Maydale Nature Center to reopen, $7.5 revamp set for Hillandale Local Park

Last week was a big one for parks in the East County. The Montgomery County Council passed Councilmember Tom Hucker's amendment to reopen the Maydale Nature Center at 1638 Maydale Drive in Colesville. This will be the only educational nature center east of Wheaton in Montgomery County, and is right on the Paint Branch stream, which should greatly add to the potential learning opportunities there.

The Council also approved $7.5 million to renovate and revitalize Hillandale Local Park at 10615 New Hampshire Avenue. Among the many changes planned for the overhaul are the demolition of the Hillandale Office Building, an improved park entrance, a new roadway configuration and parking area (125 parking spaces), sidewalk improvements on New Hampshire Avenue, a hard surface internal trail loop with exercise
equipment and heart-smart trail markers, a new restroom facility, a full size soccer field with irrigation and
fencing, a new playground with public art component, two picnic shelters, two tennis courts with lighting,
two basketball courts with lighting, stormwater management facilities, and landscaping.