SILVER SPRING & ROCKVILLE, MD—The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Montgomery County Department of Parks and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) have worked together to open two new community gardens sites on MCPS property this spring. Parks staff is accepting lottery applications now for gardening at these new locations.
“Community gardens are a great asset to our neighborhoods for environmental, health, and educational reasons,” said Christopher S. Barclay, president of the Montgomery County Board of Education. “MCPS is very happy to partner with the county parks department to open up our property for such a vital, community use.”
The Department of Parks is accepting lottery applications for the Rocking Horse Center and Emory Center sites through today, March 25, 2011. Plots will be assigned in early April with an anticipated opening in mid-April, weather permitting.
The Rocking Horse Center site, located at 4920 Macon Road in Rockville, will have both 200- square-feet plots for an annual fee of $30 per plot and 400-square-feet plots for $50 per year. The Emory Center location, 18110 Washington Grove Lane in Gaithersburg, will also feature 200-square-feet plots for an annual fee of $30 per plot and 400-square-feet plots for $50 per year. There will be fifty or more plots available at both locations.
“Schools and parks go hand in hand, as parks are often living classrooms for our county’s children,” said Director of Parks Mary R. Bradford. “We’re pleased to take this first step in partnering with MCPS to introduce one of our most popular park amenities into their system.”
The third MCPS site location at Spring Mill Center in Silver Spring slated for a community garden as well is still being considered. If funding permits, this site could open as early as fall.
For a lottery application for these locations, visit www.ParksCommunityGardens.org. Submit completed applications by mail to M-NCPPC Community Gardens Program at 16641 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville MD 20855 or email to Ursula.SabiaSukinik@MontgomeryParks.org. The Department of Parks will collect fees after the lottery process is complete.
The Department of Parks has been operating its community gardens program since May 2009. More than 400 community gardeners are presently using the seven community gardens locations operated by the parks department throughout the county: Bradley Park Community Garden, Briggs Chaney Community Garden, Fenton Street Local Park Community Garden, Maple Avenue Community Garden, Parklawn Community Garden, Sligo Mill Overlook Community Garden and South Germantown Recreational Park Community Garden.
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Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866
Dana Tofig
Director of Public Information
Montgomery County Public Schools
301-279-3853