Montgomery Parks’ COVID-19 Information

Montgomery Parks’ COVID-19 Information

Updated December 29: Many Montgomery Parks amenities are open in accordance with Montgomery County’s Executive Order 139-20, COVID-19 Local Order.

Be Smart. Do Your Part.

Our parks and trails are open sunrise to sunset. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission urges our residents and visitors to do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Persons leaving their residences shall wear a face covering when they are likely to come into contact with another person, such as being within six feet of another person for more than a fleeting time;
Clean your hands before and after use of park amenities. Park visitors are encouraged to bring their own wipes and hand sanitizer.

Parks, trails, fields, and sections of several parkways are open for exercise including walking, hiking, and biking from sunrise to sunset.
Portions of Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic and open to pedestrians and bicyclists Friday mornings at 9 am through Sunday at 4 pm for the Montgomery Parks’ Open Roadways Initiative. Hours: sunrise to sunset.  The open parkways includes:
- Sligo Creek Parkway:
  - University Bvld. to Forest Glen Rd.
  - Piney Branch Rd. to Old Carroll Ave.
- Beach Drive:
  - Connecticut Ave. to Knowles Ave
 Outdoor tennis courts and South Germantown Driving Range are currently open on a first-come, first-served basis.
In-line skate parks at Dewey Local Park and Ridge Road Recreational Park are open and may be reserved by permit, contact Permits Office 301-495-2525
Dog parks are open but usage must be limited to less than 25 people at a time.  
Cabin John Ice Rink and Wheaton Ice Arena are open for individual scheduled athletic training (no public skating sessions). 
Indoor Tennis Centers at Wheaton Regional Park and Cabin John Regional Park are open for scheduled lessons.
Picnic Shelters are available on a first come, first served basis for gatherings of 25 or less. Reservations are available from April 1 through October 31 for Regional and Recreational Park picnic shelters by purchasing a permit beginning January 1. For more information visit the Picnic Shelters webpage or contact Permits Office 301-495-2525.
Outdoor campfire ring rentals are available several locations; please visit MontgomeryParks.org/campfire-ring-rentals for more information.

Our Customer Service office hours are Monday – Friday: 8 am – 5 pm. As a reminder, the contact info is 301-495-2595 & Info@MontgomeryParks.org. Park patrons with questions can email the Public Information Customer Service office at info@montgomeryparks.org or submit your question/concern online at www.MontgomeryParks.org/Customer.

Montgomery Parks' COVID-19

Are the parks, gardens, trails, and dog parks open?

Yes, outdoor spaces in parks, gardens, community gardens, and trails are open, though the use of some park amenities is prohibited.

Dog parks and skate parks remain open, but usage must be limited to less than 25 people at a time.

Brookside Gardens’ Visitors Center and Conservatory are closed, and parking at the visitor center has been limited, but the grounds remain open.

Please observe signs. Anyone engaging in outdoor exercise activities must follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state guidelines: groups must be limited to ten or less people and you must keep a distance of at least six feet between you and other people at all times.
Can my kids play on the playground?
Our 276 playgrounds are currently open. We ask that when playing, remember to:
- Wear face coverings.
- Stay 6 feet apart.
- Clean your hands before and after use
Weekend Parkway Closures
Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive will be open to pedestrians and bicyclists Friday mornings at 9 a.m. through Sunday at 4 p.m.

The program includes the following parkway portions:
- Parts of Sligo Creek Parkway
- Beach Drive from Connecticut Avenue to Knowles Avenue (2.7 miles)
Sligo Creek Parkway adheres to our normal park and trail hours of sunrise to sunset. 

See our release about Parkway Closures for more information.</strong
Can I still walk on the closed roadways? What times will the roadways be closed?

Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive will be open to pedestrians and bicyclists Friday mornings at 9 a.m. through Sunday at 4 p.m.

See our release about Parkway Closures for more information.
Why are you closing portions of these roadways?

To expand safe access to park facilities for exercise during the COVID-19 crisis and to provide additional space for easier social distancing.

See our Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 Parks’ Road Closures post for more information.
When will indoor facilities reopen?

We are working closely with local health officials and will reopen our other indoor facilities when they communicate it is safe. Please check individual facility webpages for their guidelines and safety practices.
Are the Montgomery Parks’ athletic fields open?

Montgomery Parks’ synthetic fields are open for youth and adult sports practice and games (no tournaments) for low and medium-risk sports. For high-risk sports, a practice that involves skills-building and drills is permitted; scrimmage and games are not permitted. An athletic field permit is required for organized sports programs/activities.

More information is available on our COVID-19 Reopening of Local Park Athletic Field Permitting FAQs page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Capital Crescent Trail Info

The Capital Crescent Trail (CCT) is one of the most used trails in Montgomery County. For better social distancing, we advise residents to consider alternative trails or plan your activity during off-peak hours, like early or later in the day.

When using the CCT, or any trail, do not walk, run or bike in groups. Instead, move in single file. Side by side groups impede social distancing. Warn other trail users as you pass. Signal your presence with your voice, bell, or horn.
Do parks and trails close at 8 pm?

There’s no curfew in the Governor’s Executive Order, but parks and trails close at dark.
How long will these new road closures be in effect?

Until further notice. We continue to assess the pedestrian traffic, input from the public and local leaders, and follow guidance from federal, state, and local health officials to ensure the safety of all our park patrons.

See our Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 Parks’ Road Closures post for more information.
Can you add other streets/sections of the roadways to the closures?

We are actively assessing potential options for expanding these closures. We are also mindful of the operational and community impact of any extended closures and we are selecting closure areas in geographically different locations, so that multiple neighborhoods can reap the benefits.

See our Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 Parks’ Road Closures post for more information.
Are community gardens open?

Yes, our community gardens are open to staff and individuals with permits for plots. However, you must follow guidelines about social distancing. Please also see our additional information about Community Gardening during COVID-19.
Can I reserve a picnic shelter / Park Activity Building?

Montgomery Parks’ permitting season ended on 11/30/20. Picnic shelter rental use will resume on April 1, 2021 and online reservation starts on January 1, 2021. In the meantime, picnic shelters can be used on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact our Permit Office at 301–495–2525 or ParkPermits@MontgomeryParks.org.
Are restrooms open?

Montgomery Parks’ has select stand-alone restroom buildings at Regional and Recreational parks that remain open through the winter. Portable restroom units are not available during the winter months.

• Black Hill RP – Restrooms beside shelters J and volleyball court

• Cabin John RP – Restrooms beside outdoor tennis courts on Westlake Drive and restrooms beside tai chi court on Tuckerman Lane

• Damascus RP – Restrooms beside shelter C

• MLK RP – Restrooms beside basketball courts

• Laytonia RP – All restrooms

• SGRP – Restrooms beside adventure playground

• Ridge Road RP – Restrooms beside in-line rink

• Wheaton RP – Restrooms beside adventure playground
Accessibility & COVID-19

If you plan on taking part in a Montgomery Parks program and require accommodation(s) please contact our Program Access & Inclusion Services team for more information and assistance.

Phone: 301-495-2581
MD Relay: 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724
Email: ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org

Montgomery Parks Winter 2020-2021

Outdoor areas of the parks, gardens, and trails are open to the public from sunrise to sunset. Dogs must be leashed and smoking, vaping, tobacco use or alcohol is prohibited on parkland.

Park offices, visitor centers, and nature centers buildings are closed to the public for the health and safety of our visitors, volunteers, and staff. Please check individual facilities’ webpages for up to date hours and programming information.

There is limited access to restroom facilities, please plan your visit accordingly:

Black Hill Regional Park: Restrooms beside shelter J and near the volleyball courts
Cabin John Regional Park: Restrooms beside the outdoor tennis courts on Westlake Drive
Martin Luther King Regional Park: Restrooms beside the basketball courts
LaytoniaRegional Park: All restrooms are open
South Germantown Regional Park: Restrooms beside the Adventure Playground
Wheaton Regional Park: Restrooms beside the Adventure Playground

The rest of the Montgomery Parks’ indoor restroom buildings are closed for the winter. The Visitor and Nature Center buildings are closed to the public due to COVID-19

Montgomery Parks’ Rules and Regulations are in effect unless otherwise noted.

Last Updated: January 4, 2021