Montgomery Parks

Montgomery Parks to Host a Virtual Meeting for the Future Bethesda Market Park

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks will hold an online meeting on June 14, 2023, from 7:00- 8:30 p.m. to unveil a recommended plan for the future Bethesda Market Park. This will be the third public meeting about the Bethesda Market Park project. In March, Parks staff held two in-person meetings to gather input from community members about what amenities they would like to see in the park.  The public was also encouraged to submit ideas through an online survey.

Parks staff incorporated the ideas from the meetings and the survey in the proposed plan. “We received a lot of great suggestions via our engagement efforts, everything from a stage to a dog park, swings, game area and open spaces,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “Community input is such an important part of the process because it helps us design better parks with amenities and features that serve a wide range of interests.”

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Montgomery Parks Asked Fourth Graders to Help Design the Future Bethesda Market Park

By MCS Staff

Bethesda Elementary School students try their hands at becoming park designers: Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is in the planning phase for a future park in Bethesda, the Bethesda Market Park, and is turning to the next generation for ideas. The department challenged students at Bethesda Elementary School to draw the park of their dreams and a handful of fourth-graders jumped at the chance. “We wanted to find out what the community wanted in this new park, so we asked a group of experts – local fourth graders,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “This new park is a very big deal – it’s not every day we can create a brand-new park in a busy downtown location like Bethesda. We are thrilled that students want to be part of the brainstorming.”

 The future designers came up with a lot of ideas ranging from exciting features like trampolines, zip lines, and obstacle courses to natural features like a place to watch birds, tree-lined walkways, rock walls, and flower beds. And lest we forget the cat statue mister. See the kids’ drawings on Montgomery Parks Flickr page. “Fourth graders were thrilled to have the opportunity to share their ideas for the new Bethesda Market Park. They eagerly put their creativity to work and collaborated to sketch some wonderful designs. A big thank you to the Montgomery Parks Department for letting us be a part of this exciting new addition to downtown Bethesda!”

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Montgomery Parks Presents the ‘History of Play’

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is offering a special program on the History of Play at the Josiah Henson Museum and Park on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 12 – 4 p.m. The program is free with paid admission to the museum.

The event will explore how children always find ways to play and how games are formative in all children’s lives, even children who live in extremely difficult and dire circumstances. Stations with different games that have historic associations with Native American and enslaved children and children of the Holocaust will be on the museum grounds for children to play. Volunteers will help children learn the games and information will be provided on the role of the game in the group’s history.

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Montgomery Parks Wins a 2023 Communicator Award of Excellence

By MCS Staff

The department also snagged three Awards of Distinction in the international competition that honors excellence in communications. Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), won four Communicator Awards for creative excellence in digital, video, design, and print communications. The 29th Annual Communicator Awards received around 3,000 entries and is considered the largest and most competitive international awards program honoring communications professionals.

Montgomery Parks received an Award of Excellence, the competition’s highest honor, for the Department’s work educating, informing, and engaging audiences through social media. The department also received three Awards of Distinction for the countywide trail map, an e-newsletter and HR recruitment videos. Other winners include Bank of America, PBS, AARP, Groove Jones, George Mason University and Pepsico.

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Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Park Community Meeting

By MCS Staff

Residents can comment online or in-person about the future of the popular Silver Spring destination: Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is holding a hybrid community meeting about the planned renovation of Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Local Park.

What:        Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Community Meeting When:       Tuesday, May 16, 2023

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Pit Stop in Downtown Wheaton on Bike to Work Day To Offer Refreshments and Giveaways

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks is hosting a pit stop for people pedaling to work on national Bike To Work Day. “Bike riders encouraged to stop by for refreshments and giveaways on  Friday, May 19, 2023.” The pit stop will take place between 7am-9am at Marian Fryer Town Plaza, located at 2424 Reedie Drive in Wheaton.

Per Montgomery Parks: Montgomery Parks is co-sponsoring the pit stop with the County Department of Transportation.  It willwelcome cyclists in a fun atmosphere with refreshments and giveaways. There are 14 Bike To Work pit stops scheduled in Montgomery County, and more than a hundred in the Washington metropolitan area. Bike To Work Day is a national effort to encourage people to commute to work on bikes instead of by car. The benefits of cycling include better physical health through exercise and improved mental health resulting from time spent outdoors.   Cycling can also help improve air quality by cutting down on harmful fossil fuel emissions.  Bike To Work Day organizers hope to raise awareness about the rules of the road for drivers, pedestrians,and cyclists. And highlight the need for fair access to low-stress roadways and connected trails for all to use safely.

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Montgomery Parks Seeks Input on Plans to Convert Tennis Courts to Six Pickleball Courts at East Norbeck Local Park

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is seeking public input about plans to convert two tennis courts to six dedicated pickleball courts at East Norbeck Local Park. The proposed project aims to expand pickleball opportunities in the county by creating a hub of multiple, dedicated courts for the increasingly popular sport. The public may submit their feedback on the plan at the online Open Town Hall through Friday, June 2, 2023. “Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation and here in Montgomery County. While Montgomery Parks has a strong inventory of shared pickleball and tennis courts, we need to increase the number of dedicated pickleball courts to accommodate the demand,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks.  

 Montgomery Parks currently has more than 75 shared pickleball/tennis courts and only eight dedicated pickleball courts. East Norbeck Local Park has been selected as a suitable location for a pickleball hub for multiple reasons including:

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Germantown Adventure Park Renovation Survey

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks soliciting input on the renovation of one of the area’s most popular playgrounds : After 20 years of use, South Germantown Adventure Playground is ready for an update. Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is seeking public input on its plan to replace the South Germantown Adventure Playground. “Our goal is to provide fun and inclusive play experiences for kids of all age groups,” said Ching-Fang Chen, the project manager and landscape architect with Montgomery Parks. “With the new playground we are working to create a well-rounded play environment that offers exciting and challenging activities, opportunities for nature play, sensory play and multi-generational play, a lively space where kids can interact and let their imaginations run free.”  

Montgomery Parks is seeking the community’s input on the upcoming renovation through an online Open Town Hall survey: Open Town Hall Forum- April 27-May 29, 2023 https://communityfeedback.opengov.com/12781 In addition to upgrading the play area, the renovation will add accessible walkways, picnic areas, seating, a game/workout area and improved landscaping and stormwater management to the park.  Construction is expected to begin in Spring of 2024.  

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The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Named a Finalist for 2023 National Gold Medal Awards for Park Excellence

By MCS Staff

The Gold Medal Awards program recognizes park departments throughout the country that prove excellence in serving their communities. Areas evaluated include long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development, and agency recognition. 

“We are honored to be a finalist for this prestigious award for our parks and recreation management,” said Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County Director Bill Tyler. “The Commission strives for excellence each and every day, and we are committed to continuing to provide outstanding parks and recreation services, programs, and events to residents and visitors.”

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Montgomery Parks May Special Events and Programs

By MCS Staff

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, announces its lineup of special events and programs in May for people of all ages. Events include the start of Acoustics and Ales and Salsa in the Park programs, guided hikes on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail, and Family Archaeology Day. May events in Montgomery Parks include: 

Kingsley Schoolhouse Tour | First Sunday of the month through October 2023 | 1 – 4 p.m.

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