Montgomery Parks Director announces retirement after 38 years of service

WHEATON, Md. – The Director of Montgomery Parks, Mike Riley, has announced he will retire at the end of the year after completing 38 years of service with The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). Riley was hired in 1985 as a staff civil engineer charged with designing and building parks and subsequently served as Chief Engineer, Park Development Division Chief, Deputy Director of Administration, and Director of Parks since 2014.

“I truly believe I have held the best job in all of local government,” said Riley. “The Department of Parks attracts highly talented and dedicated staff who provide open space, recreational facilities, trails, and programs that make Montgomery County a great place to live, work, and play. All I have to do for job satisfaction is visit our parks and watch the many ways they are enjoyed by county residents.”

During his career, Riley is most proud of his role in:

• Successfully advocating for the resources necessary for the Parks Department to deliver exceptional programs and facilities.
• Building a talented and diverse staff and senior leadership team.
• Delivering award-winning projects including the LEED Platinum M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters, the Josiah Henson Museum, the Maryland SoccerPlex, the Shirley Povich Field, the Washington Nationals Miracle Field, and the Brookside Gardens Visitors’ Center.
• Establishing the Open Parkways Program.
• Prioritizing investment in Equity Focus Areas.
• Championing the 2022 Park, Recreation & Open Space Plan as a roadmap for the future of the park system.
• Improving the quality of parks and school athletic fields.
• Establishing the Park Activation Program.
• Growing both the paved and natural surface trail system.
• Maximizing public/private partnerships to deliver facilities that could not be provided by the public sector alone.
• Focusing on providing walkable, vibrant urban parks within our most populated communities.

“I owe so much to so many people who have mentored and supported me along the way, but the exceptional staff of the Parks Department is at the top of the list,” said Riley. “We accomplished so much for the benefit of the residents of Montgomery County and the future looks bright for the Department of Parks. It’s been an honor and privilege to serve for 38 years, particularly the last 10 years as director of parks.”

“On behalf of the Montgomery County Planning Board and M-NCPPC, congratulations to Mike Riley on a tremendous career at Montgomery Parks,” said Montgomery County Planning Board Chair Artie Harris. “Your steady leadership of one of the most awarded and admired parks systems in the nation has helped millions of county residents and visitors make wonderful memories thanks to the beauty of our parks and the bountiful activities they offer. Thank you for your decades of hard work and partnership in making Montgomery County a great place to live, work, and play.”

“Mike Riley’s legacy touches every part of Montgomery County,” said former Montgomery Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson, who worked closely with him for more than a decade. “If you’ve ever taken a bike ride or gone for a run along Sligo Creek or the Capital Crescent Trail, or played or watched a game at the Soccerplex, or visited Brookside Gardens or any of the hundreds of other parks and facilities he helped to build, improve, and maintain, then you owe Mike Riley a huge thank you.”

“Throughout his 38 years of service within our Parks Department, Mike Riley has been a responsible steward of our most treasured asset  – our parks. During his ten years leading the Parks Department, he has been instrumental to so many initiatives, including efforts to make parks accessible to everyone in Montgomery County by prioritizing investments in historically underserved communities,” Council President Evan Glass said. “Mike Riley’s dedication to our parks and to our residents has transformed our community, and we are so grateful for his service. During his tenure as director, he has shown his support, respect and value for the dedicated staff that make up the Parks Department, from entry-level and seasonal workers to senior leadership. His legacy will live on through Montgomery County’s bountiful open spaces, trails, parks and state-of-the-art facilities.”

Riley plans to remain a proud Kensington, Maryland resident enjoying his newfound time exploring new hobbies, running and biking trails, and visiting national parks. He’s also looking forward to other adventures with his wife Joy and their two young adult children.

About the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Montgomery Parks 
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 419 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. The M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. www.MontgomeryParks.org 

Accessibility:

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information. 

 #  #  #