Petition: Save Wheaton Stables

In the latest community meeting of the Montgomery National Capital Parks and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) the future of the Wheaton Park Stables (WPS) came up during the discussion of draft recommendations for Wheaton Regional Park. 

Of the options for the WPS there were several suggested:

1. Moving the Brookside Nature Center/Visitor Center to the WPS site

2. Community gardens/urban agricultural facility

3. Retaining the rural feel of the site in an urbanizing area

The meeting noted that there are some investments being put into the current facilities and trails.  MNCPPC noted that the facility is currently 60 years old and that the facility's buildings and related infrastructure are well past their useful life and will soon require major investment.

Wheaton Regional Park is a wonderous gem in a rapidly urbanizing area and provides its users a quiet, soothing environment where people may reconnect to nature – something that we are all desperately in need of these days.  Wheaton Park Stables fits perfectly into the design and makeup of the park and replacing it with the alternatives above will significantly alter the natural beauty and tranquility of the park.  Additionally Wheaton Park Stables provides many programs and activities for disadvantaged youth in the area and remains a strong anchor for Wheaton Regional Park for people for all around the neighboring communities.  In fact, many people visit Wheaton Park Stables just for the opportunity to connect with the horses by visiting there and enjoying the landscape.  

Montgomery County and, in particular, this area, was largely a rural, farming county in the not-to-distant past and we should not be so keen to throw that heritage onto the dustbin.  Wheaton Park Stables provides children of all ages and all walks of life from all around this area to experience a connection with nature and animals – and for those who choose to pursue an equestrian sport it represents an amazing first step into that world.  By erasing Wheaton Park Stables and converting the land to another use - even if that us is a community garden - the commission will be doing the neighboring communities a great disservice.

Please sign on and let's tell MNCPPC that we want to keep Wheaton Park Stables!

https://www.change.org/p/montgomery-national-capital-park-and-planning-commission-save-wheaton-stables