Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park
Division: Park Development
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Project Description
The Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park is located at 12001 Skylark Road in Clarksburg, MD. The park’s active recreation area currently includes ballfields, playgrounds, and trails. An overall concept plan was developed to expand the active recreation area to create a special space for family activities and a central gathering spot for Clarksburg and surrounding communities.
The proposed elements include an amphitheater, community green, and kite lawn, carousel, picnicking, water play, adventure playground, teen adventure play, skateboarding, fitness/track facility, and dog park. Future improvements to the athletic fields could include lighting and irrigation.
Background
Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park is a 290-acre park located in the Clarksburg Planning Area east of Interstate 270 and south of the Clarksburg Town Center. The park was a donation from Hallie Wells in 1981 in honor of her husband, Ovid. Included in the deed, as a part of the gift was a stipulation that a carousel, currently serving Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton, Maryland, has its final location in the Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park.
A park master plan was adopted in 1995 and updates to the plan were approved in late 2014. The master plan divides the site into three segments by geographic features from West to East: Active Recreation, Natural Area, and Organic Farm Demonstration.
Status/Project Update
A facility plan for the 80-acre Active Recreation portion of the park, fronting Skylark Road, was approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board on September 24, 2015. The project is proposed to be phased, and an initial phase of the active recreation portion is included in the Department of Parks’ Fiscal Year 2019-24 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for design and construction. This first phase includes utility infrastructure, landscape architecture, carousel roundhouse with restrooms and ticketing, playground, trail connections, parking, and a skate park. The approved facility plan report is posted on the Planning Board Agenda webpage.
Design funding was approved in the Department of Parks’ Fiscal Year 2019-2024 CIP. Detailed Design is underway.
Calendar and Meeting Notes
Opportunities for public participation are shown below. Links to review meeting notes and Planning Board memos will be attached to each applicable calendar event as it is scheduled and completed.
DATE/TIME |
DISCUSSION AND MEETING NOTES |
LOCATION |
| January 2015 | Facility Planning began; different locations for siting the carousel and other amenities were explored | |
| June 3, 2015 7 PM – 9 PM |
Community Meeting #1 to solicit community input – View the presentation (12.5mb) |
Rocky Hill Middle School Cafeteria 22401 Brick Haven Way Clarksburg, MD 20871 |
| Summer 2015 | Develop 30% plan and cost estimate | |
| September 24, 2015 | Planning Board Meeting – Park staff presented the findings of the Facility Plan – Approved – View the Planning Board Report, Item 3 – View the Planning Board minutes which includes conditions to the approval (September 24, 2015 – page 5, #3) |
M-MCPPC Montgomery Regional Office Auditorium 8787 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
| November 2019 | Detailed Design Begins | |
| 2022 | Anticipated Construction Start |
*Dates and times are subject to change. Please contact the Project Manager for the latest update.
M-NCPPC Staff Contact
Kim Paniati, PE, Project Manager
Kimberly.Paniati@MontgomeryParks.org
(301) 495-2464