Montgomery Parks Archives - Page 36 of 52

Find and Tour Cherry Blossoms in MoCo with ‘Cherry Tree Finder Map’ by Montgomery Parks

Published March 20, 2023 at 7:48AM

Montgomery Parks is making it easy as pie to find and tour cherry blossoms in parks located throughout the county. Montgomery Parks’ online tree finder map allows cherry tree seekers to easily locate the beautiful blooms; the map features pink dots to represent cherry trees located in parks. According to the National Park Service, peak bloom is expected between March 22-25, 2023.

According to The National Park Service “History of The Cherry Trees” website, “…the planting of cherry trees in Washington D.C. originated in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan.” The first cherry trees were planted in Montgomery County, MD in Chevy Chase as a test to see if the trees would thrive in an environment in the Washington D.C. area.

(Postponed) Hillwood Manor Neighborhood Park Celebration Planned For March 25

By MCS Staff

Published March 16, 2023 at 12:28PM | Updated March 24, 2023 at 7:30PM

 Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is postponing the celebration of the newly renovated Hillwood Manor Neighborhood Park playground, due to inclement weather expected Saturday, March 25. Instead, the event will be held next week, on the pre-scheduled rain date, Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. at Hillwood Manor Neighborhood Park 1301 Elson Street, Takoma Park, MD 20912 (speaking program begins at 2:15 p.m.).

Montgomery Parks is inviting the public to join in a celebration of the newly renovated Hillwood Manor Neighborhood Park playground. Attendees will enjoy fun on the modernized playground, refreshments, and giveaways. The festivities will be held:

Traffic Data About Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project to be Presented on March 30

By MCS Staff

Published March 15, 2023 at 4:22PM

Montgomery Parks will present information, including traffic data and a recommendation, related to the Little Falls Parkway pilot project to the Montgomery Planning Board on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. After the briefing, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the project. 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. The deadline to sign up to testify or submit written testimony is March 29, 2023, at 12 p.m.

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project was initiated in June 2022 to address concerns with cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods associated with the weekend closures of Little Falls Parkway for the Open Parkways Program, while retaining space for recreation on the parkway. Traffic counts were conducted on Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue during May, July, September, and December of 2022 and showed the parkway functions well with two lanes of traffic and has added benefits consistent with Vision Zero goals.

(CANCELED) Montgomery Parks to Host ‘Petals and Paws’ in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Published March 15, 2023 at 12:25PM | Updated April 1, 2023 at 6:52AM

This event has been canceled due to inclement weather. It will not be rescheduled.

Per Montgomery Parks: Put a spring in your step at South Germantown Recreational Park’s HeartSmart Trail (18028 Central Park Circle) for our pet-friendly walk ‘Petals and Paws’. See the flowers begin to bloom and accessorize your canine and walk through the 1.0-mile loop. End the trail with light refreshments for purchase from TOIMOI Bakery, and dog-approved snacks for purchase by Doggy Donuts.

Montgomery Parks to present plans for future Lyttonsville park

By MCS Staff

Published March 12, 2023 at 4:46PM

Montgomery Parks host a community meeting to discuss the new neighborhood park coming to Lyttonsville in Silver Spring. The park design is the result of dialogue between planners and the Lyttonsville community during two previous meetings. Montgomery Parks is now seeking feedback on the latest version of the plan. The third meeting will be held online and in person:

Or online: Zoom Link: MoCoParks.org/LCM, Phone: 301-715-8592, Webinar ID: 876 4684 3272

Montgomery Parks and Planning departments present Spring 2023 Semiannual Report to the county council

By MCS Staff

Published March 9, 2023 at 9:00AM

The Montgomery Parks and Montgomery Planning(opens in a new tab) departments presented their Spring 2023 Semiannual Report to the Montgomery County Council on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The presentations showcased key projects, park activities and plans from the past six months, and initiatives that will be completed over the next six months and beyond. The presentation is given to the County Council every spring and fall and allows County Councilmembers to provide feedback to Montgomery Parks and Planning leadership and staff. Watch the Spring 2023 Semiannual presentation to the County Council here or read highlights available below.

Montgomery County Planning Board Chair Jeff Zyontz began the presentation by highlighting the work of the temporary acting Planning Board. “I’m grateful to Commissioners Cherri Branson, David Hill, and Amy Presley – over the last four months, they were engaged and dedicated to the task they were given, including approving 133 individual regulatory items in addition to recommending approval of master plans for the County Council’s consideration. I look forward to working with the new Planning Board members.”

Montgomery Parks announces March virtual speaker series: Birding in Maryland

By MCS Staff

Published March 9, 2023 at 8:19AM

Montgomery Parks is hosting a virtual speaker series on birding in Maryland. This month’s guest speaker, Gabriel Foley, who coordinates the Maryland-D.C. Breeding Birds Atlas will give an overview of the project and discuss how the public can document breeding birds and support nesting birds in their own communities.

WHAT: Montgomery Parks Speaker Series(opens in a new tab): Birding in Maryland with Gabriel Foley

(CANCELED) Free “Ale Trail” Event to Take Place March 11

By MCS Staff

Published March 6, 2023 at 2:07PM | Updated March 9, 2023 at 3:46PM

Event scheduled for Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. canceled due to forecasted inclement weather

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission,will host Parks Ale Trail on Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. This free, family-friendly festival features a nearly three-mile hike along the trails of Lake Needwood in Rock Creek Regional Park, live music, tons of activities for kids, crafts for sale, as well as a beer garden and food from area restaurants available for purchase.

National Park Service Announces Peak Cherry Blossom Bloom Prediction

By Patrick Herron

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.