Support for expediting the renovation of the Kemp Mill Urban Park

November 2, 2010

The Honorable Nancy Floreen

President, Montgomery County Council

100 Maryland Avenue

Rockville, Maryland  20850

Dear President Floreen:

On behalf of the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board (MCCAB), I am writing to express the MCCAB’s support for expediting the renovation of the Kemp Mill Urban Park. This park is a vital resource for the Kemp Mill neighborhood, yet it has significantly deteriorated since its construction in the 1960s. As recently described in the attached Wheaton Gazette article, the large concrete pond that covers much of the park has substantial drainage problems that lead to stagnant water, the accumulation of garbage and sediment, and periodic flooding (Residents want makeover for Kemp Mill Park pond, September 29). In addition, the park has other infrastructure problems such as cracked concrete walkways and entrances that are not accessible to people with disabilities.

We are pleased that the Montgomery County Planning Board has initiated a planning process to renovate the park, which included two community meetings with Kemp Mill residents in 2009. At the last public meeting in October 2009, Planning Board staff and contractors solicited input on three design concepts from residents and informed them that a single design would be proposed to the Planning Board in the spring of 2010. However, the renovation planning process has been delayed for reasons that have not been publicly communicated. According to the Board’s website, a third community meeting was scheduled for the summer of 2010, but this meeting has not yet occurred. The website also notes that the Board will meet to approve the facility plan in the winter of 2010/2011.

We request that the Council communicate to the Planning Board our support for moving forward with the renovation design process without further delay. Further, we encourage the Council to include funding for the park’s renovation in the next Capital Improvements Program budget.

The MCCAB has supported the renovation of the Kemp Mill Urban Park for several years (see attachments). We look forward to working with the Council on this issue.  Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to share our views on the importance of renovating this park.

Sincerely,

L. Blaine Charak

Chair

cc:  Isiah Leggett, Montgomery County Executive

       Françoise Carrier, Chair, Montgomery County Planning Board