Montgomery Parks

Montgomery Parks is seeking ideas and suggestions on features that will make new skate parks attractive to skateboarders and other users of all ages and abilities. Long-term plans call for the construction of five new skate parks, in addition to the three already in operation. Take the “Build Your Dream Skate Park!” survey in the link.

“We want to make Montgomery Parks a skateboarding destination in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region while providing quality neighborhood amenities for local skaters,” said Christie Ciabotti, project manager for the skate park study. “Input from skate park users–including survey data–will help us build the best skate parks possible.”

 Montgomery Parks and the Montgomery Parks Foundation are making summer camp dreams come true for 34 local children and teens by awarding them the Marye Wells-Harley Dream Camp scholarship. The scholarship is funded by donations and provides one week of camp tuition to young people ages 3-18 whose families need financial assistance. The 34 scholarships awarded this summer represent the largest number granted since the program started in 2018. 

“This record number of awardees means that we are getting the word out to the people that need the services,” said former Planning Board member Marye Wells-Harley. “Summer camp is an opportunity for children to explore, learn, meet new people, and have fun in a safe and secure environment. And it also gives mom and dad a little break during summertime.” The scholarship fund was created to honor Marye Wells-Harley’s commitment to young people and parks and recreation. She is a former member of the Montgomery County Planning Board and a retired director of the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Per Montgomery County: The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) an $18.5 million RAISE grant to fund the rehabilitation of multi-use paths to fill gaps in the Capital Trails Network. The Capital Trails Network is a plan developed by local jurisdictions, the National Park Service and trail advocacy organizations, to connect 990 miles of trail between Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Two Montgomery County trails will be among the five that will benefit from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) money. Those are the Northwest Branch Trail and the Sligo Creek Trail.

The funds will be used in Montgomery to:

Visit the Summer 2023 Montgomery Parks Program Guide. Go to Montgomery Parks event calendar for a complete list of special events and programming and to learn how to sign up using ActiveMontgomery

Montgomery Parks Program Access Office has received a Community Inclusion Award from the ARC of Montgomery County, in recognition of its commitment to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The ARC is the largest organization in the world for people with IDD and their families. Each year the Montgomery County chapter holds a Community, Volunteer and Employee Awards Ceremony to honor those who show a strong commitment to connecting people of all ages and abilities with their communities.

“It is an honor to be recognized for our efforts to support people of all abilities in building active and fulfilling lives,” said Montgomery Parks Director Mike Riley. “Our Program Access Office is a dedicated team of inclusion specialists working hard to make parks and programs easily accessible for everyone.” Montgomery Parks’ Program Access office ensures that individuals with disabilities are welcomed to participate in enjoyable leisure-time activities in accessible places and programs. They accomplish this by offering enhanced staff-to-participant ratio at programs, providing inclusion and disability training for staff, providing adaptive equipment at various park locations, and working with event planners to ensure events are accessible to the public.