Park of the Month: Edward A. DeSimon Recreation Area

Nestled off East Village Avenue, residents and visitors can find Edward A. DeSimon Recreation Area, 8600 East Village Avenue, often referred to as “Ed DeSimon Park.” The park is named after the late Edward DeSimon, who worked for Kettler Brothers Inc. for 35 years until his retirement in 1992. DeSimon was responsible for community site grading; he later became manager of land development, and then served as senior vice president. He can be seen pictured with Clarence Kettler on the cover to the “Images of America: Montgomery Village” pictorial history book.

This 8.27-acre recreational area is a hidden gem in the East Village area. The park contains a playground—which was replaced in 2013—a pond, four tennis courts and paved paths throughout the park. In addition to these amenities there is large open green space – a great place to toss a Frisbee or football around.

The park’s most notable feature is probably the 2-acre pond. This pond is a great place for wildlife viewing and fishing. The pond at Ed DeSimon Park is home to the Montgomery Village Foundation’s Fishing Rodeo. This year the rodeo is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 15. This event is appropriate for children ages 3 to 15 and is a great way to learn the basics of fishing. The event itself is free and participates are welcome to bring their own rods. There is a $5 fee for those that need to rent a fishing rod during the event. There are a limited number of rental rods available please plan to register in advance if you need to rent a fishing rod.

Whether you prefer wildlife watching at one of the many benches around the lake, enjoy playing a morning game of tennis or watching your little ones play on the playground, this park has a something for everyone!