County preservation staff present Timberlawn historic‑designation briefing; site tied to Eunice Kennedy Shriver and birth of Special Olympics

Montgomery County historic preservation staff briefed the County Council on Oct. 14 about a proposed amendment to the Master Plan for Historic Preservation to designate Timberlawn, the historic house near Rockville associated with Eunice Kennedy Shriver and early Camp Shriver activities that inspired Special Olympics.

Acting Historic Preservation Division Chief Rebecca Barlow and cultural resources planner Serena Bolliger summarized the research and public outreach that led to a recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Board to list Timberlawn on the locational atlas and to recommend formal designation in the master plan.

Key findings described by staff: - Architecture and date: Timberlawn was designed in 1900 by architect Arthur Heaton and remodeled in 1930; staff described the property as a Georgian‑influenced, shingle‑style country house retaining historic integrity from the period of significance. - Association with Eunice Kennedy Shriver: The Shrivers lived at Timberlawn from 1961 to 1979. Eunice Kennedy Shriver used the site to host Camp Shriver (1962–1967), a summer program for children with intellectual disabilities that she created to provide inclusive recreational activities and to demonstrate the capacity of disabled children when given opportunity and training. - Birth of Special Olympics: Barlow said Camp Shriver was scaled and publicized by the Kennedy Foundation and that in 1968 the Kennedy‑sponsored event in Chicago expanded to become the first Special Olympics games; staff told the council the site is important for its national cultural significance because Special Olympics now operates internationally.

Process and outreach: Staff said the current owner approached the preservation office in 2022 and was supportive of designation; the Shriver family and the Special Olympics organization provided images and expressed support during research. The Historic Preservation Commission (October 2024) and the Planning Board (May 2025) both voted unanimously to advance the designation recommendation.

Next steps and public access: Staff told the council that Timberlawn is privately owned and designation does not require public access. The preservation office maintains digital materials (designation reports and a short video) and said it could work with the owner on a marker program or other off‑site signage if the owner and staff agree.

Why this matters: Preservation staff said the designation recognizes both the architectural significance of a notable local architect (Arthur Heaton) and the property’s national historical significance as the birthplace of programming that led to Special Olympics, a global movement for people with intellectual disabilities.