A number of park projects have either been completed this year or are currently underway. These projects will bring a number of new amenities to Montgomery Village, including the outdoor gym with shade structure and lighting at Watkins Mill Recreation Area; the dog park at Central Park; and the addition of more Pickleball courts at various locations throughout the community. As with all projects, residents are reminded that they are active construction areas, and off limits to the public until fully finished and deemed opened by Montgomery Village Foundation (MVF).

Watkins Mill Recreation Area
In July 2022, the MVF Board of Directors awarded the Watkins Mill Recreation Area repurpose project to Keller Brothers, Inc. By repurposing the site, it allows for the creation of a new amenity for better year-round utilization of the recreation area. After an extensive community input phase, it was approved to repurpose the site to an outdoor fitness space.

The major components of the project include: the demolition of the existing building and pool facility; necessary site work; installation of required stormwater management facilities; relocation of the existing playground to be adjacent to the outdoor gym; planting of required trees and shrubs; installation of a path network connecting the entrances to the amenities; addition of a four-foot-high fence around the perimeter of the park; installation of a utilities building; installation of other site furnishings; and the creation of the fitness space, which will include an exercise path, fitness equipment with fabric shade structure and overhead lighting. This project will be partially funded via the State of Maryland bond initiative ($700,000) and the remaining cost will be funded by MVF via the Capital Contribution Fee (CCF).

Keller began demolition of the site on October 6. The contractor has made good progress on the demolition of the pool, bathhouse and other buildings on the site. The pool has been filled in to bring the site up to grade. Currently, Keller is still tracking to finish this project by spring/summer 2023.

Central Park
Our newest park will be located at the intersection Montgomery Village Avenue and Stewartown Road, and offers a number of unique amenities to the community. The park will open in two phases. Phase-1 includes the parking lot, playgrounds and the dog park which has two areas (small dog area for dogs under 20 lbs. and large dog area for dogs over 20 lbs.). Phase-2 will include community gardens, greenspace and walking paths.

Phase-1 of Central Park is nearing completion, with the majority of the work anticipated to be completed by the end of the year. However, there is no set opening date as the park plantings and grass need time to establish prior to the park opening. Once the park is complete and ready for park users, we will have a grand opening, and communicate the park opening through all our communication methods. We are looking forward to this unique park being opened to the community.

Pickleball and Tennis courts
In 2022, MVF added more Pickleball courts due to the popularity of the sport and resident requests for additional Pickleball venues. After a comprehensive community input phase, the MVF Board of Directors approved  the addition of Pickleball lines to a tennis court at Edward DeSimon Recreation Area to create 2 new Pickleball courts, and replace one tennis court at Apple Ridge Recreation Area to create 4 new Pickleball courts.

The lines at Edward DeSimon Recreation Area were added in September 2022, along with a pilot program for a portable Pickleball net. The Apple Ridge Pickleball courts will open in spring/summer 2023, pending Board approval to proceed. In addition, the tennis courts at Edward DeSimon Recreation Area, Stedwick Community Center and Watkins Mill Recreation Area were updated.

LED Parking Lot Lights
The parking lot lights at Apple Ridge Recreation Area and Whetstone Community Center, along with the exterior lights around Whetstone Community Center, are aging and need replacement with a more energy efficient LED fixture. These projects are included in the 2022 Reserve Fund projects, and were identified in the MVF Organizational Green Plan. The new lights are anticipated to be installed by the end of 2022.