anchor Description
The Little Bennett Regional Park Day Use Area, located on the east side of MD Route 355 north of Comus Road, is a 65-acre existing meadow adjacent to wooded areas of the park and Soper's Branch stream. The day use area is designed to provide nature-based recreation and protects and interprets the existing meadow and adjacent forest habitat. The program of requirements from the master plan is accomplished in a uniquely sustainable manner that interprets the natural and cultural landscapes of the area. The project includes a multi-purpose outdoor classroom building, terraces and amphitheater, group picnic areas and shelter, play complex, learning alcoves, two entrances and an access road, parking, hard and natural surface trails, bridges and boardwalks with overlooks, signage and interpretation, stormwater management, meadow restoration with non-native invasive eradication, managed forest succession and habitat enhancement along the stream buffer.
anchor Justification
The Montgomery County Planning Board approved the park facility plan on October 6, 2011; Countywide Park Trails Plan (2008); Little Bennett Regional Park Master Plan (2007); 2005 Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan (LPPRP); Countywide Bikeways Functional Master Plan (2005); Clarksburg Master Plan and Hyattstown Special Study Area (1994); Vision 2030: The Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan (2011); 2012 Park, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan.
anchorDisclosures
A pedestrian impact analysis has been completed for this project.
M-NCPPC asserts that this project conforms to the requirement of relevant local plans, as required by the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act.
anchorCoordination
Montgomery County Departments of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection, and Maryland State Highway Administration.