MontgomeryParks.org

Announcements

Notice: Partial Closure of Sligo Creek Trail

Starting February 6, 2012, the Sligo Creek Trail will be closed at Flora Lane and Crosby Road for approximately four weeks. The closure will allow a new pedestrian bridge to be installed, replacing two existing drainage pipes. Stream improvements will also be made to the Sligo Creek tributary during this time.

Deer Management Program for Sligo Stream Valley Park Approved

A new deer management program in Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park Golf Course has been approved and will begin in January, 2012.

Parks Director Mary R. Bradford issued a letter outlining why a deer management program was proposed and addresses concerns outlined in the hundreds of public comments received, including safety and the use of contraception to control deer numbers. View Director Bradford’s letter.

The Department has also issued a press release about the plan’s approval, which you can view here.

Please visit www.ParksDeerManagement.org to learn more about the Department’s Deer Management Program.

Planning Board Chair Sends Letter to Board of Education Opposing Use of Parkland for New School Sites

Chair Francoise M. Carrier sent a letter to the Board of Education officially opposing the proposed use of parkland for the construction of new schools in Montgomery County, and specifically referncing Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Local Park and Rock Creek Hills Local Park. View Chair Carrier's letter.

On April 28, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett wrote a letter to the BOE outlining his views on the use of Rock Creek Hills Local Park for a new school site. View his letter.

Also available is the transfer agreement for the Rock Creek Hills Local Park site which lists the specific transfer conditions should it be needed for a school site.

Planning Board Chair Carrier Requests Budget Parity for M-NCPPC at Council Budget Hearing

Chair Françoise Carrier testified on behalf of M-NCPPC's Parks and Planning Departments at the Council's evening Public Budget Hearing on April 5. View her statement. For more information, visit ParksMatter.org.

Show Us the Parks that Matter to You!

Parks Matter to a lot of us for a lot of different reasons. We'd love to know what parks or park facilities matter most to you! Here's how to do it:

1. Download a "Parks Matter" sign from our Parks Matter site (scroll to the bottom of the page).
2. Take a picture of yourself (or your friends, children, etc.) holding the sign at one of your favorite Montgomery County parks or park facilities.
3. Send us your photo(s). For more info on how to do this, click here.

We'll show off your photos online and send you a "Parks Matter" button and complimentary "Come Play in the Parks" pass.

Community Corner

Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan Update

Two public meetings were held in January, 2012 to collect input for our future park and recreation needs and to determine how they should be implemented. The meeting included an Overview PowerPoint presentation (PDF, x909KB) and copies of the Draft Recommended Service Delivery Strategies (PDF, 989KB).

Staff will present the Staff Draft of the 2012 PROS (Park, Recreation and Open Space) Plan Update to Montgomery County Planning Board in Mid-March. If you haven't sent us your input into this plan, please Contact the project coordinator at MCP-PROSPlan2012@mncppc-mc.org as soon as possible to make sure your voice is heard.

The 2012 PROS Plan Update will be a guide to meeting the challenge of balancing the recreation facilities needed for a growing population with the stewardship of our park system’s sensitive environmental and cultural resources. Find out more about this plan and how you can get involved.

Individual Park Naming and Dedication Policy Approved

The Montgomery County Planning Board recently approved an Individual Park Naming and Dedication Policy for M-NCPPC, Montgomery Parks. The new policy allows certain parks, facilities, buildings, programs and other park assets to be named or dedicated in honor of an individual in exchange for a charitable contribution to the Montgomery Parks Foundation. To read the press release, click here. To view the official policy, click here.

Artificial Turf Staff Work Group Report Finalized

The Artificial Turf Staff Work Group Report: A Review of Benefits and Issues Associated with Natural and Artificial Turf Rectangular Stadium Fields has been finalized and is available for public review.

To review the report, click on the links below:

Final Report
Appendices A-M
Appendix N (Public Comments Received) Part 1
Appendix N (Public Comments Received) Part 2
Appendix N (Public Comments Received) Part 3
Appendix N (Public Comments Received) Part 4

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