Park Activity Buildings
Park Recreation & Ancillary Buildings Study
Randolph Hills Civic Association - General Membership Meeting
June 5, 2008, 8-10pm. Viers Mill Recreation Center, 4425 Garrett Park Road, Wheaton, MD 20906
Meeting Review
Items Discussed
- Status of Building
- Options for building site once removed
- Upcoming Planning Board item on this issue and staff recommendation
- Additional Community Input & Information
The Status of Building
The Department of Parks has found the building to be structurally unsound and cannot be used or repaired. The building needs to be removed. Staff is currently exploring sources of funds to proceed with demolition rather than simply boarding up the building.
Options for building site once removed
- Relocate playground to building site. This option includes adding seating areas for the enjoyment of parents. Help create a focal point of community gathering by adding seating areas at the playground.
- Replant building site and relocate playground elsewhere.
- Replace building. This approach requires more study in the context of a facility plan.
The Civic Association membership supports the second option (replant building site and relocate playground elsewhere) for two reasons: first, it does not pre-empt the possibility of rebuilding a park activity building in the same place and second, it removes the playground from its existing unsatisfactory site without using the park activity building footprint.
This approach also allows the community to continue lobbying for replacing the building during upcoming Capital Improvement Program (CIP) forums.
Staff replied that we would look at alternative locations for the playground that do not require any trees to be cut and that do not affect other park facilities (like ballfields).
Upcoming Planning Board item on this issue and staff recommendation
Staff will present a recommendation to the Planning Board on July 24 (Tentative Date) Please check the planning board agenda to confirm the date and time. Testimony from the public will be welcome. Information and the staff report will be available on the web at
Additional Community Input & Information
- Planning Board Agenda: http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/agenda/
- Park Planning & Stewardship: www.ParkPlanning.org
- Meeting Calendar: http://mcparkandplanning.org/parks/ppsd/ParkPlanning/Projects/RecBldgs_Project/RecBldg_Calendar.shtm
- How does the community voice support for a replacement building? Testify at the bi-annual Public Forums on the Department of Parks Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The Planning Board evaluates and responds to all public requests for park facilities during worksessions after the Public Forums.
Last Update: July 9, 2008
