Montgomery Parks Archives - Page 35 of 51

National Park Service Announces Peak Cherry Blossom Bloom Prediction

Published March 2, 2023 at 12:08PM

The National Park Service has predicted peak bloom for the DC area Cherry Blossoms to fall this year between March 22 – 25, the NPS announced on Monday. According to the NPS, “The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) blossoms are open. Peak bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions. The most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April. Extraordinary warm or cool temperatures have resulted in peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958).”

Here in MoCo, Montgomery Parks makes it easy to find and tour cherry blossoms in local parks with its online tree finder map. “People regularly flock to Washington D.C. to enjoy the cherry blossoms and may not even realize there are so many of these trees right here in Montgomery Parks,” said Mike Riley, Director of Montgomery Parks. “Why not pick a park you’ve not yet visited and go enjoy these beautiful trees.”

Traffic data about the Little Falls Parkway pilot project to the Montgomery Planning Board on March 30, 2023

By MCS Staff

Published March 1, 2023 at 1:17PM

Montgomery Parks will present information, including traffic data, related to the Little Falls Parkway pilot project(opens in a new tab) to the Montgomery Planning Board at an evening briefing on March 30, 2023. After the briefing, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing so the public can respond to the data and share input on the project. The exact time for the March 30 briefing and public hearing will be posted on the Planning Board agenda closer to the date of the hearing.

The public will have an opportunity to provide testimony virtually or in person at the March 30 planning board hearing or in advance via email or mail. Details on how to sign up to testify, provide advance testimony and the procedures for testifying are outlined on the Planning Board “Sign Up to Testify” webpage.(opens in a new tab)

Montgomery Parks is seeking public input on a future park adjacent to the Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market site

By MCS Staff

Published March 1, 2023 at 8:25AM

Montgomery Parks is seeking ideas for a new park in downtown Bethesda. The Bethesda Market Park project(opens in a new tab) will repurpose two parking lots adjacent to the historic Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market. Montgomery Parks will host two in-person public meetings in March to present initial concepts for the park and solicit input from the community.

Each meeting will provide the same information and begin with a brief presentation of the plan followed by an interactive session to give the community a closer look at the project and the opportunity to provide feedback.

Montgomery Parks March Special Events and Programs

By MCS Staff

Published February 27, 2023 at 3:53PM

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has an inviting lineup of special events and programs in March, including a variety of hikes, birdwatching, Parks Ale Trail and more. March events in Montgomery Parks include:

Mini Open House | March 1 | 6 – 8 p.m.: Lodge at Little Seneca Creek, 14500-A Clopper Road, Boyds, MD 20841 Surrounded by 26 acres of wooded parkland, The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek is the perfect natural setting for all types of special occasions, as well as business meetings. Free.

Montgomery Parks to Host Meetings on March 15 and 16 to Seek Feedback on Future Bethesda Market Park Development

By Patrick Herron

Published February 23, 2023 at 10:03AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery Parks will be hosting two meetings to present initial concepts and solicit feedback on the future Bethesda Market Park development. The first meeting will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15, at the Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center located at 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase. The meeting will be held in the social hall.

The second meeting will cover the same content. It will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 16, at Bethesda Elementary School, which is located at 7600 Arlington Road in Bethesda. The meeting will be held in the all-purpose room

Montgomery Parks offering up to $100,000 to winner of public art competition

By MCS Staff

Published February 17, 2023 at 6:50AM

Department is accepting submissions for a new public art installation in downtown Silver Spring park

Montgomery Parks is looking for an artist to create a permanent art installation at Gene Lynch Urban Park in downtown Silver Spring. The newly constructed park sits on a quarter acre near the Silver Spring Metro and the Sarbanes Transit Center and will open this spring. It includes an open lawn area, a pergola with bench swings and a 10 x 13-foot concrete wall —the location of the new public artwork.

Prescribed Fire To Take Place at Rachel Carson Conservation Park

By MCS Staff

Published February 16, 2023 at 12:19PM

Fire will take place one day between mid-February and April 2023 to help with the park’s meadow restoration program.

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will be conducting a prescribed fire at Rachel Carson Conservation Park (located in (Brookeville) one day between mid-February to April 2023 to help restore the meadow located in the park. Prescribed fires are used to enhance and maintain native biological diversity as an alternative to mowing to remove the layer of dead plant material. This allows sunlight and rain to reach the soil surface to promote the regeneration of native wildflowers.

Things To Do This Weekend (February 17-19)

By MCS Staff

Published February 16, 2023 at 10:20AM

Explore Black history in Montgomery County this weekend as part of Black History Month. Per Montgomery Parks: “Get ready for spring — plan your gardens and landscape with the advice of experts and register for the season’s exciting classes, camps, outings, and events.” Holiday Operating Hours/President’s Day weekend offers unique programs, additional Open Parkways hours, or family fun.

• Curate thoughtful and environmentally friendly gardens and landscapes with the advice from experts at GreenScapes Symposium, a live Zoom event on Friday, Feb. 17 at 9:30 am. This is your final chance to learn the latest advancements in landscape design strategies and how to employ them in private or public gardens.

Montgomery Parks announces February virtual speaker series: Coming of Age: Post-Pandemic Public Art

By MCS Staff

Published February 14, 2023 at 4:53PM

The session will take place on February 22, 2023, and look at the rise of public art as a form of expression, healing and protest in America.

Montgomery Parks is hosting its February virtual speaker series on the topic of public art on Thursday, February 22, 2023, from 3-4 p.m. This session features art expert Jack Becker discussing how public art can act as a cultural barometer, revealing a society’s values and struggles.

Montgomery Parks operating hours and programming for Presidents Day

By MCS Staff

Published February 13, 2023 at 3:08PM

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, announces programming and operating hours for the 2023 Presidents Day holiday.

Open Parkways Schedule: The Open Parkways will be extended during the Presidents Day holiday weekend. During this time, parkways are open to pedestrians and bicyclists and closed to motor vehicles.

Things To Do This Weekend (February 10-12)

By MCS Staff

Published February 9, 2023 at 11:31AM | Updated February 11, 2023 at 12:54AM

Per Montgomery Parks: Spend the weekend in the parks! Discover these ten activities happening Friday, February 10, through Sunday, February 12:

Birds: You don’t have to be a bird expert to help with this community science project at Locust Grove Nature Center. So, join staff at FeederWatch Friday(opens in a new tab) on Friday, February 10, 11 am, to help count birds and bird species at feeders around the facility.