MOCO Parks See Upgrades, New Parks To Be Developed With State Funding

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Park projects that would have been delayed or cancelled in Montgomery County will now see the light of day thanks to $12.3 million in funding from the state.

Montgomery Parks said the money will be used for 17 parks projects, which range from development of new parks to improvements at existing parks and playgrounds.

Here is a full list of the improvements coming, from Montgomery County Parks and Recreation:

• A new 3.5-acre park in downtown Bethesda on parts of Parking Lot District lots 10 and 24 as part of the Bethesda Market redevelopment
• A new action sports park (could include regional-scale skate park, bicycle pump track, climbing wall, parkour/obstacle course, and bicycle skills area) at Wheaton Regional Park
• New playground equipment and accessibility improvements at:
  • Greenwood Local Park
  • Laytonsville Local Park
  • McKnew Local Park
  • Olney Family Neighborhood Park
  • Olney Mill Neighborhood Park
  • South Germantown Recreational Park
• New skate parks at:
  • Long Branch-Arliss Neighborhood Park
  • Newport Mill Local Park
• An adventure playground at South Germantown Recreational Park (redeveloped)
• Trail renovations, court conversions, water quality enhancements, ADA improvements and more at:
  • Long Branch Local Park
  • Rosemary Hills – Lyttonsville Local Park
  • Strathmore Local Park
• New amenities, updated aging infrastructure, playground renovations, court upgrades, new plazas and seating areas in the Long Branch area.
• A new and improved bridge on the Long Branch Trail at Clayborne Avenue with environmental restoration

“We are so appreciative of the support from our state legislators and the funding that will go towards so many great park projects," said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks, in a news release. "Our recent Parks, Recreation and Open Space plan confirms that parks are a top priority for communities. The public depends upon us to deliver beautiful parks for exercising and recreating, socializing, and enjoying nature. Thanks to this support, we can deliver more projects by matching state funding with our own capital funding."