Athletic Field Use Permit Policy under Review
Montgomery Parks is currently reviewing and updating the Athletic Field Use Permit Policy to better reflect the needs of our field users. Please visit the project page for more information on the process and project, as well as contact information for any related questions.
Policy Statement
The purpose of this policy is to establish an orderly and fair procedure for the reservation of athletic fields for practices, games, tournaments, and special events. It is the intent of this policy to balance the increase in demand for such organized uses with the maintenance, renovation, and rest necessary to protect the long-term playability of our fields and ensure user safety.
Most regional and recreational park fields require a permit for use (1). Regional and recreational fields may be permitted for official league games only; no practices are allowed on these fields. Permits are required at all times for regional/recreational fields and other fields marked “by permit only.” If no permits have been issued, local park fields may be used on a first-come, first-served basis, unless otherwise posted, or prohibited in this policy. Non-permitted users must cede the field to designated permit holders at all times. Play is strictly prohibited from December 1 through March 14 on all natural grass fields and during field work, renovations and inclement weather, or when posted signs prohibit use. All user groups must adhere to all rules and regulations outlined in this policy and comply with all M-NCPPC Rules & Regulations and stated Conditions of Use.
Criteria Field allocation for leagues will be based on prior use. However, leagues representatives must apply for permits by the designated deadline of each season. When processing permit applications, every effort is made to provide each qualifying organization with a permit for at least some of the field time requested. Allocation of athletic fields is determined by the following priority system:
First Priority
Montgomery County Department of Recreation Programs, City of Takoma Park Recreation Programs, Adopt-a-Field groups, public/private partnerships or other contractual agreements, and special event/tournament requests.
Second Priority Montgomery or Prince George’s County community-based leagues and schools, including organized youth leagues.*
*Please note: First and second priority user groups must submit their requests by the respective deadline for each season or their first priority status will be forfeited for that season.
Park Type Spring / Summer Dates Fall Dates Local Park Fields March 15 to August 15 August 16 to November 30 Regional and Recreational Park Fields April 1 to August 15 September 1 to November 30
All permit applications must be submitted to the County’s Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF)
Park Type Spring / Summer Dates Fall Dates Local and Neighborhood Park Beginning February 1 Beginning July 1
Park Type Spring / Summer Dates Fall Dates Regional and Recreational Parks Beginning December 16 Beginning May 16
Release Dates for Unneeded Field Time
To ensure as many groups as possible have access to field time, groups should release any unneeded field time as soon as their schedules are set. Users will not be charged for this field time if it is returned to CUPF by March 15 for the spring / summer season and by August 16 for the fall season. All returns must be submitted in writing. If an organization returns field time from its historic allocation list, those fields will be removed from the organization’s historic use and made available for other groups.
Artificial Turf Use Schedule and Regulations
Artificial turf fields are available for permitted use year-round, except when closed for maintenance, renovation, or extreme weather conditions. Applications for seasonal use of artificial turf fields must follow the permit application schedule outlined above. Off-season requests can be submitted at any time. Games and practices are allowed on artificial turf fields. For artificial turf fields constructed in coordination with the Board of Education or other partners, the community use hours dictated by that specific agreement will be permitted; available community use hours may vary from field to field.
Holiday Use Regulations
Local Parks: This includes athletic fields in local, neighborhood and stream valley parks. These fields may be reserved by permit or used on a first-come, first-served basis, unless otherwise posted. Permit holders have priority. Regional/Recreational Parks: Permits will not be issued for some regional or recreational fields on Memorial Day weekend, Labor Day weekend, or on other established M-NCPPC holidays.
Off-Season Use Regulations
All organized, league or team play for games or practices is prohibited on natural grass park athletic fields during the following periods:
Field Use for Non-Designated Sports
Field use priority will be given first to games and practices for the sport which each field is designed (e.g., baseball/softball on diamond fields, soccer/football/lacrosse on rectangular fields). Once all games and practices for the designated sport have been assigned, use of any available fields for non-designated sports will be considered. Any fields not being used for their designated
Field Renovation Guidelines
Fields designated for the annual turf renovation program will be closed for one year, from September 1 to August 31. All play is prohibited on these fields during this time.
General Guidelines for Field Use
All applicants must be 21 years and older. All field users are expected to adhere to the following guidelines to help keep fields in an acceptable condition for public use. Violation of these guidelines may result in fines, or the loss of future permitting or use privileges:
All unlit fields must be vacated by dark.
The permit must be on site in the possession of the permitted group or individual during the scheduled time. (A game schedule or a photocopy of the permit will serve as a permit for the Department of Recreation or leagues once verified by Park staff or Park Police.)
The permit is for the sole use of the organization named on the permit contract and is not transferable.
Loud music, bands, or excessive noise which disturbs the peace are prohibited.
Permit holders are required to see that players and spectators adhere to all park regulations, including.
No beer or alcohol allowed nor the use of illegal drugs
No urinating or changing clothes in public
No loud noises permitted (boom boxes, horns, car alarms)
No littering. All trash must be picked up during and after field use and placed in the nearest receptacle or carried away for proper disposal. All recyclables must be picked up and placed in the nearest recycling receptacle or carried away for proper disposal
Removal or repositioning of goals installed by authorized M-NCPPC staff or contractors on park fields is not allowed
The use of tobacco products is not permitted on the benches, playing areas, and those areas in proximity to the playing field (this includes cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff);
No selling of food, beverages or merchandise on park property without an approved concession permit
Carpooling is encouraged, and parking is allowed in designated parking areas only
No Parking nor driving on the field
All Pets must be leashed at all times
No grilling or any type of open flame allowed
Solicitation of any business, trade or occupation is strictly prohibited unless authorized by permit.
Use of a natural grass athletic field is prohibited when:
It is closed for renovation or repair;
Water is standing on the field;
Soil is frozen;
The soil is wet and “spongy”;
Use of a synthetic grass athletic field is prohibited when:
Steady rain is falling;
A lightning/electrical storm is occurring;
The field is deemed unplayable by Park staff or Park Police
Field users can check the Montgomery Parks Athletic Field Rainout Line to determine whether a field is open for play. Users can also sign up to receive electronic field notification alerts via text messages or emails through the County’s Alert Montgomery system.
Permit Denial and Revocation
Any users found to be in violation of the guidelines outlined in this policy will be subject to all applicable fines and penalties, including loss of future permitting and use privileges. A permit may be denied or revoked if the permit holder or any member of the permitted user group:
Violates the guidelines stated in this policy;
Does not comply with M-NCPPC Rules & Regulations and stated Conditions of Use;
Fails to use permitted field;
Removes posted signs or markers, or removes or repositions goals installed by authorized M-NCPPC staff or contractors on park fields;
Uses a field that is closed due to weather or undergoing renovations or repairs;
Does not comply with league application procedures.
Montgomery Parks reserves the right to revoke or deny a permit as necessary if a field needs to be closed for immediate repair. In all such cases, permit holders will be given as much notice as is possible.
Application Procedures League Organization Block Scheduling
Prior to each season, CUPF will forward a field permit application packet to the representative of each designated league organizations. League representatives must submit all of their organizations’ game and practice permit requests directly to CUPF by the designated application deadline for each season. Organizations should encourage their team representatives to forward any field permit needs directly to their respective league representatives.
Individual / Team Practice Requests
Individuals and team representatives may submit practice field requests directly to CUPF. However, as league game and practice permit requests will be processed prior to individual / team requests (as indicated above), team representatives should inquire with their organization regarding its allotted field time prior to submitting any additional applications to CUPF.
Information for new organizations and individual / team representatives Montgomery County CUPF applying for game or practice permits:Contact Montgomery County CUPF
Fee Schedule
CUPF will issue permits only after all fees have been paid in full.
Athletic Field fees follow the M-NCPPC User Fee Schedule, as approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board. A copy of the current approved fee schedule can be viewed at Park Permits and at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cupf. A separate utility fee will be charged for use of lighted fields. A charge will be assessed for returned checks. These fees are subject to change without notice.
Cancellations and Refunds
Refund requests may be submitted for all field time cancelled by park staff due to inclement weather or other reasons. Field users are responsible for tracking these cancellations and must submit a list of all refund requests to CUPF for consideration.
All athletic fields at Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park are available on a first-come, first-served basis if no permits have been issued. Some fields at Damascus, Fairland, Martin Luther King, and South Germantown Recreational Parks are also available on a first-come, first-served basis if no permits have been issued. When posted, fields are available by permit only. Contact CUPF for more information.
An appeal process is available to users denied the fields or dates of their choosing to ensure allocation remains balanced.
Organizations must be based in Montgomery or Prince George’s County and individual team membership must be at least two-thirds Montgomery or Prince George’s County residents Membership rosters will be required for verification.