Thanks to a new program from Montgomery Parks, community members will soon learn more about the rich history of some of the county’s over 400 parks.
“As we observe Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March, it is so important that we recognize these stories,” said Montgomery Parks Cultural Heritage Specialist Elena Guarinello. “Making histories visible in public parks is a powerful way to share and represent the county’s diversity.”
The project has been in the works for around two and a half years, Guarinello told MCM. It will create audio tours, signage and interactive resources to educate visitors about historically underrepresented narratives of diversity on the county’s parklands.
“We anticipate using museum techniques, but outdoors. Imagine audio, participatory activities, temporary displays and more,” Guarinello said.
The latest initiative expands the current Montgomery Parks Cultural Resources interpretive program, which includes museums, historic sites and outdoor signs, the county said.
“I do anticipate that Untold Stories is going to be collaborating with those sites because we touch on many of the same themes, especially with regard to African American heritage,” Guarinello said.
One of the initiative’s first projects will be with Johnson’s Local Park in Gaithersburg’s Emory Grove community. Guarinello told MCM that the site is of significance to the community and the wider region.
“It was a site for Methodist camp meetings for the African American community for close to 100 years,” she told MCM. “[Sometimes] that was the one time of year they were seeing some of their friends who live further away, coming for food, fellowship, worship under the same group of oak trees that stand in the park today.”
Guarinello told MCM the county hopes to work with the local community to better tell its story.
“One tenet for this program is to be community informed and inspired… We’re really looking to work with individuals and communities in Montgomery County that have connections to these public spaces,” she said.
Many of the initiative’s resources are available on its website.
Photo from Montgomery County Reflections video, Courtesy Montgomery County Council
