Appendix : Parks and Open Space

Parks are essential components of community life. They provide for community gathering, foster a sense of place,
and encourage environmental stewardship. In order to contribute to community character and quality of life, the
location, size, amount, and type of parks should be carefully planned. Parks, open spaces, and trails should be designed
as part of a comprehensive open space system that contributes to a sustainable community. To achieve this goal, an
interconnected pedestrian and bike path system should link neighborhoods to parks and other destinations.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission made an early commitment to environmental
stewardship and conservation when it was first formed in  and began acquiring land surrounding the stream valley
parks. This commitment provided the policy framework for the Wedges and Corridors concept in the  General
Plan (and subsequent 
General Plan Refinement) and has become an important principle that guides a wide range
of planning and regulatory programs and projects.

County parks have been developed as a unified, interrelated system providing active and passive recreation as well
as conserving resources throughout the County. Currently, the County’s park system totals more than
, acres,
including , acres of stream valley parks that provide interconnected greenways. The challenge for the park
system is to provide an adequate balance between the need for active recreation facilities for the County’s expanding
population while preserving and protecting our natural resources.

The Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan (LPPRP) is updated every five years. The document provides a
comprehensive set of recommendations and policy guidelines for future park development. During the process of
updating a master plan such as the Gaithersburg West Master Plan, park and natural resource issues are reviewed
and recommendations are provided. Collaboration among the Environmental Planning, Park Planning, and the Urban
Design sections provides comprehensive and sustainable solutions.

A master plan update assesses the adequacy of existing recreational facilities and whether new resources should be
provided for existing and future users. As the County nears build out and vacant land becomes scarce, it is critical for
plans to address an area’s active and passive recreational needs and determine whether there are any available and
appropriate sites for parkland acquisition to meet future needs. Implementation of park recommendations identified
in the LPPRP and the master plans occurs through the subdivision process, the County’s Capital Improvements
Program, private dedication, or the State’s Program Open Space plan. The private sector’s role in providing some open
space amenities is often critical to creating a complete and comprehensive open space system.

County wide parks include those with either a recreational focus, such as the large regional parks, or a conservation
purpose, such as the stream valley parks. Community use parks are smaller open spaces located in residential
neighborhoods for the convenience of residents and these include urban, neighborhood, and local parks. Additionally,
several thousand acres of parkland are shared with public schools, providing children and adjacent residents with open
space, playing fields, tennis and basketball courts, and playgrounds.


Parkland in Gaithersburg West

The  LPPRP identified the I- Corridor as one of three areas where population growth is highest, and where the
corresponding need for additional recreation facilities will increase. Needs in the I- Corridor for rectangular fields
were the highest in the County. The  Park Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS) also stated “Land use patterns
along the I- Corridor are continuing to encourage new employment centers and the growth of technology-based
enterprises in that area. As a result, more and more people are moving to the communities along the I- Corridor.
Germantown and Gaithersburg in particular have experienced dramatic growth compared to the rest of the County.”
Increased population density and business development have significant impacts on the community’s need for park
and recreation facilities.

Within the boundaries of the Gaithersburg West Master Plan, there is currently one local park, two neighborhood
parks, and a portion of the Great Seneca State Park. In addition, there are several parks nearby in Potomac. The cities
of Gaithersburg and Rockville and Montgomery County Public Schools also provide park and recreation opportunities.

The following is a list of existing County parkland in and adjacent to the Plan area.

Existing and Approved Gaithersburg West Area Parks

Park Name Acres Status Facilities
Traville Local Park 
. Undeveloped None
(LSC South)

Great Seneca Extension , – State Developed Trails

Stream Valley Park
  –M-NCPPC

Orchard Neighborhood .

Undeveloped None
Park

Quince Orchard Valley . Developed  Softball Field,  Playground,

Neighborhood Park  Basketball Court,  Recreation
Center,  Tennis Courts



Existing Potomac Area Parks
Park Name Acres Status Facilities
Quince Orchard Knolls  Developed  softball/soccer overlay,  basketball,
Local Park  playground,  tennis courts
Aberdeen Local Park  Developed volleyball, basketball,  tennis courts,
ball field, playground, shelter
Big Pines Local Park  Developed basketball,  tennis courts, ball field,
playground, covered picnic area

Dufief Local Park  Developed  soccer fields,  playgrounds,

tennis courts
Potomac Horse Center . Developed  horse center
Special Park
Muddy Branch Stream

Developed trails
Valley Park Unit #

Master Plan Vision

Existing parks will continue to serve residents of Gaithersburg and North Potomac. In the Life Sciences Center (LSC),
a more compact, higher density land use pattern and a greater mix of land uses is envisioned in the future. Additional
parks and open spaces need to be created to provide recreation opportunities that support and enhance the vision
for the LSC. The future open space system for the area should support a vibrant and sustainable work life community
by creating open spaces that will be easily accessible by walking or transit, and provide a range of experiences for a
variety of people.

To that end, the Plan proposes the following vision of open spaces:
• a green common at each of the proposed Corridor Cities Transitway stations, one of which will serve as the civic
green for the LSC West District
• a shared park/school site at LSC West (PSTA)
• construction of the undeveloped Traville Local Park
• integrated green corridors between and through major blocks linked by the LSC Loop that connects destinations
and integrates passive and active spaces
• an additional active use Local Park in the Quince Orchard area.

The proposed Public Safety Training Academy (PSTA/LSC West) relocation provides a unique opportunity to create
centrally located and well designed publicly owned open spaces. The fact that the property is already in public
ownership provides numerous location and financial advantages.


The key park planning recommendations that are addressed in this Plan are highlighted below:

RECOMMENDATIONS BACKGROUND
Designate a new urban park A new urban park likened to a civic green is needed to serve as the
to serve as the publicly central open space for the LSC West community (on the relocated PSTA
owned civic green at LSC site). The proposed civic green is adjacent to a CCT stop planned in the
West. area of highest residential density. This green will be publically owned
and design details are outlined below.
Designate a site for a park/ Due to increased residential development, an elementary school may
school at LSC West. be needed in the Master Plan area. It is desirable to combine the school
with an active recreation park and some natural resource land into one
combined site. The park site could provide a variety of experiences and
functions including active recreation.
Designate two These neighborhood greens should be privately owned and maintained
neighborhood greens at for public use. The Belward neighborhood green includes the historic
the CCT transit stops at LSC farm buildings and surrounding open spaces.
Belward and LSC Central.
Develop the existing Traville The Traville Local Park has been dedicated and rough graded to
Local Park in LSC South. accommodate a small rectangular field, half court basketball, older
children’s playground, and a tot lot. This park should be scheduled for
final facility planning in the next - Parks Capital Improvements
Plan.
Provide a cohesive usable The Plan emphasizes green connectivity and corridors. Not all open
pattern of public parks and space can or should be publicly owned and managed parkland. Public
private open spaces in the amenity spaces in new developments will provide needed recreation
LSC connected by the LSC and open space. A key planning issue is how to integrate public amenity
Loop. space with parkland to create a cohesive and logical pattern of open
space that is connected by the LSC Loop.

Connect trails and bikeways. The Muddy Branch Trail Corridor (on-road hard surface portion)
and a Countywide bikeway (DB- ) must be completed on Muddy
Branch Road along the western side of the Belward property. Trail
interconnectivity and internal circulation in this location should be
determined during the review of specific development plans
Identify a new Local Park The  Shady Grove Study Area Master Plan recommended new local
site in the planning area. parks on the Crown Farm (annexed by the City of Gaithersburg) as well
as the Banks Farm (Belward). This Plan recommends an alternate local
park site, ideally with two rectangular fields and other active recreation
facilities. The Plan recommends the possible purchase of the Johnson
property in the Quince Orchard area if it becomes available from willing
sellers at some time in the future. The Plan also recommends active
recreation on the Belward property.
Promote environmental Develop all parks and open space in an environmentally sensitive
stewardship in all decision manner.
making.


Policy Guidance for Urban Open Space

Parks for Tomorrow () indicates that areas such as Gaithersburg need several types of recreation including hiker/
biker paths and community connectors, neighborhood recreation for new residential areas, and urban recreation and
open space for existing and proposed businesses and mixed-use development.

Planning and Design

This Plan’s recommendations recognize that compact, mixed-use areas present distinct challenges and opportunities
to provide park and recreation resources and strive to incorporate and create those resources with redevelopment.
The location, size, and type of open spaces appropriate to such a setting are unique. This Plan recommends a series of
open spaces provided through a combination of public and private efforts.

Both residential and commercial development projects should provide a mixture of recreational facilities, open spaces,
and trail connections that shape the public realm, help implement the Master Plan recommendations, and serve
employees and residents. Consideration should be given to the following guidelines in location and development of
parks and amenity open spaces.

. They should be within a five to ten minute walk time for users.

. They should include sitting areas, walkways, and landscaping.

. Playground equipment and other small-scale active recreation facilities, such as multi-purpose courts, should be
considered in areas serving a significant number of children.

. Special consideration should be given to the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities.

. Urban amenity open spaces located on the periphery of high-intensity non-residential areas should include
facilities to serve nearby residents.

. Design should provide crime prevention through environmental design by maximizing visibility and natural
surveillance.

. Amenity open spaces should be of a sufficient size to support appropriate use by residents or workers, and the
public.

. Consideration should be given to the appropriate amount of money necessary to support both the initial cost
of the development and the long-term maintenance of the amenity space. As businesses are renovated or
newly built in commercial and mixed-use developments, open spaces should be added to supplement public
parks. Landscaping, seating areas, and public art can improve the area’s appearance and improve the working
environment.

. Environmental features should be designed into parks, such as fountains in stormwater facilities that mask noise.


. A key to providing adequate, close-to-home recreation is ensuring that opportunities are incorporated into plans
for new development, which should provide private recreation areas for all age groups, as appropriate. Private
redevelopment should include:level grass areas for leisure and informal play
• adult recreation areas
• walking and bicycling paths
• playgrounds for young children
• multi-use courts for children, teens, and young adults.

In multifamily housing developments, as well as higher density transit station areas, indoor recreation areas will be
essential. Project development should explore innovative approaches to providing these facilities, including rooftops
and indoor facilities such as playgrounds, gym, etc.