Spring has set in, and in Montgomery Parks, that means a wonderful time to get closer to nature. The trees and flowers are already tipped with tender greens and dainty buds. Visitors jog along the Park trails flanked with ferns and shrubs, savoring the scent of freshness and purity. As the parks are preparing to welcome an increased wave of visitors in the coming months, they are also facing a budget cut proposed by the County Executive.
The budget cut proposal, which came out in January, would lop off $19 million from the Parks Department’s six-year (2023-2028) Capital Improvements Program (CIP)—a number four times greater than last year’s proposed reduction. The CIP includes renovations and other improvements to ensure the safety and cleanliness of their 420 existing parks across over 37,000 acres of land.
Although the cut will not be enacted this year, if approved, it will have a significant impact on the development and maintenance of the parks across the county. “Many of the project plans would need to be pushed back beyond the six-year timeframe that is incorporated into our CIP,” Montgomery Parks Foundation Executive Director Katie Rictor said.
The potential budget cut would impact a list of projects that the Department has planned. This includes the Wheaton Regional Park improvements, Blair High School field renovations, the South Germantown Recreational Park Cricket Field and Adventure Playground projects and more. The budget cut would also affect the overall rehabilitation of existing infrastructure.
The parks are a cherished part of the community and have played a significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic in meeting the community’s needs. The budget cut would unavoidably impair the quality of life in the county. “When our parks are not well maintained and cared for, it shows, and people aren’t able to take pride in their green spaces and won’t be as willing to help protect and preserve them,” Rictor said. “It really takes a village to keep our parks safe, healthy and thriving.”
While the proposed budget cut came as a shock to the Parks, staff acted quickly in mobilizing advocates in the community and asking for support to restore the budget. “We sent out emails to our community asking them to advocate on behalf of the Parks and request full funding. We also individually reached out to Friends groups that advocate for their parks’ funding, and asked them to write to their elected officials,” Rictor said.
The community has been a strong voice in appealing this budget cut recommendation. During the county council’s public hearings on Feb. 8 and 9, out of the 72 slots available for public testimony, 39 of them were advocates for the park system. “We are lucky to be in this community that we really rely on to help keep our parks up and running,” Rictor said.
The Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee of the county council is reviewing the public testimony and will make recommendations to the full council. Some funding decisions will likely be postponed until April as the council reviews the operating budget. In May, the council will adopt final resolutions for the capital budget and the operating budget.
People interested in voicing their support for more Parks’ funding can reach out to county council members through emails or letters. “There’s certainly still time to do that and we encourage everyone to advocate and continue to support the parks,” Rictor said. “Our community deserves the best, and we want to ensure that we can continue to deliver that.”
Article by Allison Xu of Walter Johnson High School
Photo by Allison Xu of Walter Johnson High School