Northwest Branch Recreational Park

Northwest Branch Recreational Park consists of 680 acres of parkland which includes the Northwest Branch Golf Course and the park is adjacent to Layhill Local Park. The park features a 41-acre athletic area and rectangular athletic fields at are available for permitting in the spring.

Park Projects Disc Golf

M-NCPPC, Montgomery Parks is currently planning for an 18-hole disc golf course at Northwest Branch Recreational Park, adjacent to the National Capital Trolley Museum (NCTM). This will be the first 18-hole disc golf course on M-NCPPC parkland in Montgomery County. M-NCPPC owns and operates an 18-hole disc golf course at Calvert Road Park in Prince George’s County, and there is a 27-hole, public disc golf course at Seneca Creek State Park in Germantown. Montgomery Parks is planning for this disc golf course not only because players have been requesting one for years, but it’s also recommended in the 2022 Parks Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS) as a facility type, we should be providing to county residents.

To learn more about this project, Disc Golf at Northwest Branch.

The Northwest Branch Recreational Park Master Plan

This project is currently on hold due to work program constraints but a master plan is needed to provide a future vision and sketch plan for the undeveloped areas of the park.

The plan will be coordinated with recent and proposed developments in and near the park including the Trolley Museum relocation, a new cellular tower, ICC construction, the Rachel Carson Greenway and other trail connections, Llewellyn Fields Athletic Area, and other requests for facilities.

The major focus of the master plan will be to develop a concept plan for a family recreation area north of Bonifant Road that will complement the Trolley Museum facilities and preserve many areas for nature study and wildlife habitat. The Rachel Carson Greenway Trail will connect the park to Llewellyn Fields Athletic area on the Northern edge of the park, and a connection to the ICC trail will be studied.

The portion of Northwest Branch Recreational Park north of Bonifant Road has been envisioned in Park, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plans for many years as a future recreation area. The 2001 PROS Implementation Plan states that “a family picnic/playground area is envisioned to complement the trolley museum”. Families could come and visit the museum, ride the trolley, and use the future playground and picnic area.