The Planning, Housing and Parks Committee on Oct. 27, 2025 voted 2-0 to recommend that the full Montgomery County Council consider an amendment to the county master plan for historic preservation to designate Timberlawn, the former home of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Rebecca Ballo, Historic Preservation staff, told the committee the property met four designation criteria under the county code: association with a significant historic event (the founding of Camp Shriver and early Special Olympics activity), association with persons who influenced society (Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver), distinctive characteristics of a period or method of construction, and the work of a master architect (Arthur Heaton). Ballo said the property owner supported the designation and that testimony at the Oct. 21 public hearing included support from the Historic Preservation Commission vice chair.

Ballo noted additional historical context in the written designation package: Shriver's camp deliberately trained local students as counselors for children with intellectual disabilities and intentionally sought racial diversity among participants. Ballo said those early experiences helped broaden public understanding of disability inclusion and contributed to long-term careers in education and related fields among participants.

What the committee did

Committee leadership asked the group to record a recommendation to the full council. Miss Dunn stated the item would go to a council work session and action on a future council agenda. The committee voted "2 to nothing" to recommend Timberlawn's designation to the full council; the transcript does not record a named mover or second. Staff said the property owner supported the designation.

Why it matters

Timberlawn is the house where Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver lived for 16 years; staff and committee members framed the designation as recognizing a local site that launched a global movement (Special Olympics) and advanced inclusive programming that influenced national and international disability-rights practices.

Evidence/where this came from

The Historic Preservation staff report, the transcript of the Oct. 27, 2025 PHP committee meeting and testimony at an Oct. 21 public hearing provided the basis for the committee recommendation. Direct quotations are taken from staff remarks in the recorded meeting.