Bikes on Rock Creek (MD) trails

THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release:
April 2, 2009

Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS WELCOMES BIKE RIDERS ON POPULAR ROCK CREEK REGIONAL PARK TRAILS

ROCKVILLE, MD-Starting this Saturday, April 4 six popular natural
surface trails in Rock Creek Regional Park will be open to bicycle use
for the first time. Before now, bikes have not been permitted on any of
the natural surface trails within Rock Creek Regional Park.

"This creates an additional 3.75 miles of trails in the park for
bicyclists to enjoy, "said Department of Parks Regional Operations
Manager Jim Humerick, "something that the bicycle community has been
requesting for some time now."

Effective April 4, the Department of Parks will permit bicycle use on
the following trails on the west side of Lake Needwood in Rock Creek
Regional Park: Westside Trail, Gude Trail, Lake Ridge Trail, Parilla
Path, Blue Heron Trail and Dogwood Run.

The parks department made the change in accordance with the Rock Creek
Regional Park Master Plan and the Upper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Plan,
which was approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board in October
2008. Both the park's master plan and the Upper Rock Creek Trail
Corridor Plan call for increasing the amount of trails to fill gaps in
the existing trail system and expanded trail use.

Park trails on the east side of Lake Needwood, north of the boat rental,
will remain for hikers only to ensure quiet areas for fishing.

Rock Creek Regional Park is one of the most popular parks in the
Montgomery County parks system, with opportunities for boating and
fishing, 18 picnic shelters, more than 13 miles of trails including a
portion of the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail, a National Recreational
Trail as designated by the US Department of the Interior, and more.

For more on Rock Creek Regional Park, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.

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