What Montgomery Parks does

Montgomery Parks is a government parks and recreation department, founded in 1927 and operating as a division of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a state-chartered bi-county agency. The department manages over 400 parks spanning 36,000+ acres and more than 260 miles of trails across Montgomery County, Maryland, with a workforce of 501–1,000 employees. It serves Montgomery County residents and visitors through a diversified portfolio that includes athletic fields, two indoor ice arenas, two indoor tennis centers, five nature centers, 19 rentable park activity buildings, picnic shelters, miniature trains, a carousel, historic sites and museums, community gardens, and event venues such as Brookside Gardens, Rockwood Manor, and the Lodge at Little Seneca Creek.

The department's service surface spans recreational programming (classes, camps, nature education, fitness, special events and festivals), facility and field rentals, special-event and vendor permitting, and cemetery stewardship across 14–16 sites. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through multiple channels: the montgomeryparks.org website, the ActiveMontgomery.org online self-service reservation platform, a Park Permits Office at Wheaton HQ, a customer service phone line, and in-person facility visits. Marketing relies on owned digital channels (website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube), segmented email newsletters (Parks Weekly, Nature & Gardens, Sports & Outdoors, History & Archaeology), the Engage Montgomery Parks community portal, signature events, and earned local media coverage.

Montgomery Parks does not generate commercial revenue in the conventional sense. Its operations are funded through Montgomery County government appropriations, State of Maryland grants (including a $6M+ grant received in April 2026 for park improvements and solar expansion), property taxes, and user fees from facility rentals, permits, recreation programs, and community garden plots. Pricing is differentiated by residency status (Montgomery County residents receive lower rates than non-residents and commercial users), facility type, and season. Strategic partners include M-NCPPC (parent agency), Go Ape (Treetop Adventure venue operator), Story Tapestries (Community Roots Mural), and Montgomery Planning's Historic Preservation Office. The department holds CAPRA accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies.

Name

Montgomery Parks

Legal name

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)

Website

https://montgomeryparks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Montgomery Parks is a government parks department, founded in 1927 under M-NCPPC, managing 400+ parks across 36,000 acres and 260+ miles of trails in Montgomery County, Maryland. It serves county residents and visitors with recreation facilities, nature centers, athletic fields, event venues, and community programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Parks and Recreation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

Keywords

• Public park management
• Recreational facilities
• Park permits and rentals
• Nature education
• Community recreation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheaton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Facility Rentals: Revenue from renting park facilities including activity buildings, athletic fields, picnic shelters, campsites, and event centers. Fees vary by facility type, residency status, and time of use.
2. Permits and Special Events: Fees collected for special event permits, vendor permits, filming/photography permits, sports camp permits, and tournament applications. Includes application fees and grounds fees.
3. Recreation Programs: Fees for classes, camps, nature programs, and recreational activities offered throughout the parks system, including summer camps, fitness classes, and instructional programs.
4. Community Gardens: Annual fees from community garden plot rentals across Montgomery County, serving over 600 gardeners.
5. Government Funding: State of Maryland and county government funding for park operations, capital improvements, and special initiatives such as solar expansion projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Montgomery Parks is the parks and recreation department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), managing over 400 parks, 260+ miles of trails, and 36,000+ acres of parkland across Montgomery County, Maryland. It operates athletic fields, ice rinks, tennis centers, nature centers, gardens, event venues, picnic shelters, and historic sites, and offers recreation classes, summer camps, and special events. Services are accessed via online permit and reservation systems, customer service offices, and on-site facility visits.

Product overview

Montgomery Parks is a government parks and recreation department that provides a diverse portfolio of recreational services and facilities across Montgomery County, Maryland. The organization operates as a unified platform of park-related offerings rather than a single software product, encompassing over 500 parks and 260 miles of trails, permittable sports facilities (athletic fields, ice rinks, tennis centers), event venues (activity buildings, picnic shelters, event centers), nature centers and gardens, historic sites and museums, and recreational programming (classes, camps, special events). Users access services through the montgomeryparks.org website, the ActiveMontgomery reservation system, and in-person at park facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parks, Trails & Facilities Directory A searchable directory of 500+ parks, trails, and recreational facilities across Montgomery County, Maryland, allowing users to filter by activity, feature, and accessibility.
• Athletic Fields & Sports Facilities Permittable athletic fields, courts, and sports facilities including baseball, soccer, softball, tennis, pickleball, basketball, cricket, and hockey venues available for reservation by leagues, teams, and residents.
• Event Centers Indoor and outdoor event venues including Brookside Gardens, Rockwood Manor, and The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek for weddings, corporate events, and gatherings.
• Park Activity Buildings 19 rentable activity buildings located throughout Montgomery County for parties, meetings, and events, each featuring kitchen facilities, restrooms, and outdoor amenities.
• Picnic Shelters Covered picnic shelters available for reservation at parks throughout Montgomery County, with capacities ranging from 30 to 175 guests.
• Ice Rinks Two indoor, year-round ice arenas (Cabin John Ice Rink and Wheaton Ice Arena) offering public skating, hockey, figure skating, and learn-to-skate programs.
• Indoor Tennis Centers Climate-controlled indoor tennis facilities including the Pauline Betz Addie Tennis Center and Wheaton Indoor Tennis Center, offering court rentals and instruction.
• Nature Centers & Gardens Five nature centers (Black Hill Discovery Center, Brookside Nature Center, Locust Grove Nature Center, Maydale Nature Classroom, Meadowside Nature Center) and public gardens including Brookside Gardens offering educational programs and seasonal events.
• Historic Sites & Museums Historic sites including Josiah Henson Museum & Park, Oakley Cabin African American Museum & Park, Harper Cabin, Agricultural History Farm Park, and multiple historic structures open for tours and education.
• Trail Network Over 260 miles of trails including natural surface trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian use, and hard surface trails for walking and cycling.
• Birthday Party Packages Curated party packages at nature centers, ice rinks, miniature trains, and sports facilities for children's birthday celebrations.
• Special Events & Festivals Organized events including Shakespeare in the Garden, Parks Playhouse Junior, Summer Concert Series, MudFest, and seasonal festivals open to the public.
• Classes & Programs Recreational programming including fitness classes, nature education, sports instruction, summer camps, and therapeutic recreation programs for all ages.
• Miniature Trains & Carousel Two miniature trains (Cabin John Train and Wheaton Miniature Train) and a carousel offering scenic rides and family entertainment at regional parks.
• Community Gardens Community garden plots available for Montgomery County residents to rent for personal food production and gardening, serving over 600 gardeners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600 community gardeners served
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Go Ape Treetop AdventureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGo Ape operates the Treetop Adventure attraction at Rock Creek Regional Park, offering ziplines and suspended obstacles. Montgomery Parks provides the venue while Go Ape manages the attraction.
• Montgomery Planning's Historic Preservation OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Remarkable Montgomery: Untold Stories program to share diverse stories in parks, along trails, and online. Shared effort to bring greater recognition to people, places, and events with significant histories.
• Story TapestriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Community Roots Mural Project at Agricultural History Farm Park. Story Tapestries leads the project in partnership with Montgomery Parks, inviting community members to co-create a mural honoring the evolving legacy of the park.
• Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)coreOthersMontgomery Parks is a department within the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a state-chartered commission that plans, acquires, and maintains parkland in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fairfax County Park Authority: Operates a similarly scaled county park system in neighboring Northern Virginia, with comparable facilities, programs, and revenue/funding model. Closest operational analog to Montgomery Parks.
• Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation: Sister agency under the same M-NCPPC parent commission, operating parks and recreation in the adjacent Maryland county. Nearest structural peer with identical governance and funding framework.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation: County-level parks and recreation operator managing extensive facilities, programming, and permits. Comparable mandate and revenue mix (facility rentals, program fees, government funding).
• NYC Parks: Larger municipal parks department operating a vast urban park network. Comparable service portfolio (facility rentals, recreation programs, permits) but at much greater scale and urban density.
• Chicago Park District: Independent municipal agency managing 600+ parks, similar recreation programming, and facility rental model. Comparable in scope but with separate (non-county) governance structure.

Others

• National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA): National membership organization that provides accreditation (CAPRA), training, and advocacy for park and recreation agencies. Industry body rather than operating peer, but the CAPRA accreditation held by Montgomery Parks is administered by NRPA.
• Trust for Public Land: Nonprofit focused on land conservation and creating parks for communities. Adjacent in mission (preserving and expanding public outdoor space) and a partner/funder for many municipal park systems.

Regional players

• Maryland Department of Natural Resources: State-level agency administering Maryland's public lands, parks, and conservation programs. Geographic and jurisdictional complement; provides state grant funding to Montgomery Parks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MontgomeryParks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MontgomeryParks
• Facebookfacebook.com/MontgomeryParks
• Instagraminstagram.com/montgomeryparks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Montgomery Parks