Parks Matter!
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On Thursday, June 17, Montgomery Parks Director Mary Bradford sent a letter to County Executive Ike Leggett, County Council President Nancy Floreen, and Community Use of Public Facilities Executive Director Ginny Gong, requesting a meeting to begin work on the consolidation transition plan due on December 1, 2010.
The County Council adopted the fiscal year 2011 County budget on Thursday, May 27. The Parks budget was adopted at 16.5% below the requested amount. A budget resolution was also adopted concerning the consolidation of certain Montgomery Parks program registration and permitting functions into County Government. View the resolution.
On Thursday, May 20, the County Council restored $1,252,250 to M-NCPPC for Montgomery Parks and the Planning Department. View full reconciliation list. $81,900 will be used to restore the Parks' Deer Management Program and $95,000 will go the Planning Department. M-NCPPC leaders are working on how best to apportion the remaining amount for fiscal year 2011. Watch the May 20 session.
On Thursday, May 13, the Planning Board responded to the County Council proposals to consolidate Park Police functions within County Police (view the response to the Park Police consolidation) and recreation programming, registration and permitting within County Government (view the response to the recreation consolidation). The county's FY11 budget is expected to be finalized by May 27, 2010.
The full Council discussed the Parks' FY11 budget at their morning worksession on Monday, May 10. View the May 10 Parks session packet. This session was followed by a discussion about Park and County Police. View the Police session packet. The Recreation Department budget was deferred to the afternoon session. The merger of Parks and Recreation was a topic of conversation during the May 10 afternoon budget work session for the Recreation Department. View the Recreation session packet. Council member Mike Knapp introduced a second proposal for consolidation of programming, permitting and registration within County Government. View Mike Knapp's May 10 proposal. Further discussion will be needed to determine exactly how these functions would be managed. Watch the May 10 budget sessions.
The merger of Parks and Recreation was initially discussed on Wednesday, May 5, during the work session for the County Department of Recreation's FY11 Operating Budget. View the May 5 session packet (reference to the merger discussion can be found at the bottom of page 7). On Wednesday, May 5, Councilmember Knapp issued a proposal to consolidate all Parks and Recreation recreational programming within the Recreation Department. View Knapp's proposal. In February 2009, in response to a similar proposal, the Department of Parks issued a response outlining the pros and cons of the various consolidation options. View the Department of Parks' February 2009 memo. At the May 5 session, Council President Floreen recommended that the Department of Parks' proposal for consolidating the Department of Recreation within M-NCPPC be considered by full Council. The May 5 session was televised. Watch the May 5 session.
Watch the April 28 discussion of the Park Police operating budget and potential merger with County Police at the Montgomery County Council's Public Safety Committee. View the April 28 session packet. The continuation of the Park Police discussion was held on Monday, May 3, at 2pm. This session was not televised. View the May 3 session packet.
Watch our second operating budget work session held on April 26 with the Montgomery County Council's Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee. View the April 26 session packet. Our first operating budget work session was held on April 19 with the PHED Committee. This was not a televised session. View the April 19 session packet.
The Scoop on our FY11 Operating Budget
Montgomery County is facing a record $779 million gap for fiscal year 2011, beginning July 1, 2010. Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett has had to make difficult choices in his proposed operating budget, including a recommended 17.5% or $14.5 million reduction to the proposed budget for Montgomery Parks. Additional cuts have been recommended recently, including the elimination of the dedicated Park Police force in Montgomery County. View Chairman Hanson's statement on the County Executive's suggestion regarding the elimination of our Park Police.
In response to the cuts already taken in this fiscal year, and in anticipation of the coming cuts in fiscal year 2011, Montgomery Parks has been actively working to reduce costs and operate more efficiently. Many of these strategies are outlined in our semi-annual reports, presented bi-annually to the Montgomery County Council.
Big Cuts Hurt Quality Park Services
Given the size of the anticipated reduction for fiscal year 2011, Montgomery Parks will not be able to maintain our services at the current level, despite the actions, reductions, and streamlining already undertaken by the department. The impacts may include:
- Closing popular park facilities
- Reducing frequency of maintenance, including athletic fields
- Postponing new parks
- Postponing upgrades to current parks and facilities
- Reducing operating hours and response times to service calls
- Increasing park user fees
- Reducing the number of Parks staff
- Decreasing protection and management of sensitive natural areas
Show County Leaders that Parks Matter to You
Download the sign, Take your picture at the park that matters to you & Send us your photo!- Download the Parks Matter sign (pdf)
- Take a picture of yourself at one of your favorite Montgomery County Parks (or park facilities) holding the sign.
- Send us your photos.
- Be creative and have fun!
We’ll also show off your photos here!
In exchange for sharing your photos with us, we’ll send you a Parks Matter button and complimentary Come Play in the Parks pass, with special discounts and offers for you to use on your next park visit.
Submit your photo
Date of last update: April 6, 2010
Montgomery County Department of Parks