WHEATON, Md. – Today, Montgomery Parks presented the Long Branch Parks Initiative Report (accessible pdf) to the Montgomery Planning Board, highlighting the scope of the project and the recommended outcomes for the 10 parks in the Long Branch community. The initiative is a roadmap for future and ongoing improvements and investments in parks in the historically underserved community.
The Long Branch Parks Initiative began in 2022 to examine all 10 parks and ensure improvements to the entire network reflect the community’s wants and needs. The initiative aims to connect the community to safe and welcoming parks with inviting amenities, events, and programs while connecting habitats and environmental resources.
“We worked closely with the Long Branch community to understand the needs of its diverse residents and incorporate feedback we heard during our extensive outreach efforts,” said Miti Figueredo, director of Montgomery Parks.
Parks staff gathered input and continued to build important relationships in the community through bi-lingual (English and Spanish) outreach including door-to-door canvassing, an online survey, intercept surveys at community events, and focus groups.
“Thank you to Montgomery Parks for the Long Branch Parks Initiative. Over the last few years, staff have been in the community connecting with residents to make sure those who live near the parks are part of the decision-making process about the future of the parks, said Montgomery County Council Vice President Kate Stewart. “I appreciate the holistic approach parks has taken to address the needed open, recreation, and conserved space for residents of all ages and backgrounds.”
“We have been working closely with Montgomery Parks over many years, and we have seen first-hand how their spirited and imaginative efforts in Long Branch, for example at Flower Avenue Urban Park, have transformed that space into the vibrant town square of commercial Long Branch,” said Paul Grenier, economic development coordinator for MHP. “We are excited to see similar vibrancy brought to other Long Branch parks as a result of this initiative.”
The ten parks included in the Long Branch Parks Initiative are:
- Long Branch Stream Valley Park (Units 1 and 2)
- Upper Long Branch Neighborhood Park
- Long Branch-Wayne Local Park
- Long Branch-Arliss Neighborhood Park
- Long Branch Local Park
- Flower Avenue Urban Park
- Long Branch-Garland Neighborhood Park
- Seek Lane Neighborhood Park
- New Hampshire Estates Neighborhood Park, and
- Quebec Terrace Neighborhood Park
For more details on the Long Branch Parks Initiative, including future enhancements for the parks please read the full Long Branch report (PDF) .
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 419 parks. Montgomery Parks is focused on promoting physical activity, social connectivity, and environmental stewardship, especially in diverse and urbanizing areas, with an emphasis on teens, working-age adults, and seniors. 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. 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.