Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Recreation is to provide high quality, diverse, and accessible programs, services, and facilities that enhance the quality of life for all ages, cultures, and abilities.

Budget Overview

The total recommended FY27 Operating Budget for the Department of Recreation is $71,042,894, an increase of $2,911,501 or 4.27 percent from the FY26 Approved Budget of $68,131,393. Personnel Costs comprise 61.36 percent of the budget for 192 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 604.73 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 38.64 percent of the FY27 budget.

The Debt Service for the Recreation Fund is appropriated in the Debt Service Fund and is, therefore, not displayed in this section. To pay for the Debt Service, a transfer of funds from the Recreation Fund to the Debt Service Fund of $12,063,190 is required to cover General Obligation bond costs.

In addition, this department's Capital Improvements Program (CIP) requires Current Revenue funding.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

• Thriving Youth and Families
• A Greener County

Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY26 estimates reflect funding based on the FY26 approved budget. The FY27 and FY28 figures are performance targets based on the FY27 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY28.

Initiatives

• Children's Bill of Rights in Youth Sports: Project Play's State of Play 2025 report highlights Montgomery County, Maryland as a standout example of local leadership in youth sports. Montgomery County proudly formalized its support for the Children's Bill of Rights in Youth Sports, joining regional and national partners to champion equitable, developmentally appropriate, and inclusive sports. This endorsement reflects the County's commitment to creating safe and supportive sports environments and was strengthened through collaborations with the Montgomery County Sports Advisory Committee and Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Takoma Park. This initiative positions Montgomery County as a leader in advancing policies that elevate youth sports, expand participation pathways, and promote positive youth development.

• Gender Equity in Sports initiative to expand opportunities for girls and address longstanding disparities in youth sports by intentionally creating welcoming, skill-building environments that rebuild confidence and re-engage girls in sports where they are historically underrepresented. The initiative also includes a dedicated officiating component that encourages girls to become officials and actively recruits more women to serve as coaches, helping build a stronger, more representative pipeline of female leaders in youth sports. This comprehensive approach supports confidence, inclusion, and access-advancing gender equity across the County's youth sports programs.
• ePACT: Launching the ePACT Network, a HIPAA compliant digital health and emergency management system, to modernize camp operations, enhance risk management, and improve customer experience. The software modernizes how the department collects, stores, and accesses sensitive medical and personal data, replacing paper forms and adding time-saving digital convenience for families.
• Inclusive Multilingual Programming for adults 55 years or older to foster greater accessibility and cultural connection. The department expanded its 55+ offerings to include programs taught fully or partially in multiple languages, including Mandarin, Spanish, Vietnamese, French, Korean, Japanese, and Sign Language. This multilingual approach broadens participation, strengthens inclusivity, and ensures that older adults can engage in programs that reflect their diverse backgrounds and communication needs

Innovations and Productivity Improvements

• Accomplishments/Innovation

  
  

  
  

  • Received eight recognitions in the 2025 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards: Aquatic Egg Hunt, 55+ Cardboard Boat Regatta, Fire Safety: One Cup of Cocoa at a Time, Hands-Only CPR, Girls Skateboarding, Rock-reation: Therapeutic Indoor Rock-Climbing, Under the Lights, and Youth Cricket Academy.

  
  

  
  

  • Expand Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary after-school program: Beginning January 2026, the program has expanded to include new sites at East Silver Spring and Waters Landing elementary schools, increasing access to high-quality out-of-school-time opportunities in these communities.

  
  

  
  

  • Built two new playgrounds at Damascus Recreation Center and Marilyn J. Praisner Recreation Center, providing modern, safe, and inclusive play spaces that meet current industry standards. These projects align amenities with current community needs while ensuring families have a welcoming space close to home, promoting safe play and physical activity.

  
  

  
  

  • Formalized Partnership Program: This Program establishes a clear, consistent process for collaborating with community organizations by ensuring every partnership aligns with the Recreation mission, is mutually beneficial, and operates through a formal written agreement. The program strengthens transparency and equity, streamlines how groups apply and are evaluated, and helps the department better manage resources while expanding high-quality programs and services for residents.

  
  

  
  

  • Sensory Safe Spaces: Implemented across 22 recreation centers, this initiative equips each facility with flexible seating options and a Sensory Safe Kit containing calming tools such as noise-reducing headphones. Kits are supported by onsite staff training. The initiative aims to create sensory-friendly environments to reduce anxiety, support emotional regulation, improve focus and attention, and create inclusive spaces for individuals while promoting independence and ensuring all community members can participate comfortably in programs and activities.

  
  

• Collaborations & Partnerships:

  
  

  
  

  • Rockville Montgomery Swim Club (RMSC), in collaboration with City of Rockville, allows over 1,000 swimmers to compete on a local and national level, and has one of the highest retention rates in the nation for girls between the ages of 11-15 at 83 percent.

  
  

  
  

  • Expanding partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools to offer summer camp for middle school-aged youth attending the new IGNITE program at 4 locations. The MCPS IGNITE Middle School Academy is a summer program designed to provide middle school students with project-based learning in core subjects, helping them prepare for the upcoming school year. By pairing academic enrichment with engaging summer camp experiences for teens, the program offers a well-rounded summer that supports both learning and personal growth.

  
  

  
  

  • Collaborated with Coach Beyond Maryland to provide specialized training to Youth Basketball coaches, strengthening coaching quality and creating more supportive, development-focused environments for young athletes.

  
  

  
  

  • Partnered with the Housing Opportunities Commission to host the Fun, Food, Fitness summer program providing a vital, community-based opportunity for youth to stay active and healthy by bringing engaging activities and nutritious meals to where families live. The program reduced access barriers, created a safe and familiar environment, and helped fill a gap for kids with limited access to opportunities outside the apartment community during the summer months.

  
  

  
  

  • RecZone program partnered with Montgomery County Fire & Rescue's Heroes In Training Program, a hands-on career exploration experience that introduces high school students to the real-world work of fire and rescue professionals. The program provides grades 9-12 with a behind-the-scenes look at firefighting and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) through station visits, live demonstrations, skills exposure, and guided mentoring by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) personnel. By giving youth a "day-in-the-life" experience and direct access to career pathways like the Cadet Program, Heroes In Training builds early job readiness skills, promotes interest in public safety careers, and strengthens the pipeline of future first responders.

  
  

  
  

  • Age Friendly Montgomery to host a series of community listening sessions that support the County's 55+ Needs Assessment, which evaluates how well the community currently meets the needs of older adults and ensures future planning reflects their lived experiences. By offering sessions at multiple Community Centers, Recreation provided accessible, trusted spaces for residents to share meaningful input that will guide programs and services for aging well in Montgomery County.

Program Descriptions

  Aquatics

The Aquatics programs provide recreational, fitness, instructional, competitive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative water activities that serve all residents. The broad ranges of programming include lessons, instructional wellness classes, and competitive programming such as dive and swim teams. Facilities also host a wide variety of local, regional, national events, and competitions...

  Countywide Programs

Countywide Programs offers essential and universally accessible recreation and leisure services to all residents across the region -- an indicator of a healthy, affordable, and welcoming community. Program staff generate partnerships with local small businesses and nonprofit organizations to activate key public and private spaces and to offer culturally...

  Recreation Community & Neighborhood Centers

The Department of Recreation has 22 recreation centers throughout the County. These facilities provide affordable programs featuring leisure activities, social interaction, family participation, community civic involvement, as well as promoting community cohesion and identity for all ages. Centers are designed to support sports, fitness, dance, community/social activities, and...

  Senior Adult Programs

The Senior Adult Programs offers a wide range of supports, opportunities, programs, services, and facilities, designed to enhance quality of life and help community members 55 years and older remain active, engaged, and independent in their communities. Lifestyle and leisure program offerings such as fitness and wellness, sports, arts...

  Youth Development

The Youth Development team uses recreation to ensure young people are healthy, connected, and productive during out-of-school time. Program staff work to change the landscape of communities by tackling pressing and diverse issues, reducing barriers to participation, and improving equitable access to high quality out-of-school time opportunities that improve...

  Administration

The Administration Program provides oversight, leadership, management, and supervision to accomplish the Department's mission. The Administration Program includes the Department's senior management, the Director's Office and staff, as well as business and information technology services, communications and outreach, facility planning, asset replacement, and fixed-cost management.The Business Services and Information Technology...