The Connection

Working together to protect and improve the buildings, history and arts programs at Glen Echo Park, Montgomery County and the National Park Service signed a new agreement for cooperatively managing the park in a ceremony Friday, July 20.

The new agreement changes the shared management arrangement between the county and NPS in place since 2002, according to David Dise, director of Montgomery County Department of General Services.

In 2002 there was a 15-year agreement [for shared management] struck between the county and National Park Service but there have been some issues, Dise said. So, three or four years ago the county approached the National Park Service to work out some of the those problems.

“Under the new agreement, Montgomery County will be responsible for operation, maintenance and day-to-day management of the park,” according to a press release from the National Park Service. “The county will continue to work with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture to provide public art programs, studio exhibits, performances and social dances, which have been a tradition in Glen Echo Park for more than 120 years.”

The National Park Service will continue to own the park, Dise said.

Dise said that the county is in a position to be more responsive to issues at the park and that he has already sent people to replace lights in the parking lot, the sort of maintenance the county can provide faster than the Park Service.

The arrangement will benefit the community and protect the nationally significant history of Glen Echo according to a press release from the National Park Service.

“The cooperative agreement … meets all contemporary laws and policies and ensures that visitors will continue to enjoy the Glen Echo Park they have known and loved for generations,” according to the press release.

Acting NPS National Capital Regional Director Lisa Mendelson-Ielmini and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett signed the agreement in front of Glen Echo’s historic 1921 Dentzel Carousel.

“This partnership demonstrates how federal and local government can work together to care for places that are important to our communities,” Mendelson-Ielmini said. “We move forward together confident that Glen Echo Park is prepared to host more special memories.”

Leggett said that Glen Echo is one of Montgomery County’s crown jewels.

“With this new agreement, the county looks forward to working with the National Park Service and the Glen Echo Partnership to even further enhance everything that Glen Echo has to offer,” he said.

Several politicians attended the ceremony including U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Glen Echo Mayor Willem Polak.

“I am excited for the local community, because Glen Echo Park is a unique jewel that will continue to be a cherished educational and cultural asset in Montgomery County, thanks to this continuing partnership with the National Park Service,” said U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

“For over a century, the 9.3-acre park has served the region as a center for education, entertainment, and cultural development. The National Park Service has managed Glen Echo Park since 1971 and it officially became part of the National Park System in 1976. Since 2002, the National Park Service has partnered with Montgomery County and Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture to provide public programing and day-to-day management,” the National Park Service press release said.