in session but there’s always fun to be had at Montgomery Parks. It’s the last chance to enjoy water amenities for the year. Take your favorite pup to Yappy Hour, come out to play at Never Grow Up, catch a concert or lecture. That’s just a sampling of the offerings this month.
September events in Montgomery Parks include:
On August 21, 2023, Montgomery Parks will begin renovating the lighting in the Capital Crescent Trail, Dalecarlia Tunnel, with six ceiling-mounted lights to make the tunnel brighter, safer, and more reliable for commuters, recreational cyclists, and pedestrians.
This work will require narrowing the tunnel down to one lane during the construction day so users should expect slowdowns and stoppages during the work period. Equipment will be removed from the tunnel at the end of the day. Signage will be posted during project workdays. Park Police will be present to assist commuters at both ends of the tunnel during work times.
Per Montgomery County: August starts giving hints that the end of summer could be in sight, so the nature centers of Montgomery Parks are offering many ways to make the most of the month. The schedule includes a class on how to make citronella candles that can ward off mosquitoes and a walk through the wildflowers of the Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda.
The August schedule of special events at nature centers will include:
Montgomery Parks‘ annual deer population management program will take place from September 2023 into March 2024, across 48 parks. Two new park locations are being added to the deer management efforts this year. Montgomery Parks will notify residents adjacent to newly added/adjusted park locations by mail, signage, and other electronic forms of communication such as email and social media posts. A complete schedule of program dates and locations is available online. This year, archery-managed hunts are being added to the following park locations:
In addition to these expansions, one deer population management park location (3 park units) will also see an adjustment to the strategy. North Germantown Greenway Stream Valley Park (Brink Rd. & Wildcat Rd. southeast)/Great Seneca Stream Valley Park Unit 2/Blunt Rd. Local Park will transition from firearms-managed hunting to archery-managed hunting. Initiated 27 years ago, the program addresses deer populations in many areas of the county that result in deer-automobile accidents, excessive damage to the environment, private landscapes, and agriculture and concerns over disease. Once programming is implemented and established in these areas, routine maintenance is required to balance deer with available habitat and human land uses.
Montgomery Parks is encouraging dog owners to show their pets and the public some love this August, by keeping their dogs leashed at all times in public, unless visiting a dog park where dogs are permitted to be off leash. National Dog Month and the dog days of August are the perfect time for a stroll in the park, but it’s critical that dogs be on-leash for their own safety and everyone else’s.
“We have had reports in area parks about off-leash dogs fighting, chasing people, injuring wildlife, getting lost or being hit by cars traveling on nearby roads,” said Captain Tracy Lieberman, Park Police public information officer. “Even the best-behaved dog can get scared and act aggressively or take off running. Holding the leash keeps the pet owner in control of the situation.”
Montgomery Parks is seeking public input on its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2025 – 2030 (FY25-30). Community suggestions for the upcoming CIP may be submitted online, via email, U.S. mail, or in person at the public forum. The public forum takes place Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the Wheaton Headquarters of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), 2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902.
The CIP is prepared every two years to cover a six-year cycle and funds new parks and park amenities, environmental restoration, and rehabilitation projects that increase the life of assets. FY25-30 Capital Improvement Program priorities may include:
Per Montgomery Parks: Montgomery Parks is ending the current season of Parks Playhouse on a high note with a week of events in August, culminating with a concert by The Nighthawks on Friday, August 18, at Cabin John Regional Park.
“It’s been a great season filled with over 30 performances this summer between Parks Playhouse and Parks Playhouse Junior,” says Michael Coppersmith, director of Montgomery Parks Activation Program. “We are excited to close out the summer season with The Nighthawks before heading into fall.”