Wheaton Regional Park – Master Plan Update 2020-2021
Division: Park Planning and Stewardship
Visioning the Future of Wheaton Regional Park
Montgomery Parks is updating the 1987 Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan. We are currently engaging communities and organizations that surround the park for their input, including homeowner associations, schools, businesses, and faith organizations. We want to hear from all residents, to ensure that the future of Wheaton Regional Park reflects the diverse values and interests of the local community. From September 1, 2020, through January 31, 2021, community members were invited to share their ideas for the future of the park, by taking an online survey or submitting comments and suggestions on an interactive map. Our staff is also hosting many virtual presentations and discussions about the project for community organizations and conducted in-person surveys in the park several times in the Fall of 2020. The public was invited to two virtual community meetings to learn more about the project, provide comments and ask questions. View a recording of the January 13 meeting or January 14 (Spanish-language) meeting.
Project Background
The current Master Plan for Wheaton Regional Park was created in 1987. A park master plan guides the development of the park, including new facilities and renovated facilities, as well as broad operation, management, and maintenance issues. Many of the 1987 plan’s recommendations have been built or implemented.
Wheaton Regional Park remains vibrant and popular, but it is also aging. An update is needed to reflect the many changes that have occurred over the last 30 plus years so that the park can better serve the adjacent communities as well as residents throughout the county. The master plan will also guide plans for future renovations and growth.
Click to enlarge map
The Park Today
Wheaton Regional Park was established in 1960, and is nestled in a forested area of Wheaton, Maryland. It is the largest park in the southern region of Montgomery County and assembles several large parcels of land into one of the county’s 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 entrances:
- The Shorefield Area entrance is on Shorefield Road off of Georgia Avenue. This area includes:
- Picnic shelters
- An adventure playground
- Miniature Train and Carousel
- Pine Lake
- Numerous paved trails
- Adult fitness stations
- The Glenallan Area entrance is on Glenallan Avenue. This area includes:
- Brookside Gardens
- Brookside Nature Center
- Horse Stables
- Numerous paved and unpaved trails
- The Orebaugh Area entrance is on Arcola Avenue. This area includes:
- F. Frank Rubini Athletic Complex with six diamond ballfields
- Wheaton Ice Arena
- Wheaton Sports Pavilion
- Indoor and Outdoor Tennis courts
- Basketball courts
- Dog park
Master Plan Update
The updated Master Plan will detail a visionary plan that balances recreation and stewardship, core to Montgomery Parks’ mission. It will also address the 1987 recommendations that have not been completed as well as topics that emerge from the community. The plan will also align with other current department master plans such as the Nature Center Master Plan and Thrive Montgomery 2050.
Topics that will be addressed as part of the master plan include:
- Infrastructure
- Park Entrances and Visibility
- Signage and Wayfinding
- Roads
- Parking
- Accessibility
- Underutilized Areas
- Paved Trails
- Amenities
- Nature Center
- Athletic Fields
- Picnic Area
- Horse Stable
- Emerging recreational trends such as futsal/court, soccer, and pickleball
- Natural Resources
- Trails
- Potential land acquisitions
- Biodiversity area
- Maintenance and Operations
- Efficiency improvements
- Cultural Heritage and Interpretation
- Stubbs Barn
- Incorporate historical elements of Wheaton Regional Park and surrounding area
Calendar and Meeting Notes
The calendar is updated with dates and times as various events and meetings are scheduled. Links to presentation materials, meeting notes, and memos are 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. | ||||
| June 7 | Taste of Wheaton | The Wheaton Triangle – the area bordered 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 | |||
| 2019 | |||||
| September 8 | Staff conducted outreach at Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center Grand Opening | ||||
| September 22 | Staff conducted outreach at Friendship Picnic and Wheaton Arts Parade | ||||
| November 25 | Staff presentation to the Glenmont Exchange | ||||
| December 3 | Staff presentation to the Neighbors for NW Branch | ||||
| December 10 | Staff presentation to the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee | ||||
| 2020 | |||||
| January 27 | Staff presentation to the Glenmont Forest Neighbors Civic Association | ||||
| February 2 | Community Working Group Kick-Off Meeting | ||||
| Spring/Summer | Outreach on-hold due to Covid-19 concerns | ||||
| September 1 | Online survey and interactive map launch to collect feedback through January 31, 2021.
Bus and mobile ads begin for a three-month run through November |
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| September 6 | Intercept surveys at Wheaton Regional Park – Shorefield Area | ||||
| September 7 | Intercept surveys at Brookside Gardens | ||||
| September 22 | Community Working Group Meeting #2 | ||||
| September 24 | Intercept surveys at Wheaton Regional Park – Orebaugh Area | ||||
| October 8 | Intercept surveys at Wheaton Regional Park – Shorefield Area and Wheaton Park Shopping Center | ||||
| October 13 | Postcards mailed to 1,600 nearby homeowners | ||||
| October 19 | Intercept surveys at Kemp Mill Urban Park and Wheaton Local Park | ||||
| October 20 | Staff presentation to the Office of Community Partnerships Asian Pacific American Advisory Group | ||||
| October 28 | Intercept surveys at Brookside Nature Center, Brookside Gardens Community Working Group Meeting #3 |
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| November 7 | Intercept surveys at Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton Stables | ||||
| November 12 | Staff presentation to Forest Estates Community Association | ||||
| November 16 | Community Working Group Meeting #4 | ||||
| November 17 | Staff presentation to Wheaton High School PTSA | ||||
| November 19 | Staff presentation to Friends of Brookside Gardens Board | ||||
| December 8 | Staff presentation to the Office of Community Partnerships Latin American Advisory Group | ||||
| December 9 | Community Focus Group #1 | ||||
| 2021 | |||||
| January 13 | Virtual Public Community Meeting | View the meeting recording online | |||
| January 14 | Virtual Public Community Meeting (Spanish) | View the meeting recording online | |||
| January 21 | Community Working Group Meeting #5 | ||||
| February 4 | Community Focus Group #2 (Spanish) | ||||
| Check back as additional dates will continue to be added | |||||
| June 2021 | Public Review Period | ||||
| June 2021 | Planning Board Public Hearing – Links to the Planning Board agenda, memo, and presentation materials will be posted as soon as they are available. | ||||
| July 2021 | Planning Board Work Session #1 – Links to the Planning Board agenda, memo, and presentation materials will be posted as soon as they are available | ||||
| TBD (Fall 2021) | Planning Board Final Review and Plan Adoption |
Get Involved
Ideas for this project are welcome at any time throughout the planning process.
- Comment on our Open Town Hall forum and interactive map
- Email the project manager: Chuck Kines – Charles.Kines@montgomeryparks.org
- Invite us to your club, group, civic, or homeowner association meeting to share information.
- Look for park ambassadors in and around Wheaton throughout the fall and share your feedback in person. (Parks staff will be wearing face coverings and practicing physical distancing in accordance with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines).