Montgomery Parks, the Montgomery Parks Foundation and the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail will honor trail advocate John Dugger with a special plaque next month.
Dugger, a past chair of the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, was one of the leading voices for turing the abandoned B&O rail line from Georgetown to Silver Spring into a multi-use trail that has become one of the most popular of its kind in the country.
In 1991, along with bicyclist Henri Bartholomot, Dugger helped secure federal funds to develop the trail and was personally involved in acquiring and developing extra right-of-way that makes up the 11-mile Capital Crescent Trail that sees about 1 million walkers, joggers, bikers, and rollerbladers each year.
In 1996 and 1997, Dugger was again at the forefront of the push to remove the rails and open the section of trail from Elm Park in Chevy Chase to Silver Spring. The completion of an all-paved, all off-road trail will be part of the Purple Line light rail project. Montgomery County has pledged $95 million to build the trail alongside the light rail route.
Dugger, a retired naval officer and specialist in international law, led the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail for much of the 90′s. Montgomery Parks maintains the section of paved, continuous trail from the D.C. line to downtown Bethesda.
On Friday, Sept. 12, Parks leaders, elected officials and other community members will gather at the dedication event for a plaque to honor Dugger’s advocacy and work.
Parks will install the plaque, pictured above, on the trail just south of the rest area by the Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant, near where the trail continues on to D.C.
“We are delighted that the relationship between our three organizations resulted in this important opportunity to honor John Dugger, our friend and champion of the Capital Crescent Trail,” said Coalition Chair Ron Tripp in a press release. “The Montgomery Parks Foundation and Montgomery Parks were not only supportive of this effort, but were our partners in assuring this was done and done well.”
Photo via Montgomery Parks
