Wheaton Regional Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wheaton Regional Park |
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| Wheaton Park | |
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Fall reflections, November 2019
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| Type | Public park and protected area |
| Location | Wheaton, Maryland, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Washington, D.C. |
| Area | 538.665 acres (217.990 hectares) |
| Elevation | 407 ft (124 m) |
| Established | 1960 |
| Owned by | M–NCPPC |
| Operated by | Montgomery Parks |
| Open | Sunrise to sunset |
| Status | Open all year |
| Water | Pine Lake and ponds |
| Budget | $5,000,000 (FY19) (including improvements) |
| Parking | 6 lots |
| Connecting transport |
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| Facilities |
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Wheaton Regional Park is a big public park in Wheaton, Maryland. It's a special protected area managed by Montgomery Parks. This park opened in 1960 and is one of the largest in the county. It covers about 538 acres, which is like 400 football fields! It's a great place for fun and nature.
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Explore Brookside Gardens
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Inside Wheaton Regional Park, you'll find Brookside Gardens. This is a beautiful botanical garden that spans 54 acres. It's a popular spot for people to take wedding photos.
Brookside Gardens is famous for its seasonal shows. In winter, they have a "Winter Garden of Lights" display. They also have a garden railway exhibit and a "Wings of Fancy" live butterfly exhibit. The gardens have two large greenhouses called conservatories. These conservatories are home to many tropical plants.
Fun Park Facilities
Wheaton Regional Park is divided into three main areas. These areas are named after their entrances: the Shorefield Area, the Glenallan Area, and the Orebaugh Area. Brookside Gardens is located in the Glenallan Area.
Montgomery Parks offers many fun things to do at Wheaton Regional Park. Here are some of the cool facilities you can enjoy:
- F. Frank Rubini Athletic Complex (Orebaugh Area): This is a great place for sports.
- Wheaton Sports Pavilion (Orebaugh Area): Another spot for athletic activities.
- Brookside Nature Center (Glenallan Area):
- Learn about local nature from naturalists.
- See exhibits about the area's natural history.
- Pine Lake (Shorefield Area): You can go fishing here.
- Wheaton Indoor Tennis Facility (Orebaugh Area): Play tennis indoors, no matter the weather.
- Wheaton Ice Arena (Orebaugh Area):
- Go ice skating or take lessons.
- Play ice hockey.
- Wheaton Miniature Train (Shorefield Area):
- Take a fun ride on a small train.
- You need to buy tickets for train rides.
- Ovid Hazen Wells Carousel (Shorefield Area):
- Enjoy a classic carousel ride.
- Tickets are needed for this ride.
- Wheaton Riding Stables (Glenallan Area):
- Go on guided trail rides.
- Take horse riding lessons for all skill levels.
- Kids can join summer camps here.
- Wheaton Regional Park Picnic Areas (Shorefield Area):
- There are eight picnic shelters you can reserve.
- Each shelter can hold up to 40 people.
- Grills and picnic tables are also available for everyone.
- Wheaton Regional Park Trails (Shorefield Area): Explore the park on its many trails.
- Adventure Playground (Shorefield Area): A fantastic playground for kids to explore.
- Montgomery Dog Park (Orebaugh Area): A special place for dogs to play.
Park History and Special Attractions
The park is home to the Harper Family Log House. This old log cabin was built in the 1870s in another part of Montgomery County. In 1976, the park moved the cabin to Wheaton Regional Park. It was rebuilt to show what a pioneer cabin looked like for the United States Bicentennial celebration.
This log house was once home to an African-American family who owned land. The parents raised 15 children in this three-room house! It had one room downstairs and two upstairs, with a big stone fireplace.
The park also features two very popular attractions: the Ovid Hazen Wells Carousel and a miniature train.
The Ovid Hazen Wells Carousel
The carousel was built in 1915. It used to be at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. from 1967 to 1981. This musical carousel has 33 jumping horses, three zebras, and two chariots. It's currently on loan to Wheaton Regional Park.
The Wheaton Miniature Train
The Wheaton Miniature Train is a copy of an 1863 C. P. Huntington engine and its passenger cars. It takes visitors on a short tour around the park. Both the train and the carousel run on weekends in April and September. They operate daily from May through August.
Images for kids
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Fall reflections, November 2019
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View inside conservatory
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Harper family homestead
