ISO: The Fate of King Farm Farmstead

Rockville City Council considering forming a task force to study potential uses for the King Farm Farmstead, The Gazette reports.

According to city records, the farmstead was given to Rockville in the 1990s. Christine Henry, acting director of recreation and parks, told The Gazette that it was given to Rockville with certain restrictions.

>>> See: “Rockville officials want ideas for future of King Farm Farmstead” at Gazette.net.

According to city records, there are no long-term lease agreements at the farmstead, though Bikes for the World occupies the hay barn and The Maryland Central Model Railroad Club, Inc. uses the garage.

The city rents out a hay-drying barn that was converted into to a picnic shelter; King Farm residents manage a community garden program on the property, city records show.

In a proposal submitted for discussion Monday during the city council’s regular meeting, Councilman Mark Pierzchala attributed the farmstead’s low usage to the lack of funding, the farmstead’s availability, and a mismatch between potential uses.

Back when the Mayor and Council were crafting the fiscal 2014, he offered the idea of possibly moving some of the programs at Thomas Farm Community Center—a facility in need of costly repairs—to the farmstead.

On Monday, the Mayor and Council seemed open to soliciting more ideas. The council is expected to discuss the idea further and has yet to take a final vote on whether to form a task force.

A prior task force was formed in 2003.