Montgomery County

Forever
Green
County Programs Leading to a Green Future for Existing &
Future Residents

County Boundary
Existing Parks
Open Space Easements
HOA Easements
RDT Zones

1
Green Space Comes in Several Varieties
Blockhouse Point Conservation Park Master Plan

Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission

Montgomery County

Parkland
Homeowners Associations

Agricultural Preservation
Other Conservation Projects

Parkland in Montgomery County

100%
3,100 acres of National Parks

80% 12,000 acres of State Parks

60%

40% 32,200 acres M-NCPPC Parks

20%

0%
Total Park Acres 47,300

2
M-NCPPC Parkland Obtained in Several Ways
Of the 32,200 acres of M-NCPPC land, 78% was purchased.

Other
Donation

78% Purchase

Dedication 15%

Park Acquisitions Over Time

Montgomery County’s Legacy Open Space Program
Can Be Credited With Recent Parkland Increases
Acres

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0 Year
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

3
Parks are Mostly Green Space
• Stream Valley and Conservation Parks Comprise 51% of all Parkland
• Regional Parks are 67% Natural Area

Other
Stream Valley Parks

Recreational Parks

Local Parks

Regional Parks

Conservation Parks

M-NCPPC Park Distribution by Classification

Since 1994, over 105 Acres of Parkland have been Reforested

30
Number
Number of
of Projects
Projects
Acres
Acres
25

20

15

10

0
00
94

96

98

02
20
19

19

19

20

4
Agricultural Preservation
• 91,000 acres
(excluding parkland)
• 47% Protected by
Easements (see
following slide)
• Montgomery County
ranked first in the
nation in preserving
agricultural land

Protection in the Agricultural Preserve

• Maryland Agricultural
Land Preservation Fund
…………… 2,831 acres
• Maryland Environmental
Trust …….. 2,086 acres
• Montgomery County
Agricultural
Easement Program
…………………. 6,678 acres
• Montgomery County
Rural Legacy Program
……………… 3,386 acres
• TDR Easements (rights sold)
………43,145 acres

5
Homeowners Associations
• Many residential
developments in
Montgomery County are
clustered and provide
common open space
owned by homeowners
associations
• Total acres = 6,800
• Many of these open space
parcels are wooded and
are protected by
conservation easements
(see following slide)

Clarksburg

Forest Conservation Law Applies

to Most Subdivisions Approved Since 1993
Through 2002, more than 5,600 acres of forest have been preserved and more
than 1,400 acres of trees have been planted on private property.
1000
Forest
Forest Retention
Retention
Forest
Forest Planting
Planting
800

600
Acres

400

200

Year
96

98

99

00

01
95

02
93

94

97
19

19

19

20

20
19

20
19

19

19

Total Conservation Area = 6,100 acres

6
 Other Conservation Properties

• WSSC owns 3,100

acres (almost
entirely wooded)
which are preserved
to protect our water
supply reservoir

Components of Montgomery County

47% of all land in the County is Green Space
148,000 Acres out 318,000 total Acres

Zoned for farmland

53%
M-NCPPC Park
47% Home Owers Assoc.
Federal Parkland
State Parkland
WSSC Conservation
Non-Green Space

7
Components of Green Space
148,000 Acres Total
Acres
100

80

60

40

20

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Challenges Ahead

• Building pressure on the Agricultural reserve

Resisting the demand for housing on agriculture land required
New technology for sewage treatment
More requests for sewer extensions
• Building pressure on Parkland
Increased demand for active recreation facilities
Increased demand for trails by walkers, bikers and horse riders
• Declining fiscal resources
Funding for Parks and Open Space from the State is uncertain
Local funding for parks competes with the demands for schools
and transportation

8
Thank You.