Celebrate Women's History Month By Visiting These 5 County Parks

BETHESDA, MD — In honor of Women's History Month, Montgomery Parks is highlighting five parks that were named after female change agents in the county.

"These women played major roles in building today's county and park system," Montgomery Parks said. "Remember and honor them when you spend time in these parks."

The five parks include:

Rachel Carson Conservation Park

• Named after the biologist who wrote "Silent Spring" from her Silver Spring home in 1962
• The book helped spark the modern environmental movement

Lois Y. Green Conservation Park

• Green donated 250 acres of her property to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)
• She told the M-NCPPC that the land "… shall be used as an open space, for parkland, and for recreation in such a manner as to evidence the conservation of soil, water, woods, and wildlife… and shall be maintained essentially in its natural condition…"

Edith Throckmorton Neighborhood Park

• The educator and civil rights activist taught in Montgomery County Public Schools for 25 years
• Throckmorton was the president of the local chapter of the NAACP from 1962 to 1977

Caroline Freeland Urban Park

• Named after the first woman chair of the M-NCPPC, served from 1963 to 1971
• Under her leadership, Montgomery Parks more than doubled in size — from 7,600 to 16,000 acres

Opal Daniels Neighborhood Park

• Daniels served on Takoma Park's recreation council for 40 years
• In 1988, Montgomery Planning Board renamed the park Opal A. Daniels Memorial Park to honor her "exceptional merit"