Background
During the public outreach for the 2022 Wheaton Regional Park (WRP) Master Plan, the community identified skate parks as one of the most desired amenities not currently provided in the park. This response aligns with a growing regional demand for skateboarding and adventure biking. As a result, the hallmark recommendation of the Master Plan is an Action Sports Park in Wheaton Regional Park.
In 2023, Montgomery Parks also embarked on a Countywide Skate Park Survey to gauge the needs and interests of skaters and riding/rolling enthusiasts. This countywide community input informs skating priorities and establishes a strategy for new skate parks, including the Action Sports Park.
The community feedback received during the Master Plan and Skate Park Survey serves as the foundation for the Action Sports Park project.
Project Description
The goal of the Action Sports Park is to provide a safe, inclusive, and engaging adventure sports experience alongside spaces for social connection and environmental improvements. The new park should serve a diversity of ages (kids, teens, adults, families) and ability levels (beginners through advanced).
Montgomery Parks is currently evaluating what activities could be included in the Action Sports Park. Some of the potential amenities include a skate park, pump track, bike skills track, climbing, bouldering, fitness, parkour, obstacle course, children’s adventure play area (playground), beginners skate park, and a kid’s wheeled play area (traffic garden, bike skills area, skate spot, and pump track for beginners). The complex will also likely have viewing and seating/ social areas, an event lawn and open space, water mister, shade structures, and ADA improvements.
Existing Conditions
The approximately eight-acre Action Sports Park project site is surrounded by Field 3 (north), park entry road (east), trees and private residences (south) and forest (west). Refer to the Rubini Athletic Complex map for more information.
The construction of the athletic fields in the 1960s/70s cleared forest, regraded the site, and encroached upon a stream valley buffer. Steep slopes surround the project site, which currently lacks stormwater management and does not meet accessibility guidelines. The entry drive and parking lots do not provide protected separation for pedestrians and bicycles. During daytime hours on weekdays, this section of the park is typically sparsely utilized. This project seeks to improve these issues with a recreational amenity that is safe, equitable, restorative, and activated.
Other amenities in the Rubini Athletic Complex include the tennis bubble, ice rink, courts, Fields 1-3, sports pavilion, trails and dog park. The Action Sports Park will not alter these facilities. To ensure continuity of service, Montgomery Parks is studying how to construct the Action Sports Park while maintaining public access to these existing amenities.
Status/Project Update
Montgomery Parks designed several concepts for the Action Sports Park based on Master Plan recommendations and the Countywide Skate Park survey. Site analysis (e.g., views, topography, noise, adjacent amenities), action amenity research, environmental resources (e.g., shade, drainage), and maintenance needs also informed the preliminary designs. In Spring 2024, Montgomery Parks presented two concept alternatives during a public meeting and at several other community engagement events. The public also provided feedback via an online survey. Please continue to check this website for future updates.
Refined Design
The community expressed a preference for Concept 2, which included a crescent-shaped turf area to separate the most intense amenities from areas for beginners and kids. The Parks team then improved the concept by addressing community comments, such as:
- include potential locations for shade structures – along both the edges and interior of park
- site the restroom in the lower area for convenient public access.
- improve bike and pedestrian access options to/from Nairn Trail, Orebaugh Avenue, and parking lots.
- provide traffic calming measures along Orebaugh Avenue and the park entry road, in coordination with the separate adjacent projects.
- protect the existing forest edge, plant new trees, and integrate best stormwater management practices.
The east side of the updated concept includes a renovated entry drive, a shared-use path, a sidewalk connection to Orebaugh Avenue, and parking. These improvements connect the Action Sports Park to the rest of the Rubini Area. A proposed loop turnaround can be used for visitor drop-off and food trucks. Spectator areas provide views into the action area and connect to walkways that lead downhill to the action amenities.
The most intense action amenities – the skate park, pump track, and bike skills track – are at the core of the park, adjacent to spectator areas. The Activity Track provides a walking/running loop for visitors. The adventure playground, kids wheeled play area, and fitness areas are along the perimeter, with convenient access to the activity track, other park walkways, and the crescent-shaped lawn area. Each primary amenity is sized for a regional/destination facility; however, the sizes and locations will need to be further studied based on site needs and budget considerations. Parks will engage qualified design-build firms to design action amenities. The plan incorporates some well-received aspects of Concept 1, such as locating the restroom in the lower area with the mister station adjacent.
Aside from connections to Nairn Trail, the new project does not expand into the existing forest on the north, west, and south edges of the project. Large open turf spaces, bi-annual mowed areas, reforestation, and riparian restorations are located along the outer perimeter, to help blend the new park into the adjacent forest.
Calendar and Meeting Notes
| Project Dates | Project Notes |
|---|---|
| June 2022 | Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan (including an Action Sports Park at the Rubini Athletic Complex) was approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board. |
| Late 2022 – Early 2024 | Program Development and Preliminary Concept Design Phase: Internal project initiation work, including topographic survey, site analysis, programming research, concept studies, and initial public outreach |
| January 29, 2024 | Wheaton Arts and Entertainment Advisory Board: Youth Town Hall at Wheaton Library/Recreation Center |
| February 14, 2024 | Presentation at the Commission on People with Disabilities February meeting |
| April 3, 2024 7 pm – 8:30 pm | Virtual community meeting #1 View the recording Vea la grabación View the Open Town Hall results |
| Spring 2024 – Winter 2025 | Concept Development View the post-community meeting revised concept |
| 2025 | Preliminary Design with public outreach |
| 2026 (anticipated) | Detailed Design with focus groups |
| 2027 – 2028 (anticipated) | Anticipated Construction |
*Dates and times are subject to change. Please contact the Project Manager for the latest update.