Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Local Park – Park Renovation

Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Local Park serves a large, diverse population from surrounding neighborhoods and beyond. Through its existing amenities, the park provides opportunities for active recreation, social connection, and enjoyment of nature.

The goal of this project is to update aging facilities in the park and to provide new possibilities for active use by improving existing amenities, adding new amenities, and improving ADA access throughout the park,

Background

Rosemary-Lyttonsville Local Park is an existing 17.1-acre park located in the Rosemary Hills community, south of the Capital Beltway, at 2450 Lyttonsville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Over 68,000 people live within walking and biking distance of this park. The existing park amenities include basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic tables, a football/soccer field, and a softball field. Much of the park is made up of rolling landscapes, large specimen trees, and walking trails. The park is also home to the Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Center.

Status/Project Update

Montgomery Parks’ planning staff has been conducting community outreach as they prepare planning recommendations for park improvements. On December 13, 2023, staff will meet with the community to share recommendations and concepts for the park.

: Concept Plan A – New amenities include a community garden, shade pavilion, and updated courts

: Concept Plan B – New amenities include a pickleball court, shade pavilion, and updated courts

: Concept Plan C – New amenities include a dog run, shade pavilion, and updated courts

**Calendar and Meeting Notes Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Park Renovation**
Dates	Events	Notes
May 16, 2023	Community Meeting #1 Hybrid meeting to discuss park improvements.	Open Townhall Survey comment period was open until May 31. Survey Results (pdf) Presentation File (pdf) View the recording
June 3, 2023	Community Meeting #2 An in-person meeting to present initial recommendations.	The survey closed on July 31, 2023

* Date and time subject to change. Please contact the project manager for updates.

Staff Contact

Christie Ciabotti, Project Manager
301-650-4365
Christie.Ciabotti@MontgomeryParks.org

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Frequently Asked Questions

How will Montgomery Parks improve maintenance at Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Local Park?

Montgomery Parks Staff has heard concerns from community members about the condition and maintenance of Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Local Park. While this is primarily a planning project, we are using this planning process to learn more about the issues and address them.
How will this park renovation project be funded?
The improvement project at Rosemary Hills Lyttonsville will be funded through two sources:
- Maryland State Bond Bill Initiative ($800,000): Montgomery Parks received Maryland State Bond Bill funding for Rosemary Hills Lyttonsville Local Park Renovations in 2022. The primary sponsor was Delegate Jared Solomon from District 18. The scope of the project outlined in the Bond Bill Fact sheet includes renovation of the existing loop trail and connections, upgrades to the existing courts, environmental restoration efforts, improving playability of the athletic fields, and providing amenities such as seating areas, shade structures, bike racks, etc. within Rosemary-Lyttonsville Local Park. Renovations will improve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards and retrofit stormwater management treatment to better protect receiving waters.
- Capital Improvements Program (CIP): Montgomery Parks anticipates the cost of the improvements at Rosemary Hills will exceed the $800,000 available through Bond Bill funding and is estimating the total project cost to be at least $1.2 million. Additional funding for the project will come from the Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
What is the scope of the park renovation project?
Montgomery Parks staff is refining the scope of the project using level of service analysis data, site analysis information, and public input. The following park elements will be included as part of the renovation:
- Pathway Improvements – pathways throughout the park will be repaired as needed and will be upgraded for ADA accessibility to the greatest extent possible.
- Parking Lot Renovation – the parking lot at Lyttonsville Road will be renovated to increase efficiency and provide stormwater management. Parks staff is studying parking demand and heard from the community that during large events at the Community Center and on busy sports weekends, the lot is well used.
- Court Upgrades – the existing tennis courts and basketball courts will be resurfaced and upgraded for better playability. Court conversions will be considered as part of the project. For example, one tennis court may be converted to a soccer court.
- Stormwater Management – stormwater management will be provided for improved areas of the park. Additional stormwater facilities may be added as needed.
- Seating and Bike Racks – new seating opportunities and bike parking will be part of the improvements planned for the park
- Soccer Field Improvements – staff is assessing existing conditions and field usage and heard community input about the current condition of the fields. Staff will make recommendations on the feasibility and scope of field improvements.
Additional new amenities are being considered for the park and may include:
- Dog Run – a small dog park for owners to exercise their dogs in a fenced area.
- Community Garden – enclosed garden area with individual plots for rental. Please click on the link for more information about Montgomery Parks Community Gardens.
- Picnic Pavilion and Picnic Area – a covered area for community gathering and picnicking.
- Pickleball Courts – pickleball striping may be included on a tennis court or dedicated pickleball courts could be considered.
Where will improvements be located in the park?
- Pathway improvements will be completed throughout the park focusing on paths that are in poor condition or don’t currently meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
- Parking lot improvements, major new amenities, and court upgrades will be concentrated in the area of the existing parking lot and courts adjacent to Lyttonsville Road.
- The remainder of the park will see minor changes that may include new seating or sports field improvements.
- The southeast area of the park will remain contemplative with pathway improvement only.
What are the plans for playgrounds in the park?

Montgomery Parks does not have immediate plans to renovate the playgrounds in the park. Our playgrounds are typically replaced after an approximately 30-year life cycle. The playground near the community center was renovated less than 20 years ago. The tot lot near Lanier Drive is older than that and may be considered for replacement as Parks evaluates priorities during the next CIP cycle. We heard about the importance of shade in the playground from the community and Parks staff will evaluate the feasibility of adding trees or other shade features near the playground.
Are there examples of similar park renovations that community members can visit?
- Small Community Garden: Edgewood Neighborhood Park
- Court Renovations: (Pickleball, soccer court, tennis court, basketball): Silver Spring Intermediate Neighborhood Park
- Dog Park: The dog park at Ellsworth Urban Park is bigger than what Parks staff is considering in this location, but it is the closest example from Montgomery Parks. An example in Washington DC is the relatively new Eckington Dog Park.
How can community members provide input on the park renovations?
- Community Meeting: 2-4pm, Sat. June 3, 2023 – Join Montgomery Parks staff in the lobby of the Coffield Community Center at 2pm on June 3 to discuss the renovation project. The purpose of this meeting is to review proposed concepts for the park improvements, gather input from park users, and review maintenance and operations at the park.
- Feedback Survey – Please complete a short survey to share your thoughts about the park renovation with Montgomery Parks. Survey Link: mocoparks.org/RH-LSurvey.
- Future Community Outreach – Montgomery Parks will continue to gather community input through various avenues including the feedback survey, attending community events, and reaching out to underrepresented communities as much as possible. We will keep the community updated as we move forward with the project. Updates will also be available at the project website: mocoparks.org/RH-LLP
How many people responded to the May Open Town Hall survey?

294 people responded to the May Open Town Hall survey. The responses are visible to the public for 84 respondents. This is because the Open Town Hall only shows the results for respondents who completed the registration form. Parks will review ALL the survey responses. Check out the final survey results (accessible pdf).

Last Updated: November 21, 2023

Montgomery Parks

Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Local Park – Park Renovation

Background

Status/Project Update

Calendar and Meeting Notes Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Park Renovation

Staff Contact