The Department of Recreation and Parks contributes to the quality of life prized by Rockville residents by promoting participation by people of all ages in diverse, interesting, and high quality recreational and leisure opportunities hosted in safe, modern and well-maintained parks and facilities.
Recreation opportunities include youth and adult sports, afterschool programs, specialty classes, and summer camps, as well as citywide special events, such as the Hometown Holidays Music Fest, Independence Day Celebration, and the weekly farmers market. The department also offers programs, services, and resources for at-risk and disadvantaged youth and families.
The department manages and maintains all city facilities, trees, and over 1,000 acres of parkland, rights of way and open space. That includes 65 parks, three community centers, a nature center, swim and fitness center, senior center, the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre and the historic Glenview Mansion.
In FY16, the department:
- Completed the Swim and Fitness Center South Pool repairs project on time and under budget.
- Completed the design of the new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant parking lot and interior corridor at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre and Social Hall.
- Renovated athletic courts at Broome, Stepanek, David Scull, Welsh, Potomac Woods and Woottons Mill parks, a baseball field at Dogwood Park and two softball fields at Broome.
- Replaced playgrounds at Rose Hill and Twinbrook parks.
- Presented the ADA Access Audit and Transition Plan and the Senior Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis Study to the Mayor and Council.
- Renovated Lincoln Terrace Park, which the Mayor and Council rededicated Oct. 31 in honor of longtime Lincoln Park activist Wilma Shelton Bell.
- Began the design of roof replacement and structural repairs to the King Farm Farmstead Dairy Barn.
- Increased nutrition education and physical activity for 6,700 children through a $27,500 grant from the National Recreation and Parks Association and Wal-Mart’s charitable foundation.
- Launched the inaugural Movies in the Parks series and the inaugural Suds and Soles 5K, a fundraiser for the Rockville Recreation Fund.
- Served more than 1,000 families with Thanksgiving meals, food, toys and gift cards through the city’s annual Holiday Drive. More than 300 individuals volunteered over 680 hours to support the drive.
- Provided mentoring and short-term mental health counseling to over 200 children and adolescents and provided parenting programs for more than 45 families.
- Maintained 185 annual flower beds.
- Planted 55,545 spring bulbs.
- Planted 25,631 summer annuals.
- Planted 453 street trees
Accolades and Grants
- Ranked No. 1 among 449 cities by Let’s Move! Cities, Towns, and Counties.
- Named a Playful City for a third year by KaBoom! as part of national program to ensure that all children have easy access to a balanced diet and safe, active play in their communities.
- Earned a 27th consecutive Tree City USA Award.
- Received awards from the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Program for work at Veteran’s Park, James Monroe Park, East Rockville Greenways, the Pump House at Croydon Park, The Ponds at Fallsgrove, the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park Peace Garden and for Veirs Mill Road landscape enhancement.
- Honored with the Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee’s highest honor, a green level PLANT (People Loving And Nurturing Trees) Award.
- The King Farm Citizens Assembly Board recognized the city with a Community Impact Award for organizing the successful Independence Day celebration at Mattie J. T. Stepanek Park.
- Received a Peerless Rockville Award for Historic Interpretive Exhibit for the Preservation of Wootton’s Mill historical site.