Funding will support improvements for five projects, including the Wheaton Action Sports Park.
WHEATON, Md. — Montgomery Parks received $5 million in capital funding for five park projects from the state of Maryland during the 2025 legislative session. The department will use the funding to renovate parks and playgrounds in various legislative districts in Montgomery County.
“In a very difficult budget year, the Montgomery County delegation showed its support for parks and came through with funding that will help us deliver and enhance several much-needed projects across the county,” said Miti Figueredo, Montgomery Parks director. “I’m grateful to all the legislators who sponsored bond bills in their districts and would also like to thank Senator Craig Zucker for shepherding the $3 million capital grant for the Wheaton Action Sports Park, which will allow this highly anticipated project to keep moving forward.”
Montgomery Parks relies on additional sources of capital funding, including state and federal grants, to supplement its six-year Capital Improvements Program and keep up with maintenance, repairs, and renovations of an aging park system. State capital grants also help fund new amenities, like the Wheaton Action Sports Park, that serve important recreational needs.
“These grants aren’t a substitute for county bonds, which fund most of our Capital Improvements Program, but in a year when we’ve been asked by the county executive to cut $2 million for Wheaton Regional Park, we are very thankful for the additional funds,” Figueredo added. “We are still hopeful that the county council will restore this $2 million cut so we can keep all our projects on track.”
Capital grant-funded projects for FY26 include:
Wheaton Regional Park – $3,000,000 towards the development of the Wheaton Action Sports Park within the Rubini Athletic Complex at Wheaton Regional Park. The Wheaton Action Sports Park is the signature new project recommended in the 2022 Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan, and includes a skatepark, bike skills track, climbing wall, adventure playground, picnic shelters, community track, bathroom, overlook plaza, event seating, lighting, and other features. This project was sponsored by Senator Ben Kramer and Delegates Charlotte A. Crutchfield, Bonnie L. Cullison, and Vaughn M. Stewart III (District 19).
New Hampshire Estates Neighborhood Park – $828,000 towards park redevelopment following impacts from the Maryland Purple Line construction. The project will include accessibility improvements, a new playground, a picnic shelter, an urban plaza, community connections, and (pending community engagement) an updated athletic field. This project was sponsored by Senator William Smith and Delegates Lorig Charkoudian, David Moon, and Jheanelle Wilkins (District 20).
Centerway Local Park – $500,000 towards the construction of a new skatepark. This project was sponsored by Senator Nancy King and Delegates Gabriel Acevero, Lesley Lopez, and Gregory Wims (District 39).
Dalewood Drive Neighborhood Park Playground – $400,000 towards the replacement of the existing, aged playground, currently owned by the Montgomery County Department of Recreation. This project was sponsored by Senator Jeff Waldstreicher and Delegates Aaron Kaufman, Emily Shetty, and Jared Solomon (District 18).
Calverton Galway Local Park – $275,000 towards the design and construction of a playground renovation. This project was sponsored by Senator Craig Zucker and Delegates Anne Kaiser, Bernice Mireku-North, and Pam Queen (District 14).
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 415 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. 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/TTY), 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.
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