Remember that thing about MoCo Parks/Playgrounds Reopening?

[Anonymous]

So does the department of parks have its own public health advisers that are different from both the state and Montgomery county? Because none of this makes any sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So does the department of parks have its own public health advisers that are different from both the state and Montgomery county? Because none of this makes any sense.

I should clarify that I don’t even use the playgrounds and it’s not about that in my point of view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So does the department of parks have its own public health advisers that are different from both the state and Montgomery county? Because none of this makes any sense.

They said they're waiting to hear back from Dr. Gayles in the county's Public Health Services office.

Basically, the problem we have seems to be the county seemed to stress that playgrounds are opening "with requirements" but never released specific requirements for playgrounds. The EO had some general requirements, but many don't seem to apply (or at least aren't practical) to playgrounds. It's also interesting that the county chose to stress the "with requirements" specifically with playgrounds. Everything that's reopening is reopening with requirements- what does it mean that they tacked on an explicit "with requirements" only on playgrounds?

I'm the OP. I was originally mad at Montgomery Parks, but the more I think about this, the more I suspect this is really because Dr. Gayles won't tell them what they have to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So does the department of parks have its own public health advisers that are different from both the state and Montgomery county? Because none of this makes any sense.

They said they're waiting to hear back from Dr. Gayles in the county's Public Health Services office.

Basically, the problem we have seems to be the county seemed to stress that playgrounds are opening "with requirements" but never released specific requirements for playgrounds. The EO had some general requirements, but many don't seem to apply (or at least aren't practical) to playgrounds. It's also interesting that the county chose to stress the "with requirements" specifically with playgrounds. Everything that's reopening is reopening with requirements- what does it mean that they tacked on an explicit "with requirements" only on playgrounds?

I'm the OP. I was originally mad at Montgomery Parks, but the more I think about this, the more I suspect this is really because Dr. Gayles won't tell them what they have to do.

The entire situation is a sht show. Again, the it's not about the playgrounds but the miscommunication and mismanagement of the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So does the department of parks have its own public health advisers that are different from both the state and Montgomery county? Because none of this makes any sense.

They said they're waiting to hear back from Dr. Gayles in the county's Public Health Services office.

Basically, the problem we have seems to be the county seemed to stress that playgrounds are opening "with requirements" but never released specific requirements for playgrounds. The EO had some general requirements, but many don't seem to apply (or at least aren't practical) to playgrounds. It's also interesting that the county chose to stress the "with requirements" specifically with playgrounds. Everything that's reopening is reopening with requirements- what does it mean that they tacked on an explicit "with requirements" only on playgrounds?

I'm the OP. I was originally mad at Montgomery Parks, but the more I think about this, the more I suspect this is really because Dr. Gayles won't tell them what they have to do.

The entire situation is a sht show. Again, the it's not about the playgrounds but the miscommunication and mismanagement of the county.

Elrich's fault then. This guy realy can't manage.

Went to 5 different playgrounds today to check them out. All covered in orange tape/fencing. Didn't go in.

_School_ playgrounds are not roped off (at least the elementary schools we tried) so we went there instead. Only stayed a few minutes as it was hot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So does the department of parks have its own public health advisers that are different from both the state and Montgomery county? Because none of this makes any sense.

They said they're waiting to hear back from Dr. Gayles in the county's Public Health Services office.

Basically, the problem we have seems to be the county seemed to stress that playgrounds are opening "with requirements" but never released specific requirements for playgrounds. The EO had some general requirements, but many don't seem to apply (or at least aren't practical) to playgrounds. It's also interesting that the county chose to stress the "with requirements" specifically with playgrounds. Everything that's reopening is reopening with requirements- what does it mean that they tacked on an explicit "with requirements" only on playgrounds?

I'm the OP. I was originally mad at Montgomery Parks, but the more I think about this, the more I suspect this is really because Dr. Gayles won't tell them what they have to do.

The entire situation is a sht show. Again, the it's not about the playgrounds but the miscommunication and mismanagement of the county.

Yup exactly. Incompetence is not so evident when everything is going swimmingly. A crisis is a true test of leadership and Elrich is at the top and has failed. Crazy that they cannot figure out how to give Montgomery Parks guidance, or just get rid of the stupid “with requirements” addendum.

[Anonymous]

County Government and MNCPPC (the owners of most of the parks in the county) are two separate entities. MNCPPC is not technically part of the Montgomery County government. There has always been a bit of a pissing match between the two entities based on my experience dealing with them so this doesn't surprise me at all. Completely childish and incompetent - but not unexpected.

Plenty of playgrounds open though WITH NO REQUIREMENTS - City of Rockville, Gaithersburg, ES schools, HOAs or the parks close to me where sections of the orange netting has been torn down for weeks and people are happily using them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:County Government and MNCPPC (the owners of most of the parks in the county) are two separate entities. MNCPPC is not technically part of the Montgomery County government. There has always been a bit of a pissing match between the two entities based on my experience dealing with them so this doesn't surprise me at all. Completely childish and incompetent - but not unexpected.

Plenty of playgrounds open though WITH NO REQUIREMENTS - City of Rockville, Gaithersburg, ES schools, HOAs or the parks close to me where sections of the orange netting has been torn down for weeks and people are happily using them.

Has MCPS said anything about playgrounds at schools? Last time I looked there was still caution tape up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:County Government and MNCPPC (the owners of most of the parks in the county) are two separate entities. MNCPPC is not technically part of the Montgomery County government. There has always been a bit of a pissing match between the two entities based on my experience dealing with them so this doesn't surprise me at all. Completely childish and incompetent - but not unexpected.

Plenty of playgrounds open though WITH NO REQUIREMENTS - City of Rockville, Gaithersburg, ES schools, HOAs or the parks close to me where sections of the orange netting has been torn down for weeks and people are happily using them.

What this is bringing to light is at the parks department runs separately from everybody including the state. It shouldn’t work that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County Government and MNCPPC (the owners of most of the parks in the county) are two separate entities. MNCPPC is not technically part of the Montgomery County government. There has always been a bit of a pissing match between the two entities based on my experience dealing with them so this doesn't surprise me at all. Completely childish and incompetent - but not unexpected.

Plenty of playgrounds open though WITH NO REQUIREMENTS - City of Rockville, Gaithersburg, ES schools, HOAs or the parks close to me where sections of the orange netting has been torn down for weeks and people are happily using them.

What this is bringing to light is at the parks department runs separately from everybody including the state. It shouldn’t work that way.

Yup. They can’t be their own fiefdom like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County Government and MNCPPC (the owners of most of the parks in the county) are two separate entities. MNCPPC is not technically part of the Montgomery County government. There has always been a bit of a pissing match between the two entities based on my experience dealing with them so this doesn't surprise me at all. Completely childish and incompetent - but not unexpected.

Plenty of playgrounds open though WITH NO REQUIREMENTS - City of Rockville, Gaithersburg, ES schools, HOAs or the parks close to me where sections of the orange netting has been torn down for weeks and people are happily using them.

What this is bringing to light is at the parks department runs separately from everybody including the state. It shouldn’t work that way.

Well, the governing body above Montgomery Parks is appointed by the Montgomery County Council and the PG County Executive. So, there's some accountability. It seems like an awfully strange setup, though. How often does a parks department fall outside the normal municipal/county/state governments?

In any event, I'm the OP and am probably about as mad as anyone about this. But, the more I think about it, the less I think it's fair to pin anything on Montgomery Parks. It is entirely sensible for Montgomery Parks to defer to the Health Officer in the county. If the Health Officer isn't playing nicely, it puts them in an impossible situation.

I don't know how MoCo Rec was able to make a decision to reopen. Though, I honestly can't even identify a single MoCo Rec playground, so presumably that means they don't have very many, and likely aren't terribly desirable playgrounds under normal circumstances. Montgomery Parks is a very different situation. Still, I'd be awfully curious what, if anything, they got from Dr. Gayles' office on playground requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County Government and MNCPPC (the owners of most of the parks in the county) are two separate entities. MNCPPC is not technically part of the Montgomery County government. There has always been a bit of a pissing match between the two entities based on my experience dealing with them so this doesn't surprise me at all. Completely childish and incompetent - but not unexpected.

Plenty of playgrounds open though WITH NO REQUIREMENTS - City of Rockville, Gaithersburg, ES schools, HOAs or the parks close to me where sections of the orange netting has been torn down for weeks and people are happily using them.

What this is bringing to light is at the parks department runs separately from everybody including the state. It shouldn’t work that way.

Well, the governing body above Montgomery Parks is appointed by the Montgomery County Council and the PG County Executive. So, there's some accountability. It seems like an awfully strange setup, though. How often does a parks department fall outside the normal municipal/county/state governments?

In any event, I'm the OP and am probably about as mad as anyone about this. But, the more I think about it, the less I think it's fair to pin anything on Montgomery Parks. It is entirely sensible for Montgomery Parks to defer to the Health Officer in the county. If the Health Officer isn't playing nicely, it puts them in an impossible situation.

I don't know how MoCo Rec was able to make a decision to reopen. Though, I honestly can't even identify a single MoCo Rec playground, so presumably that means they don't have very many, and likely aren't terribly desirable playgrounds under normal circumstances. Montgomery Parks is a very different situation. Still, I'd be awfully curious what, if anything, they got from Dr. Gayles' office on playground requirements.

Doesn’t the county exec defer to the health officer? Isn’t that why we are in phase 2?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Well, the governing body above Montgomery Parks is appointed by the Montgomery County Council and the PG County Executive. So, there's some accountability. It seems like an awfully strange setup, though. How often does a parks department fall outside the normal municipal/county/state governments?

In any event, I'm the OP and am probably about as mad as anyone about this. But, the more I think about it, the less I think it's fair to pin anything on Montgomery Parks. It is entirely sensible for Montgomery Parks to defer to the Health Officer in the county. If the Health Officer isn't playing nicely, it puts them in an impossible situation.

I don't know how MoCo Rec was able to make a decision to reopen. Though, I honestly can't even identify a single MoCo Rec playground, so presumably that means they don't have very many, and likely aren't terribly desirable playgrounds under normal circumstances. Montgomery Parks is a very different situation. Still, I'd be awfully curious what, if anything, they got from Dr. Gayles' office on playground requirements.

M-NCPPC is a state-level agency. If you want to know why, read

Suburb: Planning Politics and the Public Interest

by Royce Hanson.

Montgomery Parks is generally a reactive agency, institutionally/culturally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County Government and MNCPPC (the owners of most of the parks in the county) are two separate entities. MNCPPC is not technically part of the Montgomery County government. There has always been a bit of a pissing match between the two entities based on my experience dealing with them so this doesn't surprise me at all. Completely childish and incompetent - but not unexpected.

Plenty of playgrounds open though WITH NO REQUIREMENTS - City of Rockville, Gaithersburg, ES schools, HOAs or the parks close to me where sections of the orange netting has been torn down for weeks and people are happily using them.

What this is bringing to light is at the parks department runs separately from everybody including the state. It shouldn’t work that way.

Yup. They can’t be their own fiefdom like this.

They aren't their own fiefdom. They're part of a state-level agency: Montgomery-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County Government and MNCPPC (the owners of most of the parks in the county) are two separate entities. MNCPPC is not technically part of the Montgomery County government. There has always been a bit of a pissing match between the two entities based on my experience dealing with them so this doesn't surprise me at all. Completely childish and incompetent - but not unexpected.

Plenty of playgrounds open though WITH NO REQUIREMENTS - City of Rockville, Gaithersburg, ES schools, HOAs or the parks close to me where sections of the orange netting has been torn down for weeks and people are happily using them.

What this is bringing to light is at the parks department runs separately from everybody including the state. It shouldn’t work that way.

Yup. They can’t be their own fiefdom like this.

They aren't their own fiefdom. They're part of a state-level agency: Montgomery-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

It's an independent agency, not a state-level agency. It was chartered by the state, but there's no state-level oversight. The governing body is actually appointed by the Montgomery County Council and the PG County Executive. It seems like a strange set up to me.