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Athletic Fields Permit Information and Fees

Local and Regional Parks

Athletic fields can be found in two types of parks, in your local area park and in our larger, region-serving parks.

Local Parks athletic fields
Regional Parks athletic fields
Application Forms
Concession

Local Parks athletic fields

Policy
Permit Application Schedule
Field use guidelines
Permit Denial / Revocation
Application Procedures
Fees new

Policy

A location of athletic fields for games is determined by the following priority system:

First Priority: Montgomery County Department of Recreation Programs, City of Takoma Park Recreation Programs, and special event/tournament requests. Requests must be received by December 1 for the Spring / Summer and May 15 for the Fall. (Adopt-A-Field requests are given first priority over all other requests subsequent to approval by M-NCPPC and the Montgomery County Recreation Department.)

Second Priority: Montgomery or Prince George's County community-based leagues and schools, (Principal place of activity must be Montgomery or Prince George's County and individual team membership must be at least two-thirds Montgomery or Prince George's County residents. Membership rosters will be required for verification.) including organized youth leagues. Requests must be received by December 15-January 15 to be given priority. Leagues do not have priority use in specific geographic areas. Leagues have priority use based only on the previous year's game schedules.

When no permit is in effect, all local park athletic fields may be used on a first-come, first-serve basis unless where otherwise posted or prohibited in this policy. Visible field work or posted signs prohibit field use.

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Permit Application Schedule

  • Spring / Summer (Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Rugby, Lacrosse, Field Hockey)
    League game and practice requests are accepted as of December 1 – January 15 for the Spring/Summer season, which extends from April 1 through August 15. Permits are effective as of April 1. Applications for the single use of fields can be submitted throughout the season.
    M-NCPPC fields are prepared and maintained for the Spring / Summer season as of April 1 for baseball, and as of April 15 for softball, soccer, rugby, field hockey and lacrosse. No guarantees are made as to the condition of fields prior to the above dates. Use of the fields at any time not specifically covered by the permit shall be at the sole risk of the user and shall be subject to all field use guidelines contained in this policy.

  • Fall / Winter (Softball, Baseball, Football, Soccer, Rugby, Lacrosse, Field Hockey)
    League game requests are accepted as of May 15-June 15. Practice request applications are accepted during the window period of May-15 to June 15, for the Fall/Winter season, which extends from September 1 through November 30. Permits are effective as of September 1. Applications for the single use of fields can be submitted throughout the season.

M-NCPPC fields are prepared and maintained for the Fall/Winter season as of September 1. No guarantees are made as to the condition of fields prior to this date. Use of the fields at any time not specifically covered by the permit shall be at the sole risk of the user and shall be subject to all field use guidelines contained in this policy.

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Field use guidelines

  • No M-NCPPC athletic field may be exclusively permitted during the period from December 1 through March 31, except as related to use of recreation centers or special permitted events.
  • Fields must be vacated by dark.
  • To be valid, the permit must be on site in the possession of the permitted group or individual during the permitted time. (A game schedule will serve as a permit for the Department of Recreation or leagues.)
  • The permit is for the sole use of the team named on the permit form and is not transferable.
  • Loud music, bands, or excessive noise which disturbs the peace is prohibited.
  • Permitholders are required to see that players adhere to all park regulations, including:
    • No Beer or alcohol allowed;
    • No Urinating or changing clothes in public;
    • No Loud noises permitted (boom boxes, horns, car alarms);
    • no littering (trash must be picked up and carried out).
    • The use of tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff) is not permitted on the benches, playing areas, and those areas in proximity to the playing field;
    • No selling of food, beverages or merchandise without a concession permit;
    • Carpooling is requested and parking is allowed in designated parking areas only.
  • Inclement Weather Policy: Use of an athletic field is prohibited when:
    • A steady rain is falling
    • A lightening or electrical storm is occurring
    • Water is standing on the field
    • One-half inch of rain or more has fallen within the previous 24 hours
    • The ground is muddy and soil clumps or clings to shoes
    • The ground feels "spongy" and/or soil is frozen

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Permit Denial / Revocation

A permit may denied or revoked for:

  • Violation of field use guidelines;
  • Failure to use permitted field (With the exception of Department of Recreation reservations for makeup games);
  • Non-compliance with league application procedures;
  • Failure to comply with M-NCPPC Regulations and Montgomery County Park Permit Rules and Regulations;
  • Field renovation or repair, or for any other reason deemed necessary by the Department of Parks. In all such cases, permit holders will be given as much notice as is practical.

NOTE: Permit holders are prohibited from fixing wet fields in order to play games.

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Application Procedures

To be eligible for a field permit, it is required that at least two-thirds of the team members of an applying league/group must be residents of Montgomery or Prince George's County, and the permitholder must be 21 years of age or older.

Applications may be submitted by filling out an application at the Park Permits Office or by faxing (301-495-2484) or mailing a written request and a self-addressed, stamped envelope (via mail only) to our Silver Spring Office.

Applications must include the following information:

  • League name;
  • Team name;
  • Name of team coach or manager (who must be 21 years of age or older);
  • Mailing address of team manager or coach including street address, city, state and zip code;
  • Telephone number where team manger or coach can be reached during the day;
  • Name of field requested, including second and third alternative choices;
  • Day of the week and hours requested, including second and third alternative choices (Practice permits are limited to one per week, per team. For youth soccer, one hour is allowed and for adult soccer, one to one and a half hours are allowed. For youth baseball and softball, one and a half hours are allowed. For other sports, one hour is allowed.);
  • Period of time requested (i.e., start and end dates);
  • Type of sport (i.e., softball, soccer, rugby, football);
  • Number of players (signed statement certifying compliance with the two-thirds Montgomery or Prince George's County residency requirement);
  • The league's prior year registration roster including each players' name, age, address, and phone number. In addition, a current year registration roster and final schedule of games must be submitted by April 1 for the Spring/Summer season and September 1 for the Fall/Winter season;
  • Self-addressed, stamped envelope (copy of league's final standings - game requests only);*
  • Copy of the most recent season's game schedules (game requests only).
    NOTE: When requesting for the Fall or Spring season, the previous respective season's final standings and games schedules are required.

When processing permit applications, the M-NCPPC makes every effort to permit each qualifying organization for at least some of the field time requested.

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Fees

The new fee for a Local Ballfield Practice permit is $3.00 per hour non-refundable once your field is assigned. Please look at the ballfield listing prior to submitting your request. We highly recommend that you visit your field choices. There is also a $35 charge for returned checks.

NOTE: The Planning Board approved the new hourly fee schedule proposed by staff at their Thursday, October 23, meeting. These new fees will go into effect on January 1, 2009, for the season starting April 1, 2009. View the staff response memo submitted to the Board. A full copy of the original Board Packet presented at the September 15 meeting, including memo and attachments can also be downloaded for review.

Additional rules/regulations apply.

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Regional Athletic Fields

Regional fields may be permitted for league games ONLY by submitting an application. Fields are charged on a per game basis. Please contact the permit office for details.

NOTE: By submitting any application along with your credit card information, you have agreed to pay all applicable fees, deposit(s), and charges due. If you are not submitting payment, please call the Park Permits Office for availability information.

Application Forms

NOTE: By submitting any application along with your credit card information, you have agreed to pay all applicable fees, deposit(s), and charges due. If you are not submitting payment, please call the Park Permits Office for availability information.

Concession

A concession permit to sell food and/or memorabilia is required and an application must be submitted at least 30 days in advance to the Permit Office. The request will be reviewed by the Director of Parks and if approval is granted the fee will be required.

CONCESSION PERMIT FEES
One event per location 200.00
Seasonal pass per location (non-profit) 730.00
Seasonal pass per location (for profit) 730.00
One event at multiple locations (3 day max) 500.00