Dear Friend,
The pandemic has led more people to recreate, socialize and dine outdoors. Luckily, we have access to abundant parks, bikeways and outdoor recreation spaces here in Montgomery County that make our community an ideal place to live, work and raise a family.
We have responded to residents’ demands for safer streets in their neighborhoods with the popular Shared Streets and Open Streets programs.
Our restaurant industry has adapted to create comfortable outdoor dining options for residents. From Takoma Park and Silver Spring to Bethesda and Rockville, outdoor street eateries are making room for socially-distanced outdoor dining. I'm excited to let everyone in our community know Ellsworth Drive will reopen as a pedestrian street on May 10!
It’s without a doubt that spending time outdoors has positive health benefits, and health experts agree that outdoor activities are the safest way to socialize and stay active. As we enjoy the warmer weather, there are limitless things to do and see in Montgomery County. A few of my favorites include:
Brookside Gardens and Conservatory: The outdoor gardens remain free and open to the public seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset. If you’ve missed the tropical and flowering plants inside the greenhouse, you can now reserve free tickets online for a scheduled visit. Reserve your tickets here.
Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive open for cyclists and pedestrians: From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, portions of Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive will remain closed to vehicles. Walk, run, bike, or rollerblade with plenty of room to keep socially distant and enjoy the outdoors.
Paint with your Pup: In honor of National Pet Month, you and your pup can attend Paint with your Pup at Olney Manor Recreational Park to spend quality time with your dog as you create a piece of art together on Saturday, May 15. Registration for the event is $7 and you can reserve your spot here.
Josiah Henson Museum and Park opens in Rockville: Located on the former Century Riley Plantation, the new museum is dedicated to the life and enslavement of author, writer and abolitionist, Reverend Josiah Henson. The park is open sunrise to sunset and museum hours are Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Picnic in the Park: Montgomery Parks has teamed up with Visit Montgomery and MoCo Eats to bring you their Picnic in the Park program. Head over to a designated Picnic in the Park location, order from the available restaurants and the food comes right to you! If you find yourself at Acorn Urban Park, check out the array of local food trucks on the Newell Street closure -- my team has been working hard to connect with local food trucks and provide a diverse selection of amazing vendors to choose from each week. Follow Newell Street Food Trucks on Twitter for the latest updates and calendar.
My hope is that post-pandemic, spending more time outdoors — biking, walking, eating, socializing — becomes the default.
The Council will continue investing in sidewalks, trails and bike paths that allow people to enjoy our outdoor spaces safely. We must also invest in public transit projects that align with the shifting public transit demands and address our climate goals. I’ll share more on that another day.
Until then, please stay safe and stay in touch!
Sincerely,
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