Caroline Freeland Park Facility Plan Project

Montgomery Parks

Community Meeting #1 November 6, 2013 Bethesda Library 7:00-9:00 PM

Welcome / Team Introductions

Parker Rodriguez, Incorporated (Landscape Architecture)

VIKA (Engineering)

MCLA, Incorporated (Lighting Analysis & Design)

ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC (Geotechnical Services) M-NCPPC (Montgomery Parks)

• Park Development Division • Park Planning & Stewardship Division • Southern Region Park Management Staff • PDCO Team (Planning, Design, Construction & Operations)

Tonight’s Meeting

PART 1:

Project goals and background information.

Preliminary list of program elements for the park.

Existing site conditions and opportunities. PART 2:

Gather community input and preferences for the future

renovation of the park: Questionnaire Visual preference exercise Discussion

Project Purpose / Goals

To develop an innovative, attractive and environmentally sensitive design for the long term renovation of Caroline Freeland Urban Park.

To identify opportunities to improve the park as an amenity for the local community while balancing the need to improve connections to the Bethesda Central Business District.

To create a memorable and unique open space that provides a cohesive and flexible framework to support passive recreational needs and cultural activities.

What is a Facility Plan?

This project will develop a facility plan, which includes a 30% level of design, detailed cost estimate, and determination of regulatory feasibility.

If approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board, the project will be included in the Department of Parks Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for final design and construction.

Park History

M-NCPPC acquired the property and built the one-acre park in 1983.

Named after Caroline Freeland, who was the

first female chair of the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, which she led from 1963-1971.

Originally designed to buffer residential

communities from commercial development.

Master Plan Guidance

2012 Parks Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS)

Maintain high level of service for playgrounds and look at strategic potential to add skate parks and community gardens in South Central area.

Provide dog spots, community gardens, skate spots, community space and urban wooded areas where level of service is low.

Park should serve as urban buffer park and provide green space that may include landscaping, sitting/picnic areas, play equipment, courts and shelters.

Master Plan Guidance

1994 Bethesda CBD Master Plan:

Reinforce Bethesda’s sense of community by encouraging attractive environments that refer to Bethesda’s cultural heritage and emphasize design themes such as “garden” and “cultural district”.

Enhance the pedestrian environment to provide a diverse and stimulating experience, maximize social interaction and encourage walking.

Give special attention to the design of streetscapes. Provide parks and green open spaces that provide

visual buffers for residential neighborhoods as well as recreational opportunities.

Provide a diverse range of activities in spaces that are safe, visible and perceived as public.

Preliminary Program of Requirements

Preliminary program elements recommended for Caroline Freeland Park:

Community Open Space – flexible open space for

multi-purpose use.

Playground – multi-age, integrated with design of new park.

Community Garden – if requested, integrate compact model with urban park activities.

Skate Elements – add objects where appropriate, not a dedicated area.

Sidewalk/Streetscape Improvements – as recommended in Bethesda CBD Master Plan.

Seating and/or tables for lunchtime use.

Preliminary Program of Requirements

Preliminary program elements not recommended for Caroline Freeland Park:

Urban Wooded Areas – site too small.

Skate Park – site too small and is too close to homes

and library for a dedicated facility.

Dog Park – site is too small and is too close to homes. The multi-use nature of the park will satisfy use for dogs on leash.

Volleyball, Basketball or Tennis Courts – site is too small, facilities are available in nearby parks.

Play Fields – site is too small.

Nearby Park Facilities

Existing park & recreation facilities located within one mile of the park:

1) Elm Street Urban Park – basketball, playground, gazebo, paths 2) Battery Lane Urban Park – tennis, basketball, playground, paths 3) Norwood Local Park (17 acres) – tennis, basketball, playgrounds, park

buildings, softball, soccer, paths 4) Leland Neighborhood Park – tennis, basketball, playground,

recreation center 5) Greenwich Neighborhood Park – tennis, basketball, playground,

gazebo, paths 6) Lynnbrook Local Park – tennis, building, softball, lacrosse,

playground, paths 7) Capital Crescent Trail 8) Cheltenham Drive Urban Park – playground, paths 9) Chase Avenue Urban Park – playground, gazebo 10) Little Falls Stream Valley Trail (3.5 miles) – hard surface trail leading

from Norwood Local Park south to Little Falls Stream Valley Park. 11) Veteran’s Park – plaza, fountain, flexible seating 12) Bethesda Chevy Chase High School – community facilities 13) Bethesda Elementary School – community facilities 14) Bethesda Swimming Pool

1) Elm Street Urban Park 2) Battery Lane Urban

Park 3) Norwood Local Park 4) Leland Neighborhood

Park 5) Greenwich

Neighborhood Park 6) Lynnbrook Local Park 7) Capital Crescent Trail 8) Cheltenham Drive

Urban Park 9) Chase Avenue Urban

Park 10)Little Falls Stream

Valley Trail 11)Veteran’s Park 12)Bethesda Chevy Chase

High School 13)Bethesda Elementary

School 14)Bethesda Swimming

Pool

Site Analysis

Site Analysis

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Questionnaire & Discussion

Project Schedule & Next Steps

Summer 2013 – Assess site conditions, opportunities and constraints.

November 2013 – Community Meeting #1 to gather input and preferences for the park.

Winter 2013-2014 – Develop design alternatives.

March 2014 – Community Meeting #2, review design alternatives and obtain input.

Summer 2014 – Develop preferred design based on community input, obtain preliminary permits, and develop cost estimate.

Winter 2014-2015 – Planning Board Meeting (open for public testimony) requesting approval of project.

If approved, submit project to the Montgomery County Council in the FY 2017-2022 Capital Improvements Program for final design and construction.

Contact Information & Reminders

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING!

Fill out questionnaires and leave them on the table. Fill out contact information so that we can send you a

notice for Community Meeting #2. Project Manager Contact: Lucas Bonney Lucas.Bonney@montgomeryparks.org 301-495-2572

Caroline Freeland Park Facility Plan Project

Montgomery Parks

Community Meeting #1 November 6, 2013 Bethesda Library 7:00-9:00 PM