Did you know that wherever you are in Montgomery County, you are never more than 2 miles away from a park?
Montgomery Parks’ mission is to protect and interpret our valuable natural and cultural resources, balance the demand for recreation with the need for conservation, offer a variety of enjoyable recreational activities that encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide clean, safe, and accessible places for leisure-time activities.
Parks Improve…
Mental and Physical Health
Spending time in nature provides a whole host of benefits that improve your physical and mental health. Exposure to greenspaces can lower stress levels, decrease blood pressure, and even boost your motivation to exercise. A 2019 study found that spending 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and well-being.
If you need more reasons to explore Montgomery Parks, read the 2021 feature story, The Wellness Benefits of the Great Outdoors, on the USDA Forest Service website. Learn how greenspaces beneficially connect you to friends, families and neighbors in your community.
The Economy
The Economic Impact of Parks report issued in 2023 by the National Recreation and Park Association, in partnership with the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University, demonstrates the profound effect of local parks and recreational agencies’ capital spending and operations.
Economic Impact in MD
Labor Income: $1,054,928,798
Employment (jobs): 18,336
Economic Activity (Transactions): $3,090,438,029
The Environment
The park system actively manages more than 29,000 natural acres for environmental preservation, contributing greatly to Montgomery County’s environmental health. In 2018, the Montgomery Parks Arboriculture Section released a summary of data and benefits of 24,796 trees inventoried and found the ecological benefits provided by the trees saved the county $2,145,042.
The forests and trees found within the 421 parks help reduce the effects of climate change through the absorption and retention of carbon dioxide (CO2). According to the Arbor Day Foundation, “In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the amount of CO2 produced by a car driven 26,000 miles.”
At-a-Glance
Montgomery County Parks
419
Total number of parks37,768
Total acres of parkland278
Total natural and paved surface trails (miles)600
Total stream length (miles)Discover more Montgomery Parks’ system highlights in the Green Tree Report as of January 2024.
Park Budget
$148 million
Adopted Operating Budget FY2024$47.9 million
Capital Improvements Program FY2023-2028$246.3 million
Capital Improvements Program FY2023-2028Current Projects
