Montgomery Parks

Join naturalist Kerry Wixted on January 30, 2023, at 11 a.m. to learn about Maryland’s rare, threatened and endangered species.

Montgomery Parks invites the public to the January 2023 virtual session of its Parks Speaker Series on the topic of rare, threatened and endangered species in Maryland. The free session will take place online on January 30, 2023, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. During this presentation, Kerry Wixted will discuss the over 1,200 species that have been listed as rare, threatened, or endangered in Maryland and how the Maryland Natural Heritage Program ranks and manages rare species across the state. She will also cover a few ways to help with the conservation of rare species and their habitats.

Montgomery Parks  is alerting park visitors and dog park users of a canine influenza (dog flu) outbreak affecting Montgomery County and the Washington, DC area. Dog owners should take precautions to ensure their pets’ health and safety.   According to the Montgomery County Office of Animal Services, the respiratory disease is caused by a specific strain of Type A Influenza virus and is highly contagious. While most cases of dog flu are mild, more severe disease can lead to death.  “Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory virus that affects dogs. Vaccination and avoiding contact with any unknown dogs or dogs who are showing signs of upper respiratory infection are the best ways to protect pets. Please talk to your vet about getting vaccinated today,” said Dr. Gregory Lawrence, DVM Chief Veterinarian for Montgomery County Office of Animal Services.

Montgomery Parks advises dog owners and dog park users in the county to contact their veterinarians if they notice symptoms of dog flu, which include cough, runny nose, eye discharge, fever, lethargy, and poor appetite. Infected dogs should be separated from other dogs for at least 28 days and not go to dog parks, doggy daycare, or grooming and boarding facilities. Some ways to help protect your dog from becoming ill include:

Montgomery Parks part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is seeking qualifications from artists who are interested in creating a new public art installation at Gene Lynch Urban Park. The newly completed .25-acre park is in downtown Silver Spring, Md., and includes an open lawn area, walls for seating, a pergola structure with bench swings, extensive landscape planting, irrigation, and lighting. A 10-foot by 13-foot concrete wall serves as a focal point of the park for the public artwork. Artists can view the scope of work and information about how to submit their qualifications on the Gene Lynch Urban Park webpage. The deadline for applications is March 10, 2023.

“This park, named for the late Montgomery Planning Board Commissioner Gene Lynch is situated at a busy crossroads near one of the most popular metro stops in the Washington region and along a two-way bike lane. It’s a new respite for passersby to take a break from their busy days to meet up with friends, enjoy lunch or just take a few moments to reflect. The artwork will be a wonderful addition to this new open space,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks.

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, announces programming and operating hours for the 2023 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (MLK Day) holiday.

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