Meeting will take place Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in Rockville
SILVER SPRING, MD—Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and Montgomery County Department of General Services will address accessibility at recreational facilities and parks throughout the County at a public meeting on Wednesday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m. Montgomery County’s Commission on People with Disabilities and the County-Wide Recreation Advisory Board are serving as the meeting sponsors. Residents and community groups are encouraged to attend and provide input towards a multi-year plan to improve accessibility. The meeting will be held in the ExecutiveOfficeBuilding, Lobby Level Auditorium, 101 Monroe St., Rockville.
The U.S. Department of Justice issued revised Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations for state and local governments that went into effect in March 2012. These regulations will impact parks, playgrounds, ball fields, picnic areas and other amenities operated by M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks as well as swimming pools, recreation centers, whirlpools, saunas and exercise rooms operated by the Recreation Department.
The public meeting will be facilitated by John McGovern, a nationally-recognized ADA expert specializing in recreational programs and facilities. Topics to be presented include an overview of the new accessibility standards and other requirements, an update on the accessibility improvements that have been completed to date by both agencies, and information on opportunities for public involvement. The public will also be invited to provide input and questions. More details about the public meeting are available at www.MontgomeryParks.org/ada which will be updated regularly with information on the multi-year plan to improve accessibility at recreational and park facilitie
American Sign Language interpreter services will be provided. The meeting room is accessible and equipped with an assistive listening system. Anyone needing other auxiliary aids and services to participate in this event should contact the County’s ADA Compliance Office at least three business days in advance of the meeting. Call 240-777-6197, or TTY 240-777-6196 or email adacompliance@montgomerycountymd.gov.
For more information about the public meeting or about ADA compliance issues, contact Nancy Greene in the County’s Department of General Services at adacompliance@montgomerycountymd.gov or by phone at 240-777-6197 or Bob Green, ADA Compliance Project Manager for M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks at Bob.Green@montgomeryparks.org or by phone at 301-495-2751.
Montgomery County Recreation and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) Montgomery Parks are distinct agencies and manage different aspects of recreation and leisure services, facilities, parks, and stewardship of natural and cultural resources, however the core mission of both agencies is consistent in providing inclusive quality recreation facilities and resources.
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About Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 35,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 418 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. The M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. www.montgomeryparks.org