SILVER SPRING, MD—Today, the Montgomery County Department of Parks releases its top 10 ways to celebrate Recreation and Parks Month designated as the month of July by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
“Montgomery County parks offer exceptional recreational opportunities for residents of all ages this July and throughout the year,” said Montgomery County Department of Parks Director Mary Bradford. “We have added special programs this month and some spectacular volunteer opportunities—whatever you’re looking for, it’s all right here!”
The department’s top 10 list of ways to celebrate Recreation and Parks Month this July include:
1. Miniature Golf & Splash-a-Thon, South Germantown Recreational Park, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm, Wednesday, July 4. Play two rounds of miniature golf and enjoy unlimited splashing at the Splash Playground for only $5 per person. Germantown Glory July 4th Celebration at the park the same day, fireworks to begin around 9:15 pm. See www.sgermantownsplashandgolf.com for more.
2. A Bird Walk for Families, Black Hill Visitor’s Center, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, Sunday, July 8. Join Beth and Keith Hamilton—birders, educators and owners of the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Germantown—for a FREE and fun afternoon of birdwatching at Black Hill Regional Park. Bring binoculars or borrow ours. Registration required, see www.ParkPASS.org (course #35048) and www.blackhillnature.org for more.
3. Volunteer Trail Ranger Training, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Saturday, July 14. New volunteer trail rangers are being trained to inspect park trails and perform light trail maintenance on designated sections. Space is limited for this training. See www.ParksVolunteers.org for more.
4. Old Fashioned Family Sing-Along, Oakley Cabin, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Saturday, July 14. Come belt out songs commonly heard before World War I with accordion player Dick Dangel, such as “Oh Susanna” and “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain” and many others in the shaded yard at the historic Oakley Cabin. FREE. Call 301-258-4044 for more.
5. Help Save the Forest, Little Bennett Regional Park, 8:00 am – 10:30 am, Sunday, July 15. Learn about invasive plants and take action to remove these alien invaders, which are drastically impacting our natural lands. See www.MontgomeryParks.org for more.
6. Splish Splash Stream Study, Meadowside Nature Center, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Tuesday, July 17. Join a park naturalist in a splash around Rock Creek to search for local aquatic life, such as crayfish, fish and aquatic bugs and to learn about watersheds and water quality. FREE. Reservations required. See www.meadowsidenature.org for more.
7. Brookside Nature Center’s Red Wagon Program, Wheaton Regional Park playground, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, Tuesday, July 24. Talk to a park naturalist while seeing and touching a wagon-full of natural objects, ask questions about plants and animals in the park and learn cool nature facts. The July 24 program theme is trees. Rain cancels the program. See www.brooksidenature.org for more.
8. Friday Night Bats, Locust Grove Nature Center, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm, Friday, July 27. It’s bat season—learn about these nocturnal neighbors, eavesdrop on their ultrasonic calls and marvel at their aerial maneuvers. Cost is $2. Registration required, see www.ParkPASS.org (course #35175) and www.locustgrovenature.org for more.
9. Underground Railroad Experience Trail and Conductor Hikes, Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon, Saturday, July 28. Trained Underground Railroad conductors lead these FREE Underground Railroad hikes on the Rural Legacy Trail Saturdays through November. The 2-mile trail is natural surface and includes interpretive sign markers and stops at Woodlawn Manor and Barn and the Sandy Spring. See www.MontgomeryTrails.org for more.
10. Ice Skating in Summer?, The Parks Show on Montgomery County Cable Channel 6, daily, now through July 31. Watch this month’s episode of The Parks Show as we feature the department’s two ice rinks—Cabin John Ice Rink and Wheaton Ice Arena—and talk with Olympic Gold Medalist Speed Skater and new coach of the Wheaton Speed Skating Club Dong-Sung Kim and Competitive Figure Skater Kristine Musademba, who trains at the Cabin John Ice Rink. View show online also from www.MontgomeryParks.org.
“The fun doesn’t stop with these ideas, there’s plenty more to do this summer in Montgomery parks,” added Bradford.
The Department of Parks also has nearly 200 miles of paved and natural surface trails in the county’s parks system for hiking, biking or equestrian riding, including two with national distinction as National Recreation Trails—Sligo Creek Trail and Rock Creek Trail. Also, boat rentals are available Wednesday through Sunday until Labor Day, September 3 at the department’s Lake Needwood at Rock Creek Regional Park in Rockville and Little Seneca Lake at Black Hill Regional Park in Boyds.
For more ideas for Recreation and Parks Month, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.
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Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866