Physical Access and Accessible Amenities

Program Description

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has developed a multi-year plan to enhance accessibility at parks and park facilities throughout the county. These efforts coincide with revised Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations (issued by The U.S. Department of Justice) that went into effect in March 2011. These regulations impact parks, playgrounds, ball fields, picnic areas, and many other amenities operated by Montgomery Parks.

After conducting an extensive self-evaluation of all parks and park facilities, Montgomery Parks developed a Transition Plan outlining the schedules and estimated costs of all physical improvements within the park system. Physical improvements in parks will be an ongoing program as we continue to make our facilities accessible to the public.

Park improvement projects completed before 2016 can be found in the Transition Plan. Since the U.S. Department of Justice approved the 2016 Transition Plan, Montgomery Parks has incorporated ADA improvements into all projects to ensure that every new construction meets ADA requirements. Many of our facilities have been made ADA compliant and accessible as a result. Most accessible amenities can be found using the filter tool on the right. Additionally, some unique accessible features are highlighted below and will be updated regularly.

Accessible gardening tables at Edgewood Community Garden

Inclusive Playgrounds

In addition to being fully accessible, inclusive playgrounds offer unique features that enhance the play experience for children of all abilities, creating opportunities for everyone to play together. These playgrounds are designed to accommodate physical, sensory, and cognitive differences, with elements such as rubberized surfacing, communication boards, multi-play structures, roller slides, ramps, calming zones, naturalistic enclosures, accessible restrooms, and shaded areas. For other accessible playground not listed here, please use the filter tool above by clicking the “Accessible Playground” link.

Park	Location	Amenities
Dale Drive Neighborhood Park	Silver Spring	Accessible Parking, Accessible Equipment, Poured-in-Place Surfacing
Dewey Local Park	Silver Spring	Accessible Parking, Engineered Wood Fiber + Synthetic Play Turf Surface, Accessible Equipment, Sensory Features, and other Site Features
Druid Drive Neighborhood Park	Kensington	On-Street Parking, Poured in Place Rubber with Engineered Wood Fiber Surface, Accessible Equipment (roller slide, spinner, rocker), Communication Board, Partially Enclosed
Falls Road Local Park	Potomac	Accessible Parking, Rubber Tile Surface, Accessible Equipment, Ramps
Flower Avenue Urban Park	Silver Spring	On-Street Parking, Bonded Rubber Surface, Accessible Equipment, Sensory Features, and other Site Features
Greenbriar Local Park	Potomac	Accessible Parking, Poured-in-Place Rubber Surface, Accessible Equipment, Ramps
Hillandale Local Park	Hillandale	Accessible Parking, Accessible Bathroom, Shelter, Accessible Equipment
Kemp Mill Urban Park	Wheaton	Accessible Ramp to shopping center, Poured in Place Rubber with Engineered Wood Fiber Surface, Accessible Equipment, Walking Paths, Shade
Rays Meadow Local Park	Chevy Chase	Accessible Parking, Poured-in-Place Rubber Surface, Accessible Equipment, Drinking Fountain, Accessible Access to adjacent trail, Access to adjacent house of worship.
South Germantown Recreational Park	Germantown (Near Miracle Field)	Accessible Parking, Poured in Place Rubber with Engineered Wood Fiber Surface, Ramp, Accessible Equipment, Communication Board, Bathroom (without Adult Changing Station), Partially Enclosed
Wheaton Local Park	Wheaton	Accessible Parking, Rubber Tile Surface, Ramp, Accessible Equipment, Roller Slide, Accessible Bathrooms, Shelter, Enclosure (under construction), Communication Board

Playground Dewey Local Park with engineer wood fiber surfacing, colorful structure, and a shade structure in the background.

Strathmore Local Park playground with engineer wood fiber surface, bright blue and green structure and a shelter in the background

A sidewalk that has been painted with bright colors at Valleywood NP. The playground has a green and cream colored tower and slide, with a shelter in the background.

Accessible Fitness Stations & Exercise Equipment

shorefield area wheaton regional park fitness station with blue rubber surfacing, and two benches

Park	Location
Beach Drive	Kensington
Dewey Local Park	Silver Spring
Falls Road Local Park	Potomac
Martin Luther King Recreational Park	White Oak
North Four Corners Local Park	Silver Spring
South Germantown Recreational Park	Germantown
Strathmore Local Park	Aspen Hill
Wall Local Park	North Bethesda
Wheaton Regional Park	Wheaton

Archery

Park	Location
South Germantown Recreational Park	Germantown
Rock Creek Regional Park	Derwood

Boating

A person in an orange hat and green shirt and PFD using the Accessible boat launch system with a how-to- guide behind him.

Park	Location	Amenities
Black Hill Regional Park	Boyds, Boat Rental Area	Accessible parking, Accessible restrooms, Adaptive Kayak Launch, Accessible Pontoon ramp + seating
Seneca Landing Special Park	Poolesville	Accessible parking, Adaptive Kayak Launch

Community Gardens

These community gardens include accessible parking, accessible planting beds, raised beds and seating and gathering spaces.

Park	Location
Black Hill Regional Park Community Garden	Boyds
Edgewood Neighborhood Park Community Garden	Fairland
Nolte Local Park Community Garden	Silver Spring
Bradley Local Park Community Garden	Bethesda

Raised beds at Black Hill Community Garden with fence around and colorful seating furniture

Dog Park

Fully accessible dog parks with an accessible parking lot and an accessible drinking fountain.

Park	Location
Dewey Local Park	Silver Spring
Piedmont Woods Local Park	Clarksburg
Columbia Local Park	Burtonsville
Black Hill Regional Park	Boyds

Blue, teal and white dog park at Columbia Local Park with shade feature.

Fishing

Park	Location
Kings Local Park	Clarksburg

Unique Facilities

Amenity	Park	Location
Carousel	Wheaton Regional Park	Wheaton
Mini Train	Wheaton Regional Park	Wheaton
Mini Golf	South Germantown Recreational Park	Germantown
Splash Park	South Germantown Recreational Park	Germantown
Disc Golf (coming soon)	Northwest Branch Recreational Park	Aspen Hill

Carousel surrounded by pavement with view of ramp

Walking Trails

Matthew Henson Trail with timber bridge and rails

Paved and mostly flat walking trails.

Trail	Location	Amenities
Capital Crescent Trail	Varies	11 + Mile Trail from Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, to Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Heart Smart Trails	Locations Vary	Heart Smart Trails are generally 1-mile in length or less and follow a hard surface, level path.
Pine Lake Trail	Wheaton Regional Park, Wheaton	Fully accessible hard surface trail, accessible parking spaces, accessible restroom, fitness station, drinking fountain and playground
Matthew Henson Trail	Wheaton	Hard surface trail with boardwalk
Sligo Creek Trail	Silver Spring	10.2 mile hard surface trail
Falls Road Trail	Potomac	Fully accessible hard surface loop trail