Citizens Advisory Board Recommends Interim Recreation Services for Scotland Community

In an April 11 letter the Montgomery County Council, the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board inquired about interim recreation services for the when their current facility beginning Oct. 1.

During Monday’s meeting, the group — which advises the County Council and County Executive Isiah Leggett on regional issues in the Bethesda, Potomac and Chevy Chase areas — posed a question about what recreation services will be available to the Scotland Community during the recreation center’s renovation. The board noted that the center serves a rather isolated community and wanted to know who will provide recreation and community liaison services during the renovation.

The almost 40-year-old will be demolished and a new center will be completely rebuilt to meet the needs of the residents who use the facility. The renovations, expected to cost $5 million, are slated to begin in October and the center will be closed for 12 to 18 months for construction.

While many programs usually held at the center will continue at another location, it is not yet known where those activities will be moved, said community center director Kim Bryant in a .

The letter the board wrote to the County Council also commented on other local concerns including the and cutbacks that could come from Leggett’s recommended operating budget, which aims to close a $300 million budget gap.

In the letter, the group also advocated for youth sports, suggested more staffing at regional services centers and proposed raising fees to help support programming at neighborhood recreation centers like the Clara Barton center in Cabin John,