City of Rockville Invites Community Input on King Farm Farmstead Project
The City of Rockville has announced an extensive community engagement process to shape the future of the historic King Farm Farmstead. The initiative, part of a larger master planning effort, aims to determine the adaptive reuse of the property’s buildings while incorporating feedback from residents, organizations and key stakeholders.
Building on Decades of Community Involvement
The King Farm Farmstead project draws upon more than a decade of input, including task force studies, property assessments and economic analyses. This foundational work will guide discussions as the city collaborates with a consultant to evaluate potential uses for each building on the property.
“Our goal is to create a community-based vision for the adaptive reuse of King Farm Farmstead Park,” said Recreation and Parks Director Tara Stewart. “The final conceptual plan will reflect both the unique history of the site and the evolving needs of the Rockville community.”
Engaging the Community
The city has outlined a multilevel engagement strategy using the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum as its framework. The engagement will include four levels of participation — inform, consult, involve and collaborate — each designed to foster meaningful dialogue and ensure diverse perspectives are heard.
Inform: The city will provide updates on the park’s history, current conditions and potential future uses through social media, newsletters, print materials and the city’s website.
Consult: Community surveys, interviews, focus groups and public comment opportunities will gather valuable input on adaptive reuse options.
Involve: Open houses, workshops and public engagement platforms will allow residents to engage directly with city staff and the consultant team.
Collaborate: Advanced tools like charrettes, study circles and table talks will facilitate deeper collaboration and idea generation among stakeholders.
Tools for Participation
The city plans to deploy a range of engagement techniques, including public meetings, open houses, community workshops and online surveys. Techniques like card storming (using sticky notes to generate ideas) and appreciative inquiry (positive-focused discussions) will encourage creativity and inclusivity. Community liaisons and focused conversations will also ensure that voices from all corners of Rockville are represented.
A Vision for the Future
The process is designed to culminate in community-based recommendations that will inform the Mayor and Council’s decision on the property’s master plan. The consultant team will provide design concepts, cost estimates and operational impact analyses to aid in decision-making.
“This is an opportunity for the community to play an active role in shaping one of Rockville’s historic treasures,” Stewart said. “We look forward to hearing from residents and working together to reimagine the King Farm Farmstead as a vibrant, functional space for generations to come.”
Residents are encouraged to stay updated on the project and participate in upcoming engagement opportunities.
