Rachel Carson Greenway

The Rachel Carson Greenway is a planned 25-mile stretch of trails, spanning from the historic Adelphi Mill in Prince George's County north through eastern Montgomery County, Maryland to Patuxent River State Park, and incorporating existing Northwest Branch trails. The greenway was proposed as part of a 1998 Countywide Park Trails Plan.[1] A plan for the greenway was approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board on June 15, 2005.[2]

The Rachel Carson Greenway would include a set of three existing trails, including the Northwest Branch trail in Silver Spring, Woodlawn Manor trails in Sandy Spring and Rachel Carson Conservation Park trails near Laytonsville.[3] The Northwest Branch Trail Corridor was officially renamed as the Rachel Carson Greenway on March 20, 2004.[4] The largest section of the greenway consists of a network of unimproved hiking trails through the Northwest Branch stream valley gorge in Burnt Mills, Maryland. A Sandy Spring Heritage Trail is being considered as part of the greenway trail system.[5] In 2008, Montgomery County approved plans to extend the Rock Creek Park trail system north to Rachel Carson Conservation Park and connect with the Rachel Carson Greenway.[6]

Contents

Existing trails

As of 2011, the Greenway currently includes three existing trail systems:

Rachel Carson Conservation Park

The Rachel Carson Conservation Park is a 650-acres park located near Laytonsville, in Montgomery County, Maryland. The park contains over six miles of existing hiking and equestrian trails, and Hawlings River traverses the park.[7]

The conservation area was named in 1977 for noted environmentalist Rachel Carson, the author of Silent Spring, who lived nearby.[8] The park includes 50.6 acres, acquired by Montgomery County in 2004.[9][10] The Maryland National-Capital Park and Planning Commission prepared a master plan for the park in 2000.[11]

Underground Railroad Experience Trail

The Underground Railroad Experience Trail, located in Sandy Spring, Maryland, commemorates the Underground Railroad and Quaker traditions. The trail extends north from Woodlawn Manor Park to the Sandy Spring and then on to a 300 year old Champion White Ash tree. This trail is a member of the National Park Service's Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.[12]

Northwest Branch

The Northwest Branch Trail is accessible at the Burnt Mills Dam in Silver Spring. From the dam hikers can proceed north to Wheaton Regional Park or south to the Anacostia Tributary Trail system of hiker/biker trails in Prince George's County.

Between the Burnt Mills Dam trailhead on U.S. Highway 29 (Colesville Road) and Kemp Mill Rd. near Wheaton Regional Park there are two paths that make up the Northwest Branch Trail. One trail runs along the west side of the Northwest Branch creek and the other, dedicated as the Rachel Carson Greenway, follows the east side of the creek. The east side trail is more rustic and designated hiking only.

References

  1. ^ Coleman, Lyn (2004-07-07). "Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Corridor Plan: Plan Objectives, Outreach Strategy Recommendations and Plan Schedule" (PDF). Montgomery County Department of Park & Planning. http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings_archive/04_meeting_archive/agenda_071504/item5_071504.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  2. ^ Kossoy, Anita (2005-06-16). "Montgomery County Planning Board Decision to Create Longest Continuous Trail in County". Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. http://montgomeryplanningboard.org/blog-news/2005/06/16/montgomery-coun-16/. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  3. ^ Coleman, Lyn (2005-03-23). "Staff Draft Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Corridor Plan" (PDF). Montgomery County Department of Park & Planning. http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings_archive/05_meeting_archive/agenda_033105/RCG_PBmemo_31mar05.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  4. ^ Boyd, Matt (2004-02-25). "Trail honors environmentalist's memory". Montgomery Gazette. http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2004/200409/silverspring/news/203485-1.html. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  5. ^ Coleman, Lyn (2006-06-09). "Work Session #1: Public Hearing Draft Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Corridor Plan" (PDF). Montgomery County Department of Park & Planning. http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings_archive/05_meeting_archive/agenda_061605/item1_061605_opt.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  6. ^ Branchfeld, Melissa J. (2008-10-01). "Planning Board gives approval to trail plan". Olney Gazette. http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/10012008/olnenew223311_32478.shtml. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  7. ^ "Rachel Carson Conservation Park Trails". Montgomery County Department of Parks. http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/ParkTrails/trails_MAPS/Rachel_Carson.shtm. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  8. ^ Coleman, Lyn (2003-12-30). "Approval to Change the Name of the Northwest Branch Trail Corridor to the Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Corridor" (PDF). Montgomery County Department of Park & Planning. http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings_archive/04_meeting_archive/agenda_010804/itemB_010804_opt.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  9. ^ Tallman, Douglas (2004-11-08). "County buys 130 acres for preservation". Montgomery Gazette. http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2004/200445/montgomerycty/county/243458-1.html. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  10. ^ "M-NCPPC, County Council and County Executive Announce Four Legacy Open Space Acquisitions" (PDF). Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. 2004-10-22. http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/archive/pr/2004/1022legacy.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  11. ^ Hogan, Terri (2000-05-10). "Public comment sought on park plans". Montgomery Gazette. http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2000/200019/olney/news/10913-1.html. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  12. ^ "Underground Railroad Experience Trail". Montgomery County Department of Parks. 2011-08-01. http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/Cultural_Resources_Stewardship/heritage/urr_experience.shtm. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 

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