Montgomery Parks, the Montgomery Parks Foundation and the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail will honor trail advocate John Dugger with a special plaque next month.

Dugger, a past chair of the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, was one of the leading voices for turning the abandoned B&O rail line from Georgetown to Silver Spring into a multi-use trail that has become one of the most popular of its kind in the country. Learn more

Come celebrate the Monarch butterfly's inspiring metamorphosis and incredible journey. We'll have exhibits, face painting, story times, crafts, movies, Monarch tagging and more! All FREE activities.

Learn more.

Community invited to RSVP and view agenda for meeting

Anyone who lives, works or has an interest in the future of the Westbard community is invited to attend the Plan Westbard kickoff meeting where the existing conditions, opportunities and constraints of the plan area will be discussed. RSVPs are encouraged but not required.

The first hour of the meeting will be an open house with the planners and include interactive map activities for attendees. The second hour will consist of a presentation about the planning process and schedule. It will conclude with a discussion of next steps. 

Meeting Agenda:

7-8 p.m. Open House/Map Activity

8-9 p.m. Montgomery Planning Department Presentation about process, subject areas and schedule.

Learn more about the Kickoff meeting, get involved and engage in Plan Westbard 

Planners will ask community to give their feedback on vision for Greater Lyttonsville area

The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is inviting anyone who lives, works or has an interest in the Greater Lyttonsville community to participate in a community visioning workshop on Monday, Sept. 29 starting at 5 p.m. at the Planning Department Headquarters (8787 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring, MD ). The event will provide attendees an opportunity to share their vision on how the Greater Lyttonsville area can be improved over the next twenty years. RSVP's are encouraged but not required.

The workshop will be held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and will have an open house format. The presentation will be at 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 pm.  At each one, staff will present the planning process, recent feedback regarding constraints and opportunities, as well as next steps. The workshop will also include an interactive exercise to explore community character as it relates to open spaces, streetscapes, environmental elements, land uses, buildings and community facilities.

Details:

Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan Visioning Workshop

Monday, Sept. 29

5 - 8:30 p.m. 

Planning Department Headquarters (8787 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910)

RSVP for the event

All community members and children are invited. Snacks will be provided 

Community invited by Montgomery Planning to pedal around mid-century neighborhoods and landmarks

The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is hosting a bike tour of mid-century modern architecture. The route will follow the Rock Creek Park trail through entire subdivisions of contemporary homes designed in the 1950s.

The tour is sponsored by the Planning Department's Historic Preservation Office and the Potomac Valley chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Register for the Montgomery Modern Bike Tour.

Details:

Montgomery Modern Bike Tour

Sponsored by the Montgomery County Planning Department's Historic Preservation Office and the Potomac Valley chapter of AIA

October 11, 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Tour mid-century neighborhoods in Montgomery County on two wheels: $30 for the public ($20 for AIA and Docomomo members) and includes lunch and interior visits. 

Learn more about the Montgomery Modern Bike Tour.

Community invited by Montgomery Planning to participate in meeting about the future of Montgomery Village

The Montgomery County Planning Department will hold a community meeting to begin a community dialogue about the Montgomery Village Master Plan on Wednesday, October 1 from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Watkins Mill High School cafeteria (10301 Apple Ridge Road, Gaithersburg, MD). Anyone who lives or works in Montgomery Village or has an interest in the future of this community is invited to attend the Montgomery Village Master Plan Kickoff Meeting where the existing conditions, opportunities and constraints, and the County planning process will be discussed. RSVPs are encouraged but not required.

Montgomery Village was included in the 1985 Gaithersburg Vicinity Plan and it is now the subject of its own master plan for the first time. 

A future meeting will focus more specifically on areas and issues identified at this first master plan meeting and will involve the community discussing their vision for the future of Montgomery Village.

Details:

What: Montgomery Village Kickoff Meeting 

Who: Residents, property owners and anyone with an interest in the future of Montgomery Village

Where: Watkins Mills High School cafeteria (10301 Apple Ridge Rd, Gaithersburg, MD)

Learn more about the Montgomery Village Kickoff event and how to get involved with the future of Montgomery Village.

The public is invited to testify at the Montgomery County Planning Board in support of or with recommendations for changes or additions to the Draft Ovid Hazen Wells Rec Park Master Plan Update. Parks Staff will be in attendance to listen and answer questions about the draft plan.

Montgomery Village was included in the 1985 Gaithersburg Vicinity Plan and it is now the subject of its own master plan for the first time. 

A future meeting will focus more specifically on areas and issues identified at this first master plan meeting and will involve the community discussing their vision for the future of Montgomery Village.

Details:

Thursday, October 2, 2014 - 4:55 PM

M-NCPPC Main Regional Office (MRO) Auditorium

8787 Georgia Ave

Silver Spring, MD 20910 

Community invited by Montgomery Planning to participate in meeting about the future of Westbard

The Montgomery County Planning Department will hold a kickoff meeting for the Westbard Sector Plan on Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 7-9 p.m. at Walt Whitman High School cafeteria (7100 Whittier Blvd., Bethesda, MD). Anyone who lives or works or has an interest in the future of the Westbard community is invited to attend the PlanWestbard kickoff meeting at which the existing conditions, opportunities and constraints of the plan area will be discussed. RSVP's are encouraged but not required. Learn more about PlanWestbard and how to get involved.

Get involved with Montgomery Planning's Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan. Engage, Learn, Connect with planners and the community about how to shape the future of the Greater Lyttonsville area for the next 20 years.  Check out this short promo to learn more! Connect with us:  #greaterLP

Saturday, September 13, 12 noon - 6 p.m.

Enjoy great bluegrass in the great outdoors, featuring The Boxcars, John O'Dell, Windy Ridge and Clear Spring. Bring your lawn chair and instruments if you want to jam. Food will be available for purchase.

Admission: $12 in advance, $15 at the gate. Children under 12 are free with an adult. Pets are welcome. 

Agricultural History Farm Park
18400 Muncaster Road
Derwood, MD 20855

www.BluegrassOnTheFarm.com 

Sunday, September 14, 2014, 1 - 5 p.m.

Come join the fun and meet new friends for a better community. Plenty of activities and rides for the kids, live music, dancing and more. Food and beverages will be provided.

Wheaton Regional Park
2000 Shorefield Road
Wheaton, MD 20902

The Greater Lyttonsville Sector Plan has been in full swing this summer. Check out this video segment with planners Erin Banks and Melissa Williams and learn how to get involved with the future of shaping the #greaterLP area. This segment is currently airing in the latest edition of Montgomery Plans.

Built in 1893, the Kingsley Schoolhouse is a historical gem - one of the best remaining examples of a one-room schoolhouse in Montgomery County.The restored schoolhouse, located in the secluded 'Froggy Hollow' section of Little Bennett Regional Park, is furnished to look as it did during the 1920's. Tours will be given rain or shine. Find out more about all our historic events and activities at HistoryInTheParks.org.

Pick up your FALL GUIDE today!
 

What can you do in the Parks this fall? Pick up a copy of the new 2014 FALL GUIDE and find out! Learn to skate...play hockey...take a guided nature hike...make a floral centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table...play Round Robin Doubles...improve your golf swing...celebrate pawpaws...learn to kayak...and so much more!

Guides will be available at Montgomery Parks facilities as well as Recreation Centers, Senior Centers, Community Centers, libraries and county government buildings. You can also subscribe for a full year (5 issues) for just $5! Check out the GUIDE and browse fall programs at MontgomeryParks.org/Fall. 

The White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan was recently approved by the Montgomery County Council and approved and adopted by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. View the approved plan and learn more about the process.

Planning Department's webpage provides map and resource of information

The Montgomery County Planning Department has created a new webpage dedicated to bikeways in Montgomery County. The page allows visitors to view all of the existing and proposed bikeways in the County complete with an interactive map. The bikeways page also features the Silver Spring Bicycle Parking Station Study, which evaluates future demand and potential locations for a bicycle parking station near the Silver Spring Transit Center and the planned connection of the Capital Crescent Trail and Metropolitan Branch Trail. Online visitors can also review "An Assessment of Purple Line Corridor Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues" for the proposed Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring and pedestrian issues around the Purple Line. 

Testing has shown there are elevated levels of microcystin, a toxic substance produced by some species of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), in Lake Needwood that may be harmful to pets swimming in or drinking from the lake. Please take note of the following precautions.

Improvements to the asphalt trail and areas adjacent to the trail  inside Aberdeen Local Park will begin within the next week and last about two or three weeks. During this time there may be intermittent or complete closures of the trail during periods of active construction. We apologize for the inconvenience.

This month's episode of Parks, Rec 'N Roll focuses on art in parks, including a look inside Brookside Gardens' School of Botanical Art and Illustration and the public art trust which supports the creation of and placement of art in our parks. Don't miss this episode available online here.

The U.S. Census Bureau is researching modern and new methods for the population to exercise its civic obligation to be counted in the next census. Whether through the Internet, telephone or traditional paper questionnaires, the Census Bureau is committed to making the once-a-decade headcount quick, easy and safe for all to participate. Through the smart use of technology and existing government data sources, the 2020 Census hopes to provide substantial taxpayer savings while maintaining the highest quality and accuracy standards mandated by the U.S. Constitution. The 2014 Census Test will allow the Census Bureau, on a small scale, to test a variety of new methods and advance technologies that are under consideration for the 2020 Census. The 2014 Test will take place from June 23 through September 25, with Census Day on July 1, 2014.

In addition to conducting the test, the Census Bureau is still hiring temporary office and field staff from Montgomery County and DC to work in the Silver Spring office, located at 8401 Colesville Road (seventh floor). At least 1,000 people in Montgomery County and DC are needed for temporary positions to get this important job done. Pay ranges from $14 to $21.50 an hour. Learn more.