Events roundup: Drinks, parks, and suburban transit

Want to celebrate the streetcar or chat about transit in Montgomery County? The Coalition for Smarter Growth is hosting happy hours related to both this week! Also, learn about the link between parks and the economy, multi-modal development in non-urban areas, bike projects in Maryland, and how less trash means better lives.

Happiest hours: Celebrate the opening of the streetcar or grab a drink with fellow Montgomery County transit advocates at one of two Coalition for Smarter Growth happy hours this Tuesday, March 15. Ride the streetcar to the Argonaut (1433 H Street NE) for the streetcar happy hour at 6:30 pm or head to the MoCo transit supporter happy hour at Denizen’s Brewery (1115 East-West Highway, Silver Spring) at 6 pm.

After the jump: The economic benefits of parks, transit in the suburbs, biking and walking in Maryland, and the positives of trash cutting back on trash.

Parks help the economy: There has long been link between a parks and green space and health, but did you know parks can also be economically beneficial to a community? Learn about the economic impacts of local and regional parks and at the next Tuesdays at APA this Tuesday, March 15, at 5:30 pm at 1030 15th St NW in Suite 750 West.

Transit everywhere: The Montgomery County Planning Department is holding a speaker series focusing on new ideas in transit. At the third and final session, Jeffery Tumlin of San Francisco-based Nelson/Nygaard, will talk about how to best utilize multi-modal development in suburban environments. Catch the talk this Wednesday, March 16, at 6 pm at 8787 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring.

Biking and walking in Maryland: In an effort to expand biking and walking in Maryland, $14 million in reimbursable grant money will be available in 2016 for projects that enhance biking and walking statewide. Learn about the funding and eligible projects at a workshop this Wednesday at 3 pm at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (1500 Whetstone Way, Suite 300)

No more trash: As part of the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Potomac River Watershed Trash Treaty, head to the Transforming Communities Summit next Tuesday, March 22, from 10 am to 4 pm to hear from County Executive Rushern Baker and other leaders about trash reduction and its effect on healthier lives, cleaner land, and safer water. It’s at the University of Maryland College Park’s Riggs Alumni Center, at 7801 Alumni Drive in College Park.

Calendar: Beyond what we’ve highlighted here, there are many other worthwhile events across the region. Check out more great events in our events calendar:

Do you know of an upcoming event that may be interesting, relevant, or important to Greater Greater Washington readers that should go on our events calendar? Send it to us at events@ggwash.org.