A comprehensive amendment to the Countywide Park Trails Plan that uses updated methodologies, tools and strategies to plan and implement major park trail systems throughout the County
Update | Background | Public Input | Calendar & Meeting Notes | Contact Us
On September 29, 2016, the Planning Board approved and adopted the Countywide Park Trails Plan Amendment (5.8MB PDF).
Trail planning staff will return to Planning Board for feedback and public input for evaluating unsanctioned (unofficial) trails in the Upper Paint Branch and Cabin John watersheds with the possibility of converting them into sanctioned, sustainable multi-use natural surface park trails that may also provide important connections to nearby parks and facilities.
This plan amendment introduces a new “Loops and Links” system along with updated methods and tools for park trail planning and analysis.
The plan aims to be more achievable and sustainable, ensure all trails are built as sustainably as possible, serve as many trail users as is feasible and possible, and achieve maximum Levels of Service based on trail user needs and desires, and population density calculations.
M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks’ major trail systems include 108 miles of hard surface and 155 natural surface trails. The Countywide Park Trails Plan (CWPTP) has guided park trail planning since 1998. The plan established a county-level vision for natural and hard surface park trails.
Innovative at the time, earlier versions of the Plan did not have the benefit of new methods and tools available today. This led Montgomery Parks to revisit the Plan to address various needs, concerns and reflect other recent changes in long range park planning (Vision 2030 and PROS 2012).
Innovations in GIS mapping and Resource Analysis have helped Staff more efficiently and accurately analyze impacts of proposed/planned trails. These tools allow Staff to minimize environmental and natural and cultural resource impacts and anticipate other implementation difficulties. In addition, the Vision 2030 Strategic Plan also provides data and recommendations for better Level of Service analysis countywide. This plan will use these tools to conduct more detailed analysis at the countywide master planning level.
This plan amendment strives to:
In February 1991, a staff study, A Planning Guide to Trails for Montgomery County Parks(PDF, 3MB) was completed. The first Countywide Park Trails Plan was approved and adopted in July 1998, and amended in March 2004 and September 2008.
Various Community Area, Sector and Functional Master Plans along with the following Park and Trail Corridor Plans have since amended the Countywide Park Trails Plan.
Ideas from the public have been welcome throughout the planning process including a number of opportunities for early input.
Public outreach for the CWPTP Amendment began during the Vision 2030 Strategic Plan process in 2010. Park planning staff met with representatives from trail user groups to help shape the goals and objectives for the strategic plan. Outreach efforts continued in coordination with the 2012 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan as well.
Staff relied on this web page to keep citizens updated throughout the planning process. Interested citizens and civic groups were encouraged to contact the project manager to become part of our e-mail lists.
Public outreach for this project included this project web page, public meetings, press releases and email campaigns to Homeowner and Civic Associations in the Clarksburg Planning Area. We will also used an online comment tool, our E-newsletter, social media channels using the hashtag: #trailplanning on Facebook and Twitter, and the Parks Department Media Center.
An informal Trails Working Group (PDF, 81KB) helped identify issues and shape the plan objectives and will continue to advise the plan throughout the planning process. This working group is comprised of representatives from park trail stakeholder groups including: Conservation Montgomery, Montgomery Bike Advocates, Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts (MORE), Hiking Along, Inc., Park trail volunteers, Trail Conservancy, Montgomery County Road Runners Club and Trail Riders of Today (TROT).
Staff continues to coordinate closely with the Planning Department and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation and has consistently sought input from the Montgomery County Bicycle Action Group (MCBAG), environmental groups such as Conservation Montgomery, and the Countywide Recreation Advisory Board.
The calendar will be updated as community meetings and events are planned for this project. Digital copies of the Meeting Notes, Presentations and Planning Board Memos will be attached to each calendar event after it is completed.
DATE | TIME | PLANNING STAGE | TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION |
2011 | ||
October 6 |
Objectives, Outreach Strategy & Schedule M-NCPPC Planning Board presentation. Staff Memo – from the Planning Board archives for this date – item # 7 |
M-NCPPC – Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
FALL / WINTER |
Monthly “Trails Working Group” meetings | TBD – Ongoing |
FALL / WINTER |
Meetings with McBAG, Conservation Montgomery and Countywide RAB | TBD – Ongoing |
2012 | ||
January 24 |
Upcounty Public Meeting in coordination with the 2012 Park Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan update | M-NCPPC – Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
January 25 |
Downcounty Public Meeting in coordination with the 2012 Park Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan update | UpCounty Service Center 12900 Middlebrook Rd. Germantown |
December 6 |
Status Report M-NCPPC Planning Board Presentation. Staff Memo – from the Planning Board archives for this date – item # 5 |
M-NCPPC – Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
2013 | ||
June 24 |
Upcounty Public Meeting to seek feedback on new “Loops and Links” plan framework. | M-NCPPC Shady Grove Training Room 16641 Crabbs Branch Way, Gaithersburg, MD 20855 |
June 25 |
Downcounty Public Meeting to seek feedback on new “Loops and Links” plan framework. – Video Record (external link) | M-NCPPC – Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
2014 | Staff Draft Plan Development | |
2015 | ||
January 5 |
Upcounty Recreation Advisory Board Meeting Presentation. | 4010 Randolph Road, Silver Spring, MD 20902 |
January 15 |
Montgomery County Bicycle Action Group (McBAG) Presentation. PowerPoint presentation (PDF, 3MB) | Executive Office Building 101 Monroe Street,9th Floor Conference Room Rockville, MD 20850 |
September 16 |
Public Meeting– Staff presentation of the draft plan. | M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks Shady Grove Maintenance Yard Training Room (enter under the green awning) 16641 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855 |
2016 | ||
January 21 |
Planning Board Meeting – Staff Draft Review – The public is welcome to attend, however public testimony will not be taken. Staff Draft PowerPoint Presentation (PDF, 4.5MB) |
M-NCPPC – Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
Public Review Period |
Public review of the document to give testimony to the Planning Board at the public hearing. Public Hearing Draft – Countywide Park Trails Plan Amendment (4.2MB PDF), Trail Implementation Priorities Matrix Chart (PDF, 3.1KB) | |
March 3 |
PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING – The Planning Board heard the final public testimony regarding this plan amendment. |
M-NCPPC – Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
Public comment ended at 6pm on March 17, 2016 | ||
May 12 |
PLANNING BOARD WORKSESSION #1 – Planning Board review of the plan amendment. Public Hearing Draft – Countywide Park Trails Plan Amendment (4.2MB PDF) |
M-NCPPC – Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
July 14 |
PLANNING BOARD WORKSESSION #2 – Continued Planning Board review of the plan amendment – Public Hearing Draft – Countywide Park Trails Plan Amendment (4.2MB PDF), Worksession #2 presentation (900KB, PDF) |
M-NCPPC – Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
September 29 |
PLANNING BOARD WORKSESSION #3 – Planning Board final review. Public Hearing Draft – Countywide Park Trails Plan Amendment Worksession #3 Edition(4.2MB PDF) |
M-NCPPC – Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
September 29, 2016 |
M-NCPPC Planning Board Plan Approved and Adopted
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This is where you will find links to press releases, print articles, videos and community links for your convenience. If you would like to see additional links added to this site, please contact the Project Coordinator.