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Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Wheaton Regional Park – Master Plan Update

In Planning In Design Under Construction Open to the Public Archive
Division: Park Planning and Stewardship

areial park photo of Wheaton Regional Park, Shorefield area.Wheaton Regional Park aerieal photo Areiel outlining planned work areas at Wheaton Regional Park. Including Parking lot near train and carousel, access to restroom, and northern parking lot.

Visioning the Future of Wheaton Regional Park

This plan is on hold until further notice

M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks is updating the 1987 Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan (PDF, 6.5MB). Throughout the planning process there will be Public and Planning Board meetings, in addition to an online comment tool (coming) so you can tell us what you want for this park. – traducción de esta página web (PDF, 1MB)

Update

The update for Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan is on hold until further notice. Thank you for your patience.

Project Background

THE PARK TODAY | MASTER PLAN UPDATE

The current Master Plan for Wheaton Regional Park (PDF, 7MB) was created in 1987. This update is needed to reflect the many changes that have occurred over the last 28 years within the community and within the park and to plan for future growth. – traducción de esta página web (PDF, 1MB)

The Park Today

Over 50 years old, Wheaton Regional Park is nestled in a forested area of Wheaton, Maryland and is the largest downcounty park in the County. The park was established in 1960, incorporating several large parcels of land into one of our finest parks. Visitors can enjoy a variety of recreational and educational opportunities within its 536 acres. The Park has developed into three distinct areas with three separate road accesses to each unique area.

  • The Shorefield Area with picnic shelters, an adventure playground, a miniature train and carousel, Pine Lake and numerous trails.
  • The Glenallan Area with Brookside Gardens, Brookside Nature Center and Horse Stables.
  • The Orebaugh Area with the F. Frank Rubini Athletic Complex, indoor tennis and court facilities, the ice arena, the Wheaton Sports Pavilion, and dog park.

Master Plan Update

The Master Plan Update will detail a visionary plan that “balances recreation and stewardship” and perpetuates “an environment fit for life, and fit for living.”

This update will also address the 1987 recommendations that have not been completed as well as other issues that emerge from the community outreach and other planning efforts. Some of the Master Plan issues to be addressed as part of the update will include:

  • Access and Visibility: Wheaton Regional Park has no obvious entrance. The Plan will evaluate solutions such as improved signage, and possibly new entrances.
  • Nature Center: The current facility is rundown and the Plan will explore whether it could be renovated or rebuilt.
  • Mix of Athletic Fields: Soccer fields, needed in this area of the County, do not exist in the park today. The Plan will study the potential for rectangular fields.
  • Roads and Parking in the Athletic Complex: Current layout is inefficient and confusing. The Plan will examine redesign of the system.
  • Picnic Area near Shorefield: The existing area is so popular that it can’t meet the demand. The Plan will seek to expand the picnic area.
  • Trails: Connections are lacking to other parks and the Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park toward Silver Spring. The Plan will explore new/revised trails.
  • Underutilized Areas: Several portions of the park are seldom used. The Plan will look for opportunities for activating these areas.
  • Facilities and Infrastructure: Some facilities and infrastructure are in need of improvement or replacement. The Plan will determine what improvements to make.
  • Cultural Heritage Interpretation: The Plan will determine how best to tell the story of the Park’s heritage.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act compliance: The Plan will recommend how to accommodate accessibility in all areas of the park.
  • Natural Resources: The Plan will address improvements to the natural resources such as removing non-native invasives from the mature forested areas.
  • Mix of Amenities: The Plan will study how to best meet identified needs in the area.
  • Park Area: The Plan will explore potential land acquisitions to expand park acreage to accommodate needed amenities
  • Other issues that are determined as part of the community outreach effort.

back to top – traducción de esta página web (PDF, 1MB

Public Input & Outreach

Tell Us What You Think

Ideas for this project are welcome any time throughout the planning process. There are a number of opportunities for you to provide early input using:

Review the Input

  • Online Comment Tool
    Review the public input from our online comment tool. Personal information such as names and addresses is not included in the comments summary.
  • Summary of Email Comments – coming
    A summary of comments from the public and correspondence from officials via email for this initiative are available.

Public Outreach

Park planning staff will be attending numerous community meetings and Wheaton events to talk about the park master plan update and to hear issues from the community. After this, staff will bring the issues and outreach report to the Planning Board in winter 2016, host a public meeting and take staff recommendations to the Planning Board in summer 2016. Meeting dates and minutes will be posted on this site, once they have been set. The current schedule for the plan is listed in the chart below.

Staff will rely on this web page to keep citizens updated throughout the planning process. Interested citizens and civic groups are encouraged to contact the project manager to become part of our e-mail lists. Public outreach for this project will include this project web page, public meetings, press releases and email campaigns to Homeowner and Civic Associations in the Clarksburg Planning Area. We will also use our Online comment tool, E-newsletter, social media channels like Facebook and Twitter, and the Parks Department Media Center.

Calendar and Meeting Notes

The calendar will be updated with exact dates and times as soon as they can be reserved. Links to presentation materials, meeting notes and memos will be posted for each event as soon as they are available.

DATE | TIME NOTES AND PRESENTATIONS LOCATION | DESCRIPTION
2015
 Spring Analysis of existing conditions in the Park. Start community outreach.
Summer Staff attendance at regularly scheduled community meetings.
If your Group, Civic or Homeowner Association, or Club would like us to attend your meeting to talk about this Master Plan effort, please contact us.
June 7 Taste of Wheaton – Learn about the park master plan update and share your comments and ideas!. The Wheaton Triangle – the area boardered by Veirs Mill Road, University Blvd. and Georgia Avenue.
June 20 Red Wagon Event / “El Carro Rojo” is a multilingual public outreach program designed to improve information exchanges between the Parks Department and park users in Montgomery County. Shoppers Food Warehouse – 2201 Randolph Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902
July 19 Red Wagon Event Wheaton Regional Park Shorefield Area
August 15 Red Wagon Event– invitation / invitación(PDF, 1MB) Wheaton Regional Park Shorefield Area
Fall Develop plan objectives and issues.
2016  – PLAN ON HOLD DUE TO WORK PROGRAM CONSTRAINTS
Plan Objectives, Outreach and Schedule presentation to the Planning Board – a new date will be posted soon 
– Meeting Notice – TBD
– Staff Memo – will be posted after the meeting
– PowerPoint Presentation – will be posted after the meeting		 M-NCPPC Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium- 8787 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Please check for the time posted on the Board Agenda closer to the meeting
Public Outreach Meetings
If your Group, Civic or Homeowner Association, or Club would like us to attend your meeting to talk about this Master Plan effort, please contact us.
Summer Planning Board Staff Draft Presentation – Please see Planning Board – agenda for a copy of the memo and for a more exact time closer to the meeting. M-NCPPC Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium- 8787 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Public Review Period
Fall Planning Board Public Hearing – Links to the Planning Board agenda, memo, and presentation materials will be posted as soon as they are available. M-NCPPC Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium – 8787 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Planning Board Work Session #1 – Links to the Planning Board agenda, memo, and presentation materials will be posted as soon as they are available M-NCPPC Montgomery Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium
8787 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Planning Board Final Review and Plan Adoption

 

Media Center

This is where we will post links to press releases, print articles and community links regarding this project.  If you would like to see additional links added to this site, please contact the Project Coordinator.

  • NOVEMBER 17, 2015 – MEDIA RELEASE: Montgomery Parks Seeks Public Input on Future Updates to Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan

Stay in Touch

To submit written comments or request more information, please contact:

Dominic Quattrocchi – Dominic.Quattrocchi@montgomeryparks.org | 301-650-4361
M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks, 9500 Brunett Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20901

Por favor comuníquese con asistencia Español: Alex Girr-Borrayo – Alex.Girr-Borrayo@montgomeryparks.org | (301) 495-2497

– traducción de esta página web (PDF, 1MB) – Last update: June 27, 2016

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Last Updated: January 9, 2019