A Gift of Green
Trees, Benches, and Park Amenities for Montgomery County Parks, M-NCPPC
Help us Keep our County Green
Other Green Donations
Community Projects
Help us Keep our County Green
The Montgomery County Department of Parks is proud of our charge to keep Montgomery County green. We are stewards of over 34,000 acres of parkland, including neighborhood parks, athletic fields, historic sites, playgrounds, picnic areas, and trails. There is a park within a mile, on average, of every neighborhood in our county!
The scope of our responsibilities is greater than our annual budget can cover, and there is much to be done in our parks for which we need your help, such as:
- replacing trees damaged or destroyed in storms
- planting new trees for areas lacking shade
- saving trees from the pressures of non-native invasive species, and
- installing benches in scenic areas, including trails.
Dedicate a Green Gift for various commemorative purposes, to honor a person, group or occasion; memorialize a family member, friend, or colleague; celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, or other special event. We welcome gifts from groups and associations that are made collectively with individual checks. Each check will be acknowledged separately. If your workplace has a community service program, please consider partnering with Parks to raise funds for a Green Gift that will benefit the communities we serve.
NOTE: These gifts used exclusively for public purposes are tax-deductible.
The process is simple. Complete the Donation form (pdf, 146KB). Print and mail it with your check.
- Trees
Parks staff will help you select an appropriate location, and type of tree. We will also procure and plant the tree. The total cost is $500-$2,000, depending on the size of the tree. Maintenance for two years is included. Planting season is from October through May, and we take orders year-round. A small tree tag is included that can be personalized with a brief inscription. For an additional $350, we will arrange for a 4”x 4” bronze plaque on a rock, with an inscription of your choice, that will be placed by the tree. - Benches
We order and install memorial benches with a standard 4”x6” bronze plaque bearing your personalized inscription. Group/family members are welcome to send separate checks to contribute individually to the total cost of $1,500. - Groves
A grove of trees may be donated at a site of your choice that also meets Parks requirements. Parks staff will guide donors to possible locations, order and install the trees. A gift of $3000 - $5000 includes costs of multiple trees and routine maintenance. Group donors are welcome to send individual checks for a predetermined total amount. - Save Park Trees
Non-native Invasive (NNI) plants are species that have been introduced to local areas from other geographical regions. Away from environmental influences that naturally keep them in check in their native lands, NNI can quickly outcompete and replace many native plant species, reduce biodiversity, and have negative impacts on stream buffers, reforestation efforts, wildlife and entire natural communities. Some are extremely aggressive and capable of killing acres of forest canopy or understory in a matter of years. Several vines regularly overgrow and kill our mature trees. Join us in NNI control that is needed in every corner of our parkland by making a donation! We welcome any amount. With $25 you can save up to 4 trees, with $50 you can save up to 8 trees, $5,000 can treat up to 7 acres or up to 700 trees! A gift of over $5,000 may be dedicated toward your favorite park.
NNI Donation form (pdf, 264KB)
NOTE: 100% of your contribution will be used for NNI control and is tax-deductible.
Other Green Donations
Other monetary donations are welcome for a favorite park or program, or item/equipment identified by Parks staff; as well as approved community projects that are not included in our annual budget. For example, our Nature Centers need to purchase items ranging from underwater cameras to a nature boardwalk. We will help you find a match with your interests and our needs.
For information on planning your gift, please contact:
Tin-Mala, Grants and Donations Program
301-650-5676
Donations@montgomeryparks.org
NOTE: The donation of a tree, bench or other amenity to The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's park system does not constitute ownership of the item, the land upon which it is situated, or the surrounding lands. The Montgomery County Department of Parks staff can accept only those commemorative gifts that are in alignment with the Commission's organizational mission and purpose. The Commission reserves the right to determine the suitability of all commemorative gifts and donations and expressly reserves the right to refuse any donation or commemorative gift. The Commission, in its sole discretion, will determine whether to repair or replace any of the commemorative gift items that are damaged, stolen or destroyed.
Community Projects
Tai Chi Court
In a Public-Private Partnership with the Wu Wei Tai Chi Club, we are accepting donations to construct a Tai Chi practice court and contemplation center in Cabin John Regional Park. This project conforms to our mission of protecting and interpreting the county’s valuable natural and cultural resources while offering a variety of enjoyable recreational activities that promote healthy lifestyles and provide clean, safe, and accessible places for leisure-time activities. Detailed information on this project may be found at: http://www.wuweitaichi.com/articles/TaiChiCourt.pdf
Donation form
Date of last update: May 6, 2010
Montgomery County Department of Parks