Project Description
The goal of the Wheaton Regional Park Courts and Parking Improvements project at Rubini Athletic Complex is to upgrade the courts, parking, and travel ways, in addition to other improvements, to provide better accessibility, connectivity, and safety for park users.
This project will largely reflect the recommendations outlined in the Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan. Improvements to the travel ways and parking consist of renovations to the internal drive access network, parking lots, pathways for vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian connections, including new lighting.
Improvements will be made to the existing basketball court, including adding new lighting. the existing tennis courts will be renovated and two of the courts will be converted to six purpose-built pickleball courts. The underutilized handball court will also be repurposed. Additional improvements include ADA access, utility and utility building upgrades, a new pavilion serving the basketball and tennis courts, FRS access, and other site amenities. Montgomery Parks is also exploring the feasibility of undergrounding existing overhead lines to improve the park’s functionality, aesthetics, and electric reliability.
Parks has developed a preliminary design concept, maximizing the space available to be enjoyed by the community and taking into consideration input from internal and external stakeholders. The project cost will be funded through the Parks Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
Background
Wheaton Regional Park is a 536-acre park located in the southern and eastern part of Montgomery County. Acquired in the 1950s and developed in the 1960s, it was the first regional park in the Montgomery Park system. The Rubini Athletic Complex is one of the many heavily programmed areas that comprise Wheaton Regional Park. It is about fifty acres and includes six (6) diamond fields, outdoor tennis courts, a dog park, a basketball court, a handball court, several parking lots, trails, a mini-maintenance yard, an indoor Tennis Bubble, Sports Pavilion, and Ice Rink. The main access is via Orebaugh Avenue and visitors can also access this area of the park using hard surface park trails connecting from both Brookside Gardens and the Shorefield Area.
Status/Project Update
An engineering design task order has been awarded for the detailed design of the courts and parking improvements at Rubini Athletic Complex project. M-NCPPC is encouraging interested residents to provide input regarding considerations for the design of this project.
Calendar and Meeting Notes
*Dates and times are subject to change. Please contact the Project Manager for the latest update.
| Project Dates | Project Notes |
|---|---|
| June 2022 | Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan (including an Action Sports Park in Rubini Athletic Complex) was approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board |
| November 2023 | Solicitation for multi-disciplinary A/E design services issued |
| 2024-2025 | Detailed design and permitting |
| 2025-2026 | Anticipated construction (basketball and tennis courts close) |
| Spring 2026 | Anticipated project completion |