Plenty to do this holiday weekend in our parks. More information is available in the media center.
 

The Montgomery County Planning Board is pleased to announce its calendar for July 2015. These events offer ways to engage with planners and Planning Board members, and help shape the future of communities within Montgomery County. Review the full list of events below and go online to www.montgomeryplanning.org for more details on projects and plans. View the full list here.

New White Flint 2 and Rock Spring Plans, Bicycle Master Plan and revised Recreation Guidelines among funded projects for fiscal year starting July 1, 2015
 

The Montgomery County Planning Department has secured the County Council's approval to proceed with its ambitious work program for fiscal year 2016 (FY16).

The Montgomery County Council approved the Department's $19 million budget for FY16 at its meeting on Thursday, May 21. Learn more here.
 

Parks have Environmental, Health, Safety and Community power. Watch this video on "The Power of Parks" to see how parks strengthen communities, transform lives and protect the future. Visit NRPA.org for more information.

The Montgomery County Planning Department seeks to recognize exceptional work in architecture, landscape architecture and urban design through its first annual Design Excellence Award. Developers, property owners and their design teams are invited to submit built projects that contribute to improving the quality of physical environments throughout the County.

The deadline for submission is Friday, August 21, 2015. The selection of a winner will be made by an outside jury of accomplished professionals, including architects, urbanists and a landscape architect, invited by the Planning Department. Learn more about the awards jury. Learn more here.

Submit to the Montgomery County Planning Department's Design Excellence Award.

The Montgomery County Planning Department is holding the last of the MV Matters community meetings on Tuesday, July 7 to present the staff recommendations for the Montgomery Village Master Plan. The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Montgomery Village Middle School at 19300 Watkins Mill Road, Montgomery Village, MD 20886. (Please note the change in the meeting location from the Watkins Mill High School, which is currently being renovated.)

Residents and property owners are invited to offer input about the Master Plan's draft recommendations for land use and zoning, transportation networks, parks and open spaces. Planning Department staff will also provide an overview of the Draft Montgomery Village Overlay Zone, explaining its purpose and intent. Learn more here.
 

Thursday, July 9, 2015

The community is invited to provide input on proposed renovations to Hillandale Local Park at the July 9 Montgomery County Planning Board meeting. Comments and questions may also be submitted online, via email and by mail.  For more information including the meeting location and how to submit input please click here.

The community is invited to provide input at the July 16 Planning Board meeting on proposed renovations to Caroline Freeland Urban Park. Comments and questions may also be submitted online, via email and by mail. For more information including the meeting location and how to submit input please click here.

The Montgomery County Planning Board will review the Working Draft of the Westbard Sector Plan at its meeting on Thursday, July 16. This Plan aims to encourage more parks and open spaces, housing and community retail options, and environmental sustainability within a community located in close proximity to Washington, DC and Downtown Bethesda. Learn more here.

Due to ongoing construction activities, visitors should be aware that parking at Brookside Gardens for the Wings of Fancy Exhibit and general garden access may be limited. Please click here for parking alternatives and more information on the Garden Gateway project.

Maintenance and improvements to the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail begin July 2015. Please use caution between Connecticut Avenue and Franklin Street while trails are being repaved and other enhancements are being made. For more information on park trail improvement projects, visit MontgomeryTrails.org

Storm water management and improvements at Good Hope Local Park are scheduled to begin with work to continue through August 2015. Ball fields and trails will remain open and accessible. For more info, click here.

Work has begun at Potomac Community Neighborhood Park to improve access for people with disabilities. Montgomery Parks will be making improvements to other parks including Pleasant View Local Park and Ayrlawn Local Park. For more information on these and other accessibility projects please visit: Accessibility Information for Montgomery Parks webpage.

The playground at Johnson's Local Park will be temporarily closed for renovations as part of the Playground Renovation Program. The project is scheduled to be completed by June, 2015. For more information on the playground renovation project and other parks scheduled, click here.

A portion of the Western Piedmont Trail in Little Bennett Regional Park is closed for construction below Hyattstown Mill where the trail crosses Little Bennett Creek. A new bridge is being installed to replace the existing culvert. Construction is expected to last up to a year. For more information on park trails, visit montgomerytrails.org.

Tree work will continue through the summer on the Capital Crescent Trail.  Watch for flaggers and detours directing traffic from Dorset Avenue to the D.C. Line.  For more information, please click here.
 

Portions of the Paint Branch Trail between East Randolph Road and Fairland Road will have restricted use while WSSC begins sewer line and manhole repairs. Please follow the directions of construction flag men for trail detours and use. For more information on park trails, visit montgomerytrails.org.

Montgomery Parks has begun improvements to Indian Spring Terrace Local Park. Work will continue through August 2015. A portion of the parking lot and access ways will be inaccessible. The park facilities will remain open but park users should use caution around construction sites. Contact MontgomeryParks.org for further information.