New Wheaton Community Access Program Offers $75,000 Toward Fee Reductions for Community Groups Reserving Public Facilities

For Immediate Release: Friday, February 16, 2024

The Montgomery County Government launched a Community Access Program (WCAP) on Feb. 16 that offers a total of $75,000 of in-kind assistance to community groups seeking to host events at Wheaton facilities managed by Montgomery County’s Office of Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF).

Modeled after successful initiatives like the Silver Spring Community Access Program and the Facility Fee Assistance Program (FFAP), the WCAP will lower reservation costs for community groups using local government facilities and venues in Wheaton. This initiative aims to foster equity by making it possible for groups that might face financial constraints to afford renting these venues.

 “We want to support organizations doing business in Wheaton, and the creation of the Wheaton Community Access Program underscores our commitment to that,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Reducing facility fees will help community-based groups defray costs so they can focus on developing and funding programs that impact our community and residents.”

WCAP aims to offer user groups financial help toward reservation costs for Wheaton Urban District facilities, which include Marian Fryer Town Plaza located at 2424 Reedie Drive; Wheaton Veterans Park, located at 11200 Amherst Ave.; and a community meeting room inside the M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters building, located at 2425 Reedie Drive. More information about the select facilities can be found on the CUPF blog.