If you’ve ever wondered why Montgomery County’s parks seem to be so well-funded (summer camps, classes, well-maintained grounds, etc.), it’s certainly not because the county is pouring truckloads of money into that part of its budget while it tries to create shortcuts everywhere else.
Instead, the parks have concentrated on increasing its private partners to grow revenue and fund itself. Most recently, Go Ape, a ziplining course that’s celebrating its one-year anniversary in Rockville this month, was provided a land lease in exchange for sharing a portion of its revenue with the parks department.
According to Françoise Carrier, Montgomery County Planning Board chairwoman, other public-private partners include the Red Wiggler Community Farm, the Maryland SoccerPlex, Great and Small, and the soon-to-come Miracle League field and Jack Schore Tennis Center.
The county is also “just months away from the launch of a corporate sponsorship program which has the potential to generate significant revenue,” Carrier said at a meeting last month.
