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Little Bennett Regional Park Master Plan

The Final Plan
The Master Plan Process

Little Bennett Regional Park, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's largest park, is located in northern Montgomery County, Maryland, 30 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. this park offers visitors quality wooded campsites and miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails throughout 3,640 acres of forests and meadows. With more than 20 miles of trails to explore, 91 wooded campsites from which to choose, and a variety of weekend activities available for all age groups and interests, Little Bennett Regional Park is a perfect vacation spot.

On Thursday, March 22, 2007 the Montgomery County Planning Board unanimously voted to adopt the Little Bennett Regional Park Master Plan with the recommended changes suggested by staff in the Planning Board packet. Thank you for your interest and involvement in the planning process.

This project has moved to our Park Development Division which has begun the facility planning for this park . Visit the facility planning project web page for information on the progress of this project. Please contact the project manager with questions and comments

The Final Plan

Little Bennett Regional Park Master Plan (pdf, 2.3MB)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Plan Concepts
Plan Recommendations
Plan Concept 1: Nature Based Retreat
Plan Concept 2: Trails
Plan Concept 3: Gateway Features
Plan Concept 4: Park Character Along Road Frontage
Plan Concept 5: Interpretive Emphasis
Plan Concept 6: Park Accessibility
Plan Concept 7: Design Guidelines
Plan Concept 8: Active Recreation
Implementation
Background
1 . Public Process
2 . 1985 Plan Concept
3 . Natural Resource Analysis
4 . Historic and Cultural Features
5 . Identifying Future Regional Recreational Needs
6 . Relationship to Network of Parks in Clarksburg
7. Transportation Planning Analysis

The Plan Process

TIMING
STEP
11/09/2005 Community "Kick-Off" Meeting - Summary
01/19/2006 Planning Board Review and Approval of Plan Schedule, Plan Issues and Community Outreach Strategy. Staff Memo
04/04/2006

Community Meeting on Plan Concepts and Plan Options
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cedar Brook Community Church meeting facility, 23700 Stringtown Rd., Clarksburg, MD.

10/03/2006

Community Meeting on Master Plan Alternatives
The Staff Draft Master Concept Plan will incorporate comments and suggestions from the two previous community meetings and reflect plan objectives approved by the Planning Board in January 2006. An updated illustration of the Draft Concept Plan for this Park will be available here shortly and at the meeting. The Draft Plan will recommend the following:

  • An integrated trail network that includes linkages to the Clarksburg Greenway and trails in the Damascus area
  • A future Visitors' Center and nature-based recreation oriented facilities along MD 355
  • An interpretive focus near Hyattstown Mill and proposes linking this area of the park to historic Hyattstown
  • Acquisition of additional parkland east of MD 355 to accommodate potential future need for ballfields
  • The park frontage along MD 355 is proposed to be more natural and park-like to attract visitors

These recommendations will be presented at the community meeting. Following the meeting, a Staff Draft Plan will be prepared and presented to the Montgomery County Planning Board for their review and comments. A Public Hearing will then be held so people can testify to the Planning Board on the plan.
11/30/2006

Planning Board Approved Staff Draft - Staff Memo - item #10
On November 30, 2006, the Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Public Hearing Draft Master Plan for Little Bennett Regional Park.
The Draft Master Plan map (pdf, 591KB) shows the Existing Facilities, Draft Master Plan and Proposed Trails. The entire Public Hearing Draft Plan may available once changes suggested by the Planning Board at the November 30 worksession are incorporated in the text. The date, time and location of the Public Hearing has not been set but will likely be either January 18th or 25th, 2007. Keep checking this web site for updated information.You are invited to testify in person or in writing. More information about how to testify will be included on this site once the date of the Public Hearing has been finalized. If you have any questions, please contact Park Planning Staff at 301-650-4370.

01/18/2007

Planning Board Worksession(s) - Public Hearing - Item #10 - Little Bennett Regional Park Draft Master Plan
Thursday, January 18 - call the number below for exact time. Location: M-NCPPC Auditorium, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 You're invited to testify and can sign up in advance to speak by calling the Community Outreach and Media Relations Office at 301-495-4600. To provide written comments, you can email MCP-Chair@mncppc-mc.org, fax at 301-495-1320 or write to: Royce Hanson, Chairman, Montgomery County Planning Board, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Mar 2007 Planning Board Approved Plan - Little Bennett Regional Park Master Plan (pdf, 2.3MB)
 
This project has moved to our Park Development Division which has begun the facility planning and implementation for this park.

Date of last update: November 12, 2008