News
M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County Honored with Historic Preservation Award
May 14, 2024
A significant moment for the Department’s Historic Preservation Unit
Media Contact: Angel Waldron, 301-446-3311
Riverdale, MD – Today, the Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County’s Historic Preservation Unit has been honored with the 2024 Maryland Preservation Award for “Outstanding Stewardship by a Government Agency.” The Historic Preservation Unit is a small team of specialists within the Natural and Historic Resources Division of the Department.
In an outdoor ceremony at Marietta House Museum in Glenn Dale – dignitaries, elected officials, historians, and community members gathered to celebrate and honor the Department’s laudable preservation successes over the past five years. Presenting the award was Elizabeth Hughes, Director of the Maryland Historical Trust. Also participating in the event were Senator Malcolm Augustine and Delegate Jamila Woods.
“This award highlights the distinguished work of a vital part of our team who enrich our community through their skillful and determined preservation work, preserving and protecting the cultural and architectural heritage of our historic properties.” – Bill Tyler, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County
The Historic Preservation Unit manages one of the nation’s most distinctive publicly-owned concentrations of historic assets — 14 are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 7 are subject to Maryland Historical Trust Easements, and two are National Historic Landmarks. The unit’s portfolio of nearly 50 sites (with more than 175 structures) includes museums, historic houses, monuments, chapels, mills, and cultural landscapes. Recent preservation success stories at projects like Darnall’s Chance Museum (c. 1742), Marietta House Museum (c. 1812), Surratt House Museum (c. 1852), and the Bladensburg Peace Cross (c. 1919) exemplify years of steadfast preservation work.
Projects range from interpreted museums like Montpelier House, Riversdale House, and Ridgely Rosenwald School to historic homes that have been repurposed into special event venues such as Oxon Hill Manor, Snow Hill Manor, and Newton White Mansion. Historic mills, chapels, monuments, archeological sites, outbuildings, and cultural landscapes are also part of the portfolio. Historic programming at these sites develops and shares previously underrepresented stories. Tens of thousands of people visit these restored properties every year.
“This is a significant moment for our Historic Preservation Unit, which is widely respected for its authentic restoration and rehabilitation work — and also for its practical approach to adaptive use, as well as advocacy and education efforts.” – Edward Day, Chief Historic Preservation Officer
To learn more about the Department’s preservation projects, visit pgparks.com/activities-events/history/historicpreservation.
About The Department
With over 28,000 acres of parkland, trails, athletic fields, playgrounds and more, the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County provides an award-winning park system through progressive, quality, innovative leadership and a commitment to its community and environment. The Department delivers first-class recreational activities and programs for people of all ages and ability levels. It strives to improve the quality of life for residents in Prince George’s County and the communities in which they live, work, and raise families. The Department’s Formula 2040 Plan establishes a framework that will assure the Department can meet future parks and recreation programmatic and facility needs, fulfilling its mission to determine the combination of land, facilities and programs that will provide appropriate experiences for Prince Georgians in the future.
