Marye Wells-Harley, a trailblazing parks and recreation leader whose public-service career spanned more than four decades, left a lasting mark on communities throughout Maryland’s National Capital Region and on the broader parks and recreation profession.
Wells-Harley dedicated 42 years of service to The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), holding leadership positions that influenced parks, recreation, planning and community development across both Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Among the most significant chapters of her career was her tenure as director of the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, a position she assumed in 1996 and held until her retirement from the department.
During Wells-Harley’s leadership, the department achieved significant national recognition, earning five National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medals for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management. The honors reflected a department that had become recognized nationally for the quality and breadth of its programming and services.
Her work in Prince George’s County encompassed far more than the development and stewardship of parks. Wells-Harley helped advance programs designed to make recreation more inclusive and accessible, including services for people with disabilities, arts and historic preservation initiatives, youth opportunities and cultural programming. She also supported the modernization of the department’s operations, including the introduction of automated program registration through SMARTlink, as well as the development of major recreational facilities such as the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex.
Programs developed and strengthened during her tenure reflected Wells-Harley’s belief that public recreation agencies could address a wide range of community needs. Her leadership supported initiatives such as the department’s Black History Month programming, which grew into a major cultural and educational offering, as well as youth-focused efforts including the Teen Cotillion program. Across these initiatives, she championed opportunities that allowed residents of different ages, abilities and backgrounds to participate more fully in community life.
Wells-Harley’s influence continued beyond her work in Prince George’s County. From 2009 to 2017, she served as a commissioner and vice chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board, becoming the first African American woman to serve on the board. In that role, she brought her longstanding commitment to public service to issues involving community growth, environmental stewardship and access to parks and public spaces.
After completing her service on the Planning Board, Wells-Harley remained actively involved in supporting parks and recreation. She joined the Montgomery Parks Foundation Board in 2017, later serving as a trustee and vice president. Her commitment to youth and recreational access also inspired the creation of the Marye Wells-Harley Dream Camp Scholarship in 2018. Established through Montgomery Parks and the Montgomery Parks Foundation, the scholarship helps young people from diverse backgrounds participate in summer camp programs that might otherwise be out of reach.
Her public service extended into other areas as well, including roles with the Maryland State Arts Council and the Prince George’s County Advisory Committee on Aging. In 2004, she was recognized as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, one of numerous honors she received at the local, state and national levels during her career.
For parks and recreation professionals, Wells-Harley’s legacy can be seen in both the institutions she helped lead and the philosophy that guided her work: that parks and recreation are fundamental to strong, connected and equitable communities. Her career demonstrated the impact public agencies can have when recreation, culture, inclusion and community service are treated as interconnected parts of improving quality of life.
Through the programs she championed, the facilities and systems she helped advance, the professionals she influenced and the opportunities that continue to bear her name, Wells-Harley’s contributions will remain part of the parks and recreation profession for years to come.
