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Piney Orchard, Maryland facts for kids

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Piney Orchard is a community located in Odenton, Maryland. It's part of the greater Washington D.C. area. It was planned and built by a company called Constellation Real Estate Group, which is now part of Exelon.

Building Piney Orchard

Work on Piney Orchard started in 1991. However, the first steps for the Piney Orchard Nature Preserve began even earlier, in 1987. This was when the Constellation Real Estate Group started to fix up wetlands in the area. These wetlands had been dug up for sand and gravel in the 1940s and 1950s.

To make up for wetlands that were filled in during construction, several "mitigation projects" took place. This means they worked to restore or create new wetlands. These projects happened in five stages. They built and improved five large ponds. They also planted many native shrubs, trees, and grasses. The Army Corps of Engineers watched over these efforts. By 1995, they decided the work was successful. The Piney Orchard Nature Preserve officially opened in 1996.

Life in the Community

More than 3,500 homes have been built in Piney Orchard. About 8,500 people live there today. In 2005, the company that built Piney Orchard handed over its daily management to the homeowners.

The Piney Orchard Community Association, or "POCA," now manages the community. POCA organizes fun social events for everyone. They also collect yearly fees from homeowners. These fees help keep the community looking nice and well-maintained.

Sports and Recreation

The Piney Orchard Ice Arena is a well-known spot in the community. It's located at the corner of Piney Orchard Parkway and Riverscape Drive. This arena used to be the practice home for the Washington Capitals hockey team. The Capitals are a professional hockey team. They practiced there until 2006. After that, they moved to a new practice facility in Arlington, Virginia.

Neighborhoods in Piney Orchard

Piney Orchard is made up of many different neighborhoods. Each one has its own unique feel. Some of these neighborhoods are:

  • Autumn Crest
  • Brookwood
  • Burgundy Place
  • Cedar Ridge - a community for active adults
  • Chapel Village
  • Chestnut Gable
  • Chestnut Point
  • The Courts
  • Emory Woods
  • Fieldstone Farms Apartments
  • Francis Station
  • The Gatherings at Forest Glen - another community for active adults
  • The Groves
  • Harvest Run
  • Maple Ridge
  • Nature's Trail
  • Piney Station
  • River Colony
  • River's Edge
  • River Run
  • Riverscape Apartments
  • Settler's View
  • Station House
  • Stone Crossing
  • Streamview
  • Summer's Run
  • Summit Chase
  • The Vineyards
  • Westcourts
  • Woodland Walk
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