The new designation replaces the Royce Hanson Urban Park which was eliminated as part of the redevelopment of the Montgomery Regional Office in Silver Spring.
WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks announces the designation of Royce Hanson Conservation Park at Broad Run to honor the legacy of Dr. Royce Hanson for his service to The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and Montgomery County.
Royce Hanson Urban Park was dedicated to Dr. Hanson in 1981 and was located adjacent to the M-NCPPC former headquarters at the Montgomery Regional Office at 8787 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. That park was removed as part of the redevelopment of the site.
“Dr. Hanson has been a champion for natural and cultural resources and outdoor recreation and education for many years,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “Renaming Broad Run Conservation Park in his honor is the perfect fit considering his lifelong commitment to conservation, particularly in the county’s Agricultural Reserve.”
The Parks Department acquired Broad Run Conservation Park, which comprises almost 500 acres, in 2021 to ensure the long-term conservation of the area and provide future opportunities for resource-based recreation, including hiking, biking, fishing, bird-watching, and primitive camping. The park was selected from a list of three dozen potential existing park sites based on its location in the Agricultural Reserve, and its unique qualities as a park for resource stewardship, resource-based recreation, and public access and education.
The Parks Department will hold a dedication ceremony in the future.
About 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.
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.