Project Description
This project will creatively repurpose two surface parking lots into a vibrant, public park. Built on top of a new underground parking structure, the new park when combined with the adjacent Elm Street Urban Park, will provide approximately four acres of urban park space in downtown Bethesda. The new park will be located adjacent to the historic Bethesda Farm Women’s Market and will include an extensive array of active and social park amenities inviting multi-generational use.
Background
The creation of the new urban park in downtown Bethesda fulfills the vision of the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan which was approved and adopted in 2017. It also meets the social, active and environmental stewardship goals of the 2022 Park Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan. The new park will be developed as a part of a public/private partnership between the Montgomery County Department of Parks, Montgomery County Department of Transportation, Town of Chevy Chase and Wisconsin Columbia Venture LLC., owners of the Bethesda Market project, co-developed by Bernstein Development Corporation and EYA Multifamily. A Sketch Plan for the overall development, #320190030, was approved by the Planning Board on October 24, 2019.
Status/Project Update
The project is in the initial community engagement/preliminary planning phase. It is anticipated that a site plan will be submitted for review and approval by the Planning Board in fall 2024.
Calendar and Meeting Notes
| Dates | Events/Activities |
|---|---|
| October 24, 2019 | Sketch plan approved by Montgomery Planning Board (Video) |
| March 15, 2023, 6:30 p.m. | Community Meeting #1 Community Meeting notes March 15 (Accessible PDF) |
| March 16, 2023, 7:00 p.m. | Community Meeting #2 Meeting was to solicit community input View the community Meeting Video Presentation |
| March 16 – April 30, 2023 | Online survey conducted: View the Open Town Hall results |
| June 18, 2024, 7 – 8:30 p.m | Virtual Community Meeting # 3: View the recording |