Montgomery Parks seeks public input for the Capital Improvements Program for fiscal years 2025 – 2030.

The public may submit comments and questions at the September 7^th forum, online, by mail, and/or by email. 

WHEATON, Md.—Montgomery Parks is seeking public input on its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2025 – 2030 (FY25-30). Community suggestions for the upcoming CIP may be submitted online, via email, U.S. mail, or in person at the public forum.  

The public forum takes place Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the Wheaton Headquarters of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), 2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902. 

The CIP is prepared every two years to cover a six-year cycle and funds new parks and park amenities, environmental restoration, and rehabilitation projects that increase the life of assets. 

FY25-30 Capital Improvement Program priorities may include: 

• Implementing the updated Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan and rehabilitating aging facilities. 
• Constructing the Lyttonsville Neighborhood Green, a new park along the new Capital Crescent Trail to Silver Spring in Lyttonsville that includes the Talbot Street Bridge memorial.   
• Increased funding for electrification and solar power generation. 
• Increased funding to rehabilitate and modernize aging infrastructure and park amenities. 
• Increased funding to restore Stream Valley Parks degraded by untreated impervious areas draining onto parkland. 
• Increased Vision Zero funding to provide safer trail intersections and traffic calming along parkways, specifically focusing on Matthew Henson Trail, Sligo Creek Trail, and connections to Wheaton Regional Park. This funding will also be used as matching funds for Federal Safe Streets for All (SS4A) and RAISE grants. 
• Increased funding to renovate existing trails and improve community connections, specifically focusing on Sligo Creek Trail and Northwest Branch Trail. This funding will also be used as matching funds for Federal Safe Streets for All (SS4A) and RAISE grants. 

These projects improve existing parks, restore environmental resources, and enhance service delivery to communities most in need. The projects highlighted for increases will be coordinated with our existing Level of Effort programs. This ensures safe, inviting, accessible park amenities are available throughout Montgomery County, with a focus on making social connections, promoting healthy active lifestyles, and protecting our natural resources while prioritizing investment in Equity Focus Areas.   

To share your ideas and feedback about these projects and other parks, amenities, and improvements to consider funding in the CIP:  

• Sign up to speak at the public forum (limit of 35 speakers) online at the Montgomery Planning Board website at this link. If you need assistance completing the online form, please email staff in the Planning Board Chair’s Office at mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org or call 301-495-4605.  
• Written Comments should be received by September 11, 2023, via   
• E-mail to mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org
• Fax to Chair Artie Harris at 301-495-1320, or  
• U.S. mail addressed to: Artie Harris, Chair, Montgomery County Planning Board, 2425 Reedie Drive, 14^th Floor, Wheaton, Maryland 20902. 
• Online comments may be submitted through September 11 via Montgomery Parks Open Town Hall.

Background on Capital Improvement Program 

The Capital Improvement Program is a six-year funding plan for capital projects that is approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board and Montgomery County Council every two years. The CIP for Montgomery Parks includes projects for parkland acquisitions, renovation of park facilities, new amenities, and park expansions/development.    

About Montgomery Parks         
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 420 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. 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.   

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 Program Access for more information.  

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