Red Gate Park: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Short description|Park in Rockville, Maryland}}

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[[File:Redgate Park.jpg|thumb|Redgate Park]]

'''RedgateRedGate Park'''<ref name="redgate">[https://www.redgatepark.org/ Redgate Park]</ref> is a wooded public park in suburban [[Rockville, Maryland]], which is 131 acres of natural green space situated between [[Maryland Route 2928]], theparts of [https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/rock-creek-regional-park/ Rock Creek Regional Park], and Avery Road. It is administered by the [[Rockville, Maryland]] government as a public park and nature preserve. The park began as a public golf course, called RedgateRedGate Golf Course, which was designed and built in 1974. It operated until 2018, when it was converted into a public park as part of a unanimous vote to keep the land undeveloped, after a $3.2 million estimation<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kazanjian |first=Glynis |date=2019-02-20 |title=Cost of RedGate Golf Course Upgrades Estimated at $3 Million |url=http://bethesdamagazine.com/2019/02/20/upgrades-required-to-keep-redgate-golf-course-viable-estimated-to-cost-3-million/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=MoCo360 |language=en-US}}</ref> for necessary repairs compelled the management company, [[Billy Casper]] Golf, a golf course management company located in [[Reston, Virginia]], to terminate its 10-year lease three years early, opening up the possibility for redevelopment or preservation. Rockville local government hosted information and input sessions<ref>{{Cite web |title=RedGate Park |url=https://engagerockville.com/redgate-park |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Engage Rockville |language=en-US}}</ref> to determine the most suitable use of the land.

The park still retains the asphalt paths suited to golf carts, and many of the fixtures and structures that are common to a golf course, but the course itself has largely been absorbed by natural reclamation. This follows a recent trend of declining popularity for the sport of golf,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bailey |first=Richard |last2=Warner |first2=Russell |last3=Branton |first3=Justyn |last4=Carr |first4=Sam |last5=Wright |first5=Jonathan |last6=Cope |first6=Ed |date=2019-10-10 |title=Engaging Young People in Golf: a Delphi Expert Consensus Study |url=https://www.golfsciencejournal.org/article/10464-engaging-young-people-in-golf-a-delphi-expert-consensus-study |journal=International Journal of Golf Science |language=en |volume=7 |issue=2}}</ref> and an increased desire for green space.

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The Friends of Redgate Park organization claims that the park is now home to 166 identified bird species. Other animals frequenting the park include deer and fox.

In August 2019, [[Cornell]]'s [[Ornithology]] designated the site as a "Birding Hotspot",<ref>{{Cite web |title=RedgateRedGate Park, Montgomery County, MD, US - eBird Hotspot |url=https://ebird.org/hotspot/L9784319 |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=ebird.org |language=en}}</ref> on their website, [[eBird]].

Filmmaker Cintia Cabib is producing a documentary entitled [https://www.birdwalkfilm.com Bird Walk] which focuses on the birds and birders at RedGate Park and on the grassroots campaign which advocated that the defunct golf course be transformed into a public park.

A city-approved master plan<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=M. C. S. |date=2022-10-12 |title=Rockville City Officials to Receive Presentation on Final Concept for Re-Imagining RedGate Park |url=https://mocoshow.com/blog/rockville-city-officials-to-receive-presentation-on-final-concept-for-re-imagining-redgate-park/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=The MoCo Show |language=en-US}}</ref> was submitted that would transform the mostly-wild green space into a developed multi-use park, with such amenities including a new visitor center, a dog park, community gardens, an amphitheater, a new parking lot, new road connections, a playground, a picnic area, and other improvements. The plan has since been pared down and the park will retain its passive recreational use except for the community gardens.

RedgateRedGate Park is a grassland habitat, dotted with man-made water features and mature trees that were installed during its time as a golf course. The park is adjacent to the [[National Park Service]]'s [[Rock Creek Trail]] system, though currently there is no pedestrian or bicycle path connection between the two.

== References ==

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[[Category:Parks in Montgomery County, Maryland]]