Garrett Park Nursery School

TAKE ACTION

• Contact your elected officials to Save Our School
• Attend a Meeting!
• We invite you to join the Save Our School Task Force.  Please send an email to savegpnstaskforce@gmail.com to let us know you are interesting in helping us save the Garrett Park Nursery School and the Garrett Park Estates Recreation Center.” 

Background

• May 13, 2008: A letter from Mayor Chris Keller re. The Garrett Park Community Center Building (download below)
• January 15, 2008: Letter from Mary Bradford, Director of Parks, to GPNS download below)
• "Loss of Identity Feared if Rec Centers Close", The Washington Post, October 14, 2007
• "Garrett Park residents want storied rec center to remain open," Kensignton Gazette, September 12, 2007
• "County Considers Shutting Costly Recreation Centers"  The Washington Post, June 26, 2007
• Memo from GPNS to Garrett Park Town Council (provides good overview of issues -- see attachment below)
• Press Release announcing the Report
• Letter from GPNS Membership from the Save Our School Committee 9.06.07
• Staff Report aka Functional Plan for Recreation and Ancillary Buildings: Preliminary Staff Recommendations
• September 5th Letter from GPNS to Mary Bradford, Director of Parks and Recreation (PDF attached below)
• September 3rd Letter from GPNS to the Chairman of the Planning Board, Royce Hanson (PDF attached below)

 

Dear Friends of GPNS:

Thank you to everyone who has sent emails to your elected officials - they are hearing us!  If you have not done so yet, please take a moment to visit the Save Our School campaign website  and voice your opposition to the proposed demolition of the Nursery School's home for 50 years.  Please let your local government officials and decision-makers know how much both the building (the Garrett Park Estates Recreation Center aka Community Center) and the Nursery School mean to you!  Also, forward the link to any family and friends that might want to support our efforts.

Update on September 10 Meetings

1.      Meeting with Roger Berliner

Nursery School Co-President Gerilee Bennett, Brenda Artim and parent of alumni Paul Runci joined Garrett Park Mayor Carolyn Shawaker to meet with County Councilmember Roger Berliner who represents the district in which GPNS is located.  Councilmember Berliner is supportive of the nursery school and said that he will work with us to achieve a positive resolution to the matter.  Keep filling up his inbox! 

2.      Garrett Park Town Council Meeting

First, thank you to all of the parents who attended - it was a great showing!  The town put our issue on their agenda to look into what role the town of Garrett Park can play in assisting us in keeping the building and the school viable.  A couple of surprise guests - Councilmember Nancy Floreen and Director of Parks Mary Bradford - attended the meeting and made presentations.  Councilmember Floreen stressed that we should work with Montgomery County Public Schools to ensure that all parties get what we need to go forward.  She also announced a tentative date for a public meeting between Montgomery County Park Dept and Montgomery County School at Garrett Park Elementary School on September 25.  We will keep you posted about the meeting because we will need a big showing at that meeting, as well. 

Director Bradford admitted that the review process was flawed in that the planners did not contact the tenants (us!) and the community at large before releasing their report and recommendations.  She also noted that our building has a much smaller net operating loss than many of the buildings in the Parks system but that it does need major repairs to continue to be able to operate.  She stated that there will not be a vote on the recommendations in November and that she has tasked her staff with getting good public comments before any kind of vote can be held.  Please keep sending letters and emails and making phone calls - they all become part of the public record on this matter!! 

Tara Flynn made a presentation of behalf of the nursery school, and then parents and other interested parties were allowed to ask questions.  The Town Council then directed the Historic Preservation Committee to inquire into the possibility of having the school building designated an historic landmark either at the county, state or federal level.

After the meeting a small group of us had a private discussion with Councilmember Floreen and Director Bradford which was not as reassuring as what was said publicly during the meeting.  It shows that our efforts are being noticed but that we have a big fight ahead of us.  A reporter from the Gazette also attended the town council meeting and spoke with Tara, Brenda and Angie afterwards, so look for a story in the coming weeks.

If you have any questions or comments or want to help out more, please contact Angie Melton or Tara Flynn.