Lt. Governor Steele Expected To Help Break Ground for Stepanek Park June 18
Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park - Site Map
The 28-acre park site was dedicated to the citizens of Rockville by King Farm Associates as part of a 92-acre public park system for the King Farm neighborhood. This includes 47 acres of passive, forested parkland, including the stream valleys, plus 45 acres of parkland designated for active uses. The active parks include the already-built King Farm Park (12 acres) located south of Redland Road, the King Farm Farmstead (5 acres), located at Rt. 355 and Ridgemont Ave., and the Mattie J.T. Stepanek park.
The 28-acre park site is bordered by Gaither Road on the west, Pleasant Road on the east and Piccard Drive on the south. The stand of existing mature forest forms the northern border of the park.
$2.1 million is budgeted in the City’s Capital Improvements Program for construction of the park. The budget is supported by a $1.4 million grant from Maryland Program Open Space (POS), a program that supports acquisition and construction of public parks. A small Federal grant ($75,000) has also been secured to support the park construction.
Tetra Tech, Inc., a Delaware landscape architecture firm, has been hired as the professional park design consultants. Tetra Tech has designed many large and small parks for communities in the mid-Atlantic region. The first phase of construction will begin in fall of 2004. Funding for additional construction phases is included in the 2006, 2007 and 2010 budget years. Phase I construction will be focused on the neighborhood park amenities (see details below) as well as the Dog Park.
The recommended design for the Mattie J.T. Stepanek park features a mix of neighborhood park amenities built on approximately eight acres and located in close proximity to the adjacent homes along Piccard Drive and across Gaither Road. Neighborhood park amenities include playgrounds, walking/jogging paths, a picnic area, a shade gazebo, fitness cluster and passive landscaped areas.
The park will also include amenities designed for use by all Rockville residents. These are purposely located at significant distance from the homes that border the park. Two rectangular sports fields with lighting for evening use are located in the northern section of the park. Lighted tennis and basketball courts are planned for the northeast corner. The athletic field and lighted court areas will be buffered with trees, landscaping and topography (bermed areas). A large parking lot is located on the east side of the park with access from Pleasant Road. A Dog Park area, with its own small parking lot is located in the northwest corner of the park, with vehicular access from Gaither Road. A softball field (not lighted) is located in the southwest corner of the park.
The primary use of the two rectangular fields will be for City youth sports league games and practices. During daylight hours they will be available for drop-in uses. The fields will host the games for the City’s youth football program, the Rockville Football League (RFL). The RFL serves 700 children ages 7-14. RFL games are scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays from early September through November each year. Games are played on Friday evenings from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. The Saturday schedule is 2:00 to 10:00 p.m. Practices are held under the lights in the month of October when the days become shorter.
Approximately forty-five King Farm residents attended a public meeting held on May 5, 2004 at the Community Center. The proposed park design was presented followed by an extensive question and answer period. Many suggestions were offered at the meeting and attendees filled out comment sheets with additional input. Many of these comments and suggestions will be incorporated into the final park design.
