Celebrate Black History Month with virtual and in-person programs throughout the month of February.
Explore Montgomery Parks’ historical sites, discover African American cooking traditions, and learn about prominent figures in Maryland Black History.
Below are Montgomery Parks’ Picks for celebrating Black History Month:
Join Montgomery Parks for a virtual discussion and celebration of traditional African American cooking on Saturday, February 12, from 1 to 2 pm. Panelists will discuss the lives of enslaved cooks, the impact of racial systems on foodways, and ongoing efforts to engage with African American culinary heritage. Appropriate for ages six and up. Free, but all participants must register in advance.
Black History Month Family Day
Bring the whole family for a self-guided exploration of Montgomery County’s Black history at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park. Drop in at the visitor center to pick up take-home activities (for ages five to twelve) and trail maps to explore the Underground Railroad Experience Trail on your own. This is a great opportunity to connect, learn, and get exercise as a family. Free. No registration is required.
Celebrate the paralleled legacies and experience of our Maryland Black history titans–Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Reverend Josiah Henson–during this virtual conversation by first-person re-enactors about the life of these leaders on Saturday, February 26, from 11 am to 12:15 pm. The re-enactors will talk about their contributions while shedding light on where their paths have crossed throughout their lives. Following the discussion, there will be a question and answer session. Appropriate for ages six and older. Free event, but please register to get the program link.
Educational Resources
Learn more about Josiah Henson and his role in African American history with educational resources on the Josiah Henson Museum and Park website. Complement your visit to Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park with videos, online resources, and reading lists for all ages about the Underground Railroad and related topics.
History in the Parks
Visit HistoryInTheParks.org for more about Montgomery Parks’ historic sites, volunteer opportunities, and programs.
Montgomery Parks has put together a list of things to do this weekend:
Groundhog Day Celebration
Maydale Nature Classroom holds its Groundhog Day Celebration Sunday, January 30, at 3 pm with stories, activities, and crafts focused around the large rodent. The program is best for ages three to eight, and registration is required.
Celebrate Skating Day and Winter Ice Show
Wheaton Ice Arena has two cool programs this week. Bring the family to Celebrate Skating Day on Thursday, January 27, 4:30 to 6:15 pm, and enjoy public skating, crafts, and games. Get your tickets on ActiveMONTGOMERY. And, figure skaters strut their moves and skills during the Winter Ice Show on Sunday, January 30, 4:45 pm to 6:15 pm. Free admission.
Something Awesome
Looking for free family fun? Black Hill Nature Programs has Something Awesome on Sunday, January 30. Drop in at the Black Hill Visitor Center from 2 to 4 pm and pick up materials for you and the kids to enjoy winter outdoor activities at Black Hill Regional Park. This is a free, self-guided program.
Waterfowl Month
February is Waterfowl Month, and there are many birding opportunities around Black Hill Regional Park. Download this bird resource from Black Hill Nature Programs then visit and see how many of our feathered friends you can find.
For these and more programs, visit the Winter Guide on our website.
Parks to host a variety of volunteer service projects during Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.
WHEATON, Md. –Montgomery Parks is hosting a series of volunteer opportunities in honor of the 2022 MLK Day of Service. Stream and park cleanups take place throughout the county beginning on Saturday, January 15, 2022, through Saturday, January 22, 2022.
“Volunteers play a critical role in maintaining our parks, and cleanups are a great opportunity for people of all ages to get out into their local parks and make a direct impact in their community,” said Montgomery Parks Volunteer Services Coordinator Valeria Espinoza.
Group-led volunteer opportunities include removing trash or non-native invasive plants at various parks and trails throughout the county. Advanced registration is required. Visit the Volunteer Services website(opens in a new tab) to register.
Cleanup Locations:
Matthew Henson Trail – Saturday, January 15, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Fairland Recreation Park – Sunday, January 16, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Black Hill Regional Park – Monday, January 17, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Matthew Henson Trail with Rock Creek Conservancy(opens in a new tab) – Monday, January 17, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
New Hampshire Estates with Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection(opens in a new tab), CHEER(opens in a new tab), and Linkages to Learning(opens in a new tab) – Monday, January 17, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Takoma-Piney Branch Local Park – Monday, January 17, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Locust Grove Nature Center – Monday, January 17, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sligo Mill Nature Conservation Area – Saturday, January 22, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Weed Warrior Locations:
Little Falls Stream Valley Park – Saturday, January 15, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Rock Creek Stream Valley Park – Sunday, January 16, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Westmoreland Hills Local Park – Sunday, January 16, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Sligo Creek Parkway – Monday, January 17, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Reddy Branch Stream Valley Park – Monday, January 17, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Little Falls Stream Valley Park – Monday, January 17, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Rock Creek Stream Valley Park – Wednesday, January 19, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
All volunteers ages 5 and up must be fully vaccinated and provide their COVID-19 vaccination record to participate. All projects are outdoors, and participants should dress appropriately for the weather. The projects are approved for Student Service Learning (SSL) hours. Volunteers under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information and to register for an event go to MontgomeryParks.org(opens in a new tab).
In addition to the group-led clean-ups, individuals can participate in a self-guided week-long MLK Plogging Challenge(opens in a new tab), a community-wide effort supported by Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and One Montgomery Green, to pick up trash while walking or jogging.
Montgomery Parks began organizing MLK Day of Service cleanups in 2012. Over the past ten years, 2,723 volunteers have removed more than 49.2 tons of trash and recyclables from parkland. In a typical year, Montgomery Parks’ Volunteer Services Office manages 5,000 volunteers across 250 organized cleanups resulting in about 62 tons of trash and recyclables removed from parkland annually.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Operating Hours and Programming
The following facilities will be closed on Monday, January 17, 2022:
- Montgomery Parks Headquarters and Permits Office
- Brookside Gardens Visitors Center and Conservatory (Gardens remain open sunrise to sunset)
- Meadowside Nature Center
- Brookside Nature Center
- Locust Grove Nature Center (Closed to visitors unless they are participating in a scheduled program)
- Black Hill Visitor Center and Nature Programs
- Woodlawn Museum, Visitors Center, and Manor (Trails and grounds open sunrise to sunset)
- Josiah Henson Museum
Visit MontgomeryParks.org(opens in a new tab) for complete operating hours for all facilities.
Winter break for Montgomery County Public School students starts Thursday, December 23, and Montgomery Parks has a full schedule of programs and events that families can enjoy together. Here are this week’s Parks’ Picks for family fun over winter break!
Garden of Lights
There are only a few weeks left to see the dazzling lights at this year’s Garden of Lights(opens in a new tab). Walk through Brookside Gardens and enjoy more than one million colorful LED lights handwoven into original works depicting animals, flowers, and other natural elements. All visitors over the age of three must have a timed-entry ticket. Plan ahead because some dates are filling up quickly.
Ice Skating
Sign up your school-age children (ages six to twelve years old) for School’s Out Skate Days(opens in a new tab). The kids will spend the day participating in a group ice skating lesson, practicing their new skills, doing arts and crafts, and playing fun games with their friends. The program runs from Monday, December 27, through Thursday, December 30. Spaces are still available for the program at Wheaton Ice Arena. Separate registration is required for each date.
Want to go for a skate with family and friends? Lace up your skates for a public skating session at our indoor ice rinks. Visit Cabin John Ice Rink(opens in a new tab) and Wheaton Ice Arena(opens in a new tab) websites for schedules. Register on ActiveMONTGOMERY.org(opens in a new tab).
Open Parkways
Take the children for a bike ride, walk, or run on our car-free streets(opens in a new tab) during the holidays. Sections of Sligo Creek Parkway, Beach Drive, and Little Falls Parkway will be closed to vehicle traffic from Thursday, December 23, through Sunday, December 26, and from Thursday, December 30, through Sunday, January 2.
Family Programs
Montgomery Parks has many fun, family-friendly programs scheduled during winter break that still have spaces open.
Use your senses and “look closely” at the winter landscape with special programs, exhibits, and self-guided hikes at Locust Grove Nature Center. Register on ActiveMONTGOMERY.org(opens in a new tab) to receive a program schedule by email.
Bring your little one for story time during Beyond the Book: The Gingerbread Baby(opens in a new tab) at Maydale Nature Classroom on Tuesday, December 28, at 10 am.
On Wednesday, December 29, search for hidden treasures in Maydale Conservation Park during the Family Geocache Adventure(opens in a new tab) program at 10:30 am. Also, join a park naturalist for a winter scavenger hunt at Wheaton Regional Park during our Nature Search(opens in a new tab) program at 10 am.
Pick up a scavenger hunt sheet and head out to look for signs of winter then join a park naturalist around a campfire for marshmallow roasting and hot chocolate during the Winter Scavenger Hunt and Campfire(opens in a new tab) program on Thursday, December 30, from 10 am to 12 pm.
Before leaving home, please check our website(opens in a new tab) for facility holiday hours.
Early bird tickets are available through January 7, 2022.
WHEATON, Md.— Montgomery Parks and Brookside Gardens are hosting the annual Greenscapes Symposium online on Friday, February 18, 2022, from 9:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST.
Early bird tickets are now available online through January 7, 2022, for $45. The symposium brings together experts in the field of landscape sustainability and the environment to provide timely information and solutions to environmental challenges.
This year’s theme is “Advancing the Natural Landscape in a Modern World – Solutions for Sites and Situations.”
WHO: Montgomery Parks and Brookside Gardens is hosting its annual Greenscapes Symposium for people to learn about environmentally sustainable gardening and design practices.
WHAT: The 18th annual Greenscapes Symposium will feature live online lectures about gardening for wildlife, leveraging native plants for specific environments, and how to apply ecological principles for planting design.
WHEN: Friday, February 18, 2022, 9:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: The symposium will be hosted online on zoom. Register here.(opens in a new tab)
This year’s presenters include Kelly Norris, author and plantsman, Janet Davis, owner of Hill House Farm & Nursery, Colston Burrell, lecturer, garden designer, and award-winning author and photographer, and Nigel Dunnett, plantsman, designer and professor of planting design and urban horticulture, department of landscape architecture, University of Sheffield.
Continuing education credits are being offered for symposium attendees from various organizations. Details are available on the symposium webpage.(opens in a new tab)
“Trails Less Traveled” marketing campaign won “Best in Maryland,” award.
Per Montgomery Parks
WHEATON, MD – Montgomery Parks received four awards from the Public Relations Society of America, Maryland Chapter(opens in a new tab) (PRSA Maryland) for creative marketing campaigns and initiatives.
The department received one of the highest honors in the industry winning a “Best in Maryland” award for its “Trails Less Traveled” campaign which encouraged people to social distance by visiting less popular trails during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each year, PRSA Maryland presents awards to communication professionals who have successfully addressed a communications challenge with exemplary professional skill, creativity, and resourcefulness.
“It’s rewarding to be recognized for these communications projects that provided a huge benefit for park users during the pandemic,” said Kristi Williams, Montgomery Parks Public Affairs and Community Partnerships Division Chief. “By generating awareness of the vast array of parks and trails in our system, Montgomery Parks’ marketing team played a significant role in helping the public safely access and enjoy nature and the outdoors during a very challenging time.”
In addition to the “Best in Maryland” award, Montgomery Parks received three “Awards of Excellence” for its website, digital newsletter, and Open Parkways Marketing Campaign. Parks created all the campaigns to address challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews are coming for the holidays. You barely have time to plan menus or do laundry. What will you do with everyone for fun? We’re here to help. Check out these activity suggestions for your out-of-town guests in this week’s Parks’ Picks.
Garden of Lights
Garden of Lights(opens in a new tab) twinkles and dazzles at Brookside Gardens. The walk-through outdoor exhibition offers a glowing winter experience for all ages. Open nightly except December 24 and 25. Plan ahead because tickets are booking quickly.
Public Skating
Enjoy winter indoors at our ice centers(opens in a new tab). Bring everyone to daily public ice skating sessions at Cabin John Ice Rink(opens in a new tab) and Wheaton Ice Arena(opens in a new tab).
Open Parkways(opens in a new tab)
Run, walk, bike, skate, or scoot together on our car-free streets. Sections of Beach Drive, Little Falls Parkway, and Sligo Creek Parkway will be open Thursday, December 23, to Sunday, December 26, and Thursday, December 30, to Sunday, January 2.
Trails
If your family wants more nature, go into the woods! Montgomery Parks has about 280 miles of trails for all hiking abilities. Check out our website(opens in a new tab)and find trails to explore.
Parents with preschoolers may enjoy more organized trail activities, like Brookside Nature Center’s Nature Search on December 22(opens in a new tab) and December 29(opens in a new tab) from 10 am to 11 am, or Locust Grove Nature Center’s Reflections(opens in a new tab) special programs through December 31.
Winter Solstice
Celebrate the first day of winter and light up the longest night of the year at Locust Grove Nature Center’s Winter Solstice Labyrinth Walk and Campfire(opens in a new tab) on Tuesday, December 21, from 4 to 7 pm. Best for families with children six and older.
Before leaving home, please visit our website and check for facility holiday hours.
Online community meeting hosted in English with live Spanish interpretation, December 8, 2021, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks(opens in a new tab), part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is hosting a virtual community meeting to present preliminary concept plans for the proposed community garden at Edgewood Neighborhood Park(opens in a new tab) in Fairland.
English and Spanish Virtual Community Meeting: Community Garden Project at Edgewood Neighborhood Park, December 8, 2021, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Watch and submit questions by joining the online Zoom meeting at https://mocoparks.org/edgewoodgarden(opens in a new tab) or listen only via phone by calling: + 301 715 8592 Webinar ID: 860 5602 8248
The Montgomery Parks Community Garden Program includes 12 gardens across the county and serves over 500 families, working through 20 partners. The goal is to continue the expansion of the program by identifying suitable park locations for additional gardens.
Edgewood Neighborhood Park was identified as a suitable location in the department’s Community Garden Site Suitability Study based on criteria necessary for local food production. The intent of the project is to introduce a community garden that engages families in local food production in smaller spaces, address food security, and establish a model for future designs to come.
For more information about the program and the site suitability study, residents can watch the Community Garden Program Briefing(opens in a new tab) presented to the Planning Board on April 15th, 2021.
Michael Wiggins, director of education and community engagement for Little Island will explain the vision behind the revolutionary public space on December 7, 2021
WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks(opens in a new tab), part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, invites the public to a free, virtual installment of the Parks Speaker Series(opens in a new tab) featuring Michael Wiggins, director of education and community engagement for Little Island(opens in a new tab), on December 7, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. Wiggins will share insights into the development, execution, and vision of the recently opened innovative public space, during the free virtual webinar.
In May 2021, Little Island, a 2.4-acre public park rising from the remnants of Pier 54 on the west side of Manhattan, opened to the public. From its one-of-a-kind design to its diverse, inclusive programming, Little Island offers an entirely new type of public space that aims to provide visitors an immersive experience with nature and art. Wiggins will share how the project went from vision to reality, how the park’s commitment to hospitality is a through-line, initial learnings, and their vision for the future.
The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
WHAT: Montgomery Parks Speaker Series(opens in a new tab):
“Little Island: Using Art, Nature, and Community to Engage, Educate and Employ”
WHO: The event is free and open to the public
WHEN: December 7, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: The session will be held online, and a link will be sent to registrants.
About Michael Wiggins
Michael Wiggins is Director of Education and Community Relations for Little Island, a new public park on the West Side of Manhattan. Previous roles include Director of Education at Baltimore Center Stage; Director of Education and Special Projects at Urban Arts Partnership; Teaching Artist Trainer at The Public Theater; Teaching Artist at New Victory Theater; Adjunct professor at The Graduate Program in Educational Theatre at The City College of New York (CCNY) and The Program in Educational Theatre at NYU’s Steinhardt School. He is an alumnus of the NYU Graduate Acting MFA Program (’98).
Montgomery Parks will present the 2022 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Policy Plan draft to the Planning Board on December 9, 2021.
The PROS Plan guides the long-term, future development, and management of the park system. The draft plan is shaped by public input, which was collected through online, in-person, and mailed surveys.
“We have received a lot of feedback from the public about what they want when it comes to their parks and open spaces,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “Residents tell us that parks are critical for quality of life in Montgomery County and play a significant role in facilitating social connections, delivering recreational opportunities, and providing outlets for people to enjoy nature and the outdoors.”
Recommendations from PROS include how parks can support physical activity, social connections, civic engagement, and environmental stewardship. The plan also focuses on the county’s current efforts and progress regarding land management policies.
Results from the randomized survey of 831 households indicated that 93 percent of respondents greatly value parks and recreation amenities. Some of the priorities identified from the survey results include:
- Parks rank closely behind public safety and schools as one of the top three important factors in what makes a great place to live
- Respondents want parks to provide more recreational amenities for both seniors and teenagers
- Physical activity and exercise are extremely important: almost 90 percent of residents said they exercised or engaged in physical activity on their most recent day off
- Both natural and hard surface trails are highly valued amenities
- Residents value conservation and natural resources stewardship, with almost one-third ranking this as one of the top three priority focus areas for parks in the next five years
The PROS plan is updated every five years and focuses on providing equitable, active, central community spaces that meet the public’s recreational needs and protect the natural and cultural resources of parkland for future generations. Following the Planning Board presentation, the draft will be sent to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources by December 31, 2021, for review and is expected to be finalized by July 1, 2022. Opportunities for public comment and input on the draft PROS plan will continue in the first half of 2022
Leaves are falling. Temperatures are dropping. And, the holiday season is only days away. Here are activities to get you in the mood and to enjoy with family and guests from November 18 to 28.
Winter Light Show
Take in the dazzling colors and bask in the glow at Brookside Gardens’ Garden of Lights. The walk-through outdoor light display opens Friday, November 19, and will be open Saturday, November 20, and Sunday, November 21, from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. All visitors three years of age and older must have advance tickets. There will be no ticket sales at the entry gate. Garden of Lights will be closed November 22 to 25.
Get Moving
Get outdoors and get moving with two adult hiking programs: Bombay Hook Natural Wildlife Refuge Trip on Monday, November 22, 10 am, and What Is That Tree: Surviving Winter at Blockhouse Point Conservation Park on Saturday, November 27, 10 am.
Burn off calories and make room for turkey and trimmings at the family-friendly Gobbler Fun Run and Walk on Saturday, November 20, 9 am to 12 pm, at Wheaton Regional Park. All ages are welcome on our three-mile course. Bring nonperishable food to donate to our event partner, Shepherd’s Table.
Hit the Ice
Lace up and enjoy time at our indoor ice centers with adult, family, and children’s skating programs: Adults Only Public Skating on Thursday, November 18, 8:30 to 10 pm; Fairy Tale Skate on Tuesday, November 23, 2 to 4 pm; and Public Skating for all ages.
Family Programs
Learn all about Thanksgiving’s main bird at Maydale Conservation Park’s Turkey Talk(opens in a new tab) on Thursday, November 18, at 10:30 am. Looking for more children’s programs? Check out these on Saturday, November 20: Nature Hunt(opens in a new tab) at Black Hill Regional Park, 1 to 3 pm, or Drag Queen Story Hour(opens in a new tab) at Brookside Gardens, 10:30 am to 11:30 am.
Montgomery Parks…it’s all here!
