Montgomery Parks hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on, Monday, October 18, 2021, for the department’s first dedicated pickleball courts, located at Bauer Drive Local Park. The six new courts have lights for play until 11 p.m. and are located adjacent to the Bauer Drive Communnity Recreation Center.
Pickleball is a fast-paced, low-impact sport that combines several classic games including badminton, tennis, and table tennis. It is played with a tennis-like net and paddles slightly larger than ping pong, with a plastic whiffle ball.
“Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in Montgomery County and nationally,” said Mike Riley, Director of Montgomery Parks. “With these new courts, we now have 40 pickleball courts in our park system, with plans for adding more in the coming years.”
In 2019, Montgomery Parks concluded a pickleball study that investigated service needs, gaps, user preference for facility location and design, and service delivery strategies. The study was a multi-year collaborative process and gathered input from various sport court users to identify the best solutions for creating more opportunities for outdoor pickleball. As a result, 30 courts were completed in 2021 based on recommendations gathered by the study.
“Pickleball is a fantastic sport because almost anyone can play – you don’t have to be in top shape to pick it up,” said Casey Anderson, Chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board. “It’s also a great way to meet people and make friends, so it helps keep people engaged and connected.”
Local and state elected officials attended the event, including Montgomery County Councilmember and Parks Lead Andrew Friedson, Maryland State Senator for District 19 Benjamin Kramer, and Maryland State Delegates for District 19 Charlotte Crutchfield and Vaughn Stewart.
“Quality parks and recreational facilities have always been crucial to the health, well-being and quality of life of our residents, and this has been especially clear during the pandemic,” said Councilmember Friedson. “These wonderful pickleball courts are just the latest example of how we’re adapting our public amenities to meet the changing needs of our community to ensure our parks and open spaces are inclusive for all ages, abilities, and interests.”
“It is very exciting that Montgomery Parks has located its first dedicated pickleball courts at the Bauer Drive Local Park in Rockville,” said Senator Kramer. “Pickleball is an exciting sport that challenges a person’s reflexes and athletic skill with less stress on the joints than tennis. My thanks to M-NCPPC for prioritizing pickleball in Montgomery County.”
“I’m excited for Maryland Legislative District 19 to be the “epicenter” of pickleball in Montgomery County, it is a sport that will continue to promote the health and wellness of our neighbors,” said Delegate Crutchfield.
“Pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in America, and as a regular player, I couldn’t be more excited about these dedicated courts,” said Delegate Vaughn Stewart. “Pickleball is great exercise and lots of fun, but more importantly, it’s a social game that builds community. I applaud everyone that made this amazing facility a reality.”
Elected officials and members of the community took advantage of the opportunity to participate in pickleball lessons and gain tips from Rob Campbell, USA Pickleball Association District Ambassador for Montgomery and Prince Georges counties.
“The addition of the courts is a positive step in the right direction for the growth of pickleball in Montgomery County,” said Rob Campbell.
Pickleball can be played across the county. Click here for more information on available courts.
Ok, Google: Which MoCo Park is the Best?
The weekend will find many of us soaking up some sun or walking around in one of Montgomery County’s many parks.
According to the Montgomery Parks website, Montgomery County has 424 parks across over 37,000 acres in their network.
These parks are quite diverse; some stretch across wide green spaces for hundreds of acres, while others are smaller pop-up styles in more urban areas, or bigger “destination” types for specific sports or activities. This diversity is part of what makes enjoying the outdoors so enjoyable for MoCo residents.
As you all know, we love lists here at The MoCo Show. In that spirit, let’s countdown the top 10 highest-rated and reviewed parks in Montgomery County, according to Google. You might be surprised with the results!
Disclaimer: this list is based on parks that are 1) a part of Montgomery Parks’ network of parks (no city-maintained parks), and 2) have 200+ reviews on Google. The rankings are based on a combination of total reviews and star rating. All images are courtesy of Montgomery Parks’ website.
10) Ridge Road Regional Park: 21155 Frederick Rd, Germantown, MD 20876
4.5 stars & 226 reviews
This park boasts multiple ball fields, an in-line hockey rink, and various shaded picnic areas on 56 acres of land. Reviewers lauded the park’s green space and its peaceful, quiet locale. There’s even an enclosed area for dogs to stretch out their legs when overcome by “the zoomies.”
9) Meadowbrook Local Park:7901 Meadowbrook Ln, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
4.5 stars & 238 reviews
Meadowbrook Local Park is located next to Rock Creek Park in Chevy Chase, but it has a lot of appeal on its own. It has five different softball fields, a rentable recreational building. Previously, the playground equipment was painted in a unique “candy cane” pattern.
8) Falls Road Local Park: 12600 Falls Road, Potomac, MD 20854
4.6 stars & 224 reviews
Reviewers loved the award-winning Hadley Playground onsite, and that makes this park a great attraction if you’re in the area. The parking area has been recently renovated, and the green-space filled park also boasts outdoor exercise equipment and a grass-infield baseball field.
7) Meadowside Nature Center: 5100 Meadowside Ln, Rockville, MD 20876
4.7 stars & 206 reviews
Unfortunately, Meadowside Nature Center’s main building area is closed due to COVID-19 — however, when we reach the new normal, you really should consider checking it out if you haven’t already. The Center offers some great natural education options (both indoor and outdoor) that allow MoCo residents to learn more about the natural world around them. There are still some wonderful hiking trails surrounding the area, in the meantime.
6) Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park: 15131 Anacostia Tributary Trail System, Silver Spring, MD 20901
4.6 stars & 315 reviews
Is it a creek or a stream? Both? Regardless, you will find some of the most beautiful hiking and biking trails here. Reviewers noted its picturesque locale and shady trails that lead to some of the best strolls you will find in MoCo. It also links to a few other local parks and has multiple entrances depending on where you want to hop in.
5) Cabin John Regional Park: 7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda, MD 20817
4.6 stars & 563 reviews
At this point, we start getting into the real heavyweights in terms of review traffic. Cabin John Regional Park is truly one of the main havens for sports-lovers in MoCo, boasting attractions like an ice rink, well-maintained sports fields, five miles of hiking and biking trails, and even a miniature train for riding (currently closed for COVID).
4) South Germantown Recreational Park: 18041 Central Park Circle, Boyds, Maryland 20841
4.6 stars & 594 reviews
The first of two Boyds-based entries on our list, South Germantown Recreational Park is absolutely one of MoCo’s most active parks in terms of foot traffic. There are so many options for both young and old at this park, including (but not limited to) mini-golf, a driving range, archery, the Maryland SoccerPlex & Montgomery TennisPlex, and even the King Barn Dairy Museum — a museum all about cows and dairy farms in the county!
3) Black Hill Regional Park: 20930 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, Maryland 20841
4.8 stars & 812 reviews
Black Hill boasts over 2,000 acres for various activities. Set on the beautiful Little Seneca Lake, visitors can enjoy the tranquility of canoeing or kayaking on a bright and sunny say; the park also has several picnic shelters and over five miles for wooded hiking and biking. Reviewers consistently point to Black Hills as one of the most beautiful locations in MoCo.
2) Rock Creek Regional Park: 6700 Needwood Rd, Derwood, MD 20855
4.7 stars & 1,433 reviews
“Wait, isn’t Rock Creek Park in D.C? That’s not MoCo!” Well, over 70% of Rock Creek itself is located in MoCo, so maybe it’s time for MoCo to be a little more assertive in its claim on Rock Creek, but that’s for another time. Rock Creek Regional Park, however, is definitely in MoCo, containing the lovely Lake Needwood and also consisting of several miles of trails that extend to the Washington, D.C. line.
1) Wheaton Regional Park: 2000 Shorefield Road, Wheaton, Maryland 20902
4.7 stars & 2,005 reviews
We all know the elephant in the room here: Brookside Gardens is not included on this list. What a lot of people may not know is that Brookside Gardens is housed on the grounds of Wheaton Regional Park, and it’s important not to sell the grounds short beyond Brookside Gardens. The grounds is 536 acres, after all. Visitors can traipse through 11 miles of trails, board a replica 1863 train for a tour of the grounds, lace up their skates at the Wheaton Ice Arena, or, yes, enjoy the beauty of the acclaimed Brookside Gardens.
What are some of your favorite parks? Perhaps you won’t tell us, as you want to keep your favorite spots well-kept secrets. Regardless, we can all agree that MoCo has a wealth of options for recreation, and we love to showcase that.
