The Mayor and Council, at their Monday, June 17 meeting, voted to use a master planning process, with significant involvement from the public, that should help determine future uses for the former 18-hole course.
However, the Mayor and Council will wait until an ongoing strategic planning process for the city’s recreation, parks and facilities is complete before making final decisions on the approach to the master planning process.
That strategic plan, the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROs) plan, will set goals and objectives for the future of parks, trails, recreation facilities, programs and services within the city, and will be central to the Mayor and Council’s effort to shape plans for the RedGate property.
The PROS plan is expected to be presented to the Mayor and Council by the end of 2019.
In the meantime, staff will develop a scope of work for a consultant to master plan for RedGate, should the Mayor and Council decide on that route, to be delivered to the Mayor and Council concurrently with the PROS plan.
A report by the National Golf Foundation concluded that RedGate could only survive as a viable golf course if significant repairs and renovations, estimated at $3.2 million, were made to the 18-hole course. Even then, the course would only be returned to minimally acceptable levels. Based on that information, the Mayor and Council voted to discontinue using the property for golf.
To watch the Mayor and Council’s discussion on RedGate, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter and select the TV icon next to the June 17 agenda item.