-U.S. Olympic Diving Team wraps up training at new facility before departing for London-
SILVER SPRING, MD—M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks announced today a new public-private partnership with the Montgomery Dive Club (Built by Beavers LLC) that will result in the first dedicated dryland diving training facility in Montgomery County to be located in Wall Park. The partnership has enabled the conversion of a 1,600 square foot facility from underutilized, standalone handball courts into a multi-purpose acrobatics and gymnastic site for dryland diving training. It will also be used for new community programs and classes for people of all ages. All costs will be covered by the Montgomery Dive Club.
“This is a perfect example of how Montgomery Parks can partner with the private sector to meet the needs of our residents,” said Kate Stookey, Division Chief for Public Affairs and Community Partnerships. “By leveraging private resources in this way, we help make new programs and services available to the public without any additional financial burden on the taxpayers.”
The project was approved in late June 2012 by the Montgomery County Planning Board. The partner immediately moved mobile equipment into the facility so the USA Olympic Diving Team could train there during the week leading up to their departure for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
“The dryland training facility is an important component to meet the needs of a thriving diving community in Montgomery County,” said Doug Beavers, Director Montgomery County Dive Club. “This premium facility puts us on par with any national program that provides high level diving training.”
Montgomery Dive Club members will now train at the new Wall Park dryland facility as well as the Eunice Kennedy and Sargent Shriver Aquatic Center operated by the Montgomery County Recreation Department.
“The collaborative partnership with the Parks Department is important in bringing high quality recreation programming to Montgomery County residents,” said Robin Riley, Montgomery County Recreation Division Chief. “This dryland facility gives opportunity for Montgomery County to reach its full potential.”
Additional renovations to the facility and programmatic changes will be made in the coming months to accommodate other community uses including diving day camps, pilates /yoga classes, “mommy and me” classes and special events such as birthday parties. The new facility will feature trampolines, bungee harnesses, dry diving boards, a spring floor, and digital video replay monitors.
For more information about the Montgomery Dive Club and its new dryland dive training facility please visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec
For more information about M-NCPPC public-private partnership opportunities, please visit http://www.montgomeryparks.org/team/ppp/index.shtm
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