ROCKVILLE, MD-County leaders and community members joined the Montgomery County
Department of Parks Saturday to celebrate the brand new Lake Needwood Boathouse
at Rock Creek Regional Park in Rockville.
"I know I speak for all our residents when I say how grateful I am that the park
has bounced back after the unprecedented flooding that occurred last year," said
County Executive Isiah Leggett, who was regrettably unable to attend Saturday's
festivities. "Lake Needwood has been a popular spot for boating and fishing
enthusiasts for many years. With the opening of the new boathouse and the
repairs to the dam, this beloved park will once again be a popular leisure time
destination for our residents."
Montgomery County Council President Marilyn Praisner, Montgomery County Planning
Board Chair Royce Hanson and Mid-County Recreation Advisory Board Chair Joe
Fritsch joined Saturday's celebration. The event also featured Meadowside Nature
Center park naturalist-led pontoon boat tours of the 75-acre Lake Needwood, 50
percent off boat rentals, giveaways and an update on the Lake Needwood Dam
repairs.
Department of Parks Project Manager Andy Frank provided Saturday's update on the
dam repairs, which are progressing well. Frank talked about the grout curtain
being installed below the Lake Needwood Dam to reduce seepage through the dam's
rock foundation. Frank added that this work is supporting the department's
theories about how water is migrating through the fractured rock below the dam.
Fractures identified within the dam's foundation are being injected with large
amounts of grout, particularly on the left side of the dam where the leak
occurred last summer. The first phase of the dam repair project-the installation
of the grout curtain-is expected to take about two more months to complete and
the second phase is expected to begin later this summer. Hiking or crossing over
the dam is prohibited temporarily due to the dam repairs, but public access to
the park and the new Lake Needwood Boathouse is available by using the main park
entrances on Needwood or Avery roads.
"Last summer's devastating storms dealt us lemons," said Department of Parks
Director Mary Bradford, "but we've made lemonade getting a fully repaired dam at
Lake Needwood and this brand new, modernized boathouse."
Montgomery County Planning Board Chairman Royce Hanson commended the parks
department for their hard work to get the boathouse back in business and on
making the critical dam repairs. "Last summer's flood was an unprecedented
demonstration of intergovernmental cooperation-between County Police, Fire and
Rescue, Public Works and Transportation, the State Highway Administration,
FEMA-and it brought together more than 100 parks staff and Park Police working
together tirelessly and under tremendous pressure to protect public safety,"
said Chairman Hanson.
The Lake Needwood Boathouse was completely destroyed after last summer's deluge.
The boathouse, which houses the department's boat rental operations at Lake
Needwood, closed June 28 last year and reopened this year on May 5 completely
renovated with a larger snack bar, brand new central heating and air
conditioning and a new flood resistant basement. The total costs of the
renovations were more than $300,000. Boat rental season at Lake Needwood is
open now, Wednesday through Sunday, through Labor Day weekend.
For more on renting boats at the Lake Needwood Boathouse visit
www.lakeneedwoodboats.com.
# # #
PHOTOS FROM THE GRAND OPENING AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
ROCKVILLE, MD-County leaders and community members joined the Montgomery County
Department of Parks Saturday to celebrate the brand new Lake Needwood Boathouse
at Rock Creek Regional Park in Rockville.
"I know I speak for all our residents when I say how grateful I am that the park
has bounced back after the unprecedented flooding that occurred last year," said
County Executive Isiah Leggett, who was regrettably unable to attend Saturday's
festivities. "Lake Needwood has been a popular spot for boating and fishing
enthusiasts for many years. With the opening of the new boathouse and the
repairs to the dam, this beloved park will once again be a popular leisure time
destination for our residents."
Montgomery County Council President Marilyn Praisner, Montgomery County Planning
Board Chair Royce Hanson and Mid-County Recreation Advisory Board Chair Joe
Fritsch joined Saturday's celebration. The event also featured Meadowside Nature
Center park naturalist-led pontoon boat tours of the 75-acre Lake Needwood, 50
percent off boat rentals, giveaways and an update on the Lake Needwood Dam
repairs.
Department of Parks Project Manager Andy Frank provided Saturday's update on the
dam repairs, which are progressing well. Frank talked about the grout curtain
being installed below the Lake Needwood Dam to reduce seepage through the dam's
rock foundation. Frank added that this work is supporting the department's
theories about how water is migrating through the fractured rock below the dam.
Fractures identified within the dam's foundation are being injected with large
amounts of grout, particularly on the left side of the dam where the leak
occurred last summer. The first phase of the dam repair project-the installation
of the grout curtain-is expected to take about two more months to complete and
the second phase is expected to begin later this summer. Hiking or crossing over
the dam is prohibited temporarily due to the dam repairs, but public access to
the park and the new Lake Needwood Boathouse is available by using the main park
entrances on Needwood or Avery roads.
"Last summer's devastating storms dealt us lemons," said Department of Parks
Director Mary Bradford, "but we've made lemonade getting a fully repaired dam at
Lake Needwood and this brand new, modernized boathouse."
Montgomery County Planning Board Chairman Royce Hanson commended the parks
department for their hard work to get the boathouse back in business and on
making the critical dam repairs. "Last summer's flood was an unprecedented
demonstration of intergovernmental cooperation-between County Police, Fire and
Rescue, Public Works and Transportation, the State Highway Administration,
FEMA-and it brought together more than 100 parks staff and Park Police working
together tirelessly and under tremendous pressure to protect public safety,"
said Chairman Hanson.
The Lake Needwood Boathouse was completely destroyed after last summer's deluge.
The boathouse, which houses the department's boat rental operations at Lake
Needwood, closed June 28 last year and reopened this year on May 5 completely
renovated with a larger snack bar, brand new central heating and air
conditioning and a new flood resistant basement. The total costs of the
renovations were more than $300,000. Boat rental season at Lake Needwood is
open now, Wednesday through Sunday, through Labor Day weekend.
For more on renting boats at the Lake Needwood Boathouse visit
www.lakeneedwoodboats.com.
# # #
PHOTOS FROM THE GRAND OPENING AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.