05/19/2026
This weekend, we celebrated the ribbon cutting of Ovid Hazen Wells Recreational Park. As a former skateboarder, I'm especially excited for this one!
In 1981, Hallie Wells donated her 290 acres in Clarksburg to Montgomery County Parks, naming it in honor of her husband Ovid. She wanted to create a lasting gathering place for the community she and her husband loved, ensuring it would be protected and cherished for generations to come.
Hallie had spent years watching children light up around the historic Hershell-Spillman Carousel on the National Mall, and she wanted that same magic for Clarksburg. She purchased that very carousel with this park always in mind. And if it looks a little familiar, that's because it spent decades at Wheaton Regional Park before finally arriving in its new home!
The District 14 team (Delegate Anne Kaiser Delegate Pam Queen Bernice Dansoah Mireku-North) was proud to secure $300,000 to bring Hallie's vision to life, adding a skate park and playground for families across the upcounty.
None of this would have been possible without the Montgomery County MD Council, the State of Maryland, Montgomery Parks, and M-NCPPC. Grateful for the partnership in honoring Hallie's legacy.