Work Session #8 Planning Board, February 25, 2016

Bethesda Today

Lacking central
green spaces and
continuous tree
canopy

Bethesda Tomorrow

A greener and
more connected
Downtown

Inviting and Flexible Green

Spaces

Walk to Neighborhood
Greens

Parks,Trails,andOpenSpaceGoals

SupporttheCenterswithCivic
gatheringspaces

Providelinkagesandsignature
gatewaystothemajortrailsystems

Creategreenneighborhoodparks.

Createlivablecommunitiesand
appropriatetransitionsbygreening
andbufferingtheedges

UrbanParksandOpenSpaceHierarchy

WhatweheardfromtheCommunity
Aplacewithgrassandtreesand
benches

Aplaceforbigeventslikeconcertsor
movies

Aplacetorun,walkor
bike

Aplacetogather
withfriends

WhatweheardfromtheCommunity

AplacewhereIcan
meditateand/or
connectwithnature

Aplacetobounce,kick,or
throwaball

AplacewhereIcanrunmydog

Aplacetoskateboard

Aplayplaceforallages:children,
adults,andseniors

ExistingandProposed

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Implementation

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ParksImplementationStrategy
ChallengesforUrbanParklandAcquisition
HighcostofLandAcquisition
TimingChallengesforDedication
TraditionalParkAcquisitionTools
DedicationviaDevelopmentReviewProcess
Smallerparks
Additionstoexistingparks
Smallportionsofentirelotsordevelopment
footprints

DirectAcquisitionviaCIPfunds
NonLocalandLocalAcquisition
LegacyOpenSpace
ALARF

ParksImplementationStrategy
AlternativeTools toOvercomeChallenges
IncreasetheLikelihoodofReceivingParksin
DedicationthroughDevelopment
Usethedensitytransferprogram
IdentifyParksasprioritysendingareas,and
Useotherinnovativezoningtools

MakeExpensiveAcquisitionsFeasible
Negotiateinstallmentcontracts tostretchcurrent
funds
RequestsupplementalappropriationsfromBoardand
Councilforsignificanturbanacquisitions
Seekadditionalfundingsources

LegacyOpenSpaceDesignations

LegacyOpenSpaceFunctional
MasterPlan Categories
UrbanOpenSpace
GreenwayConnectivity
LOSCriteria
Increaseaccesstoopenspace
andrecreationinurban
communities
Promoteinterconnectivityofthe
urbangreeninfrastructure
Providecommunityopenspace
forcasualuseandlarge
communitygatherings
BDPSitesthatRiseAbovetheRest
CapitalCrescentCentralCivic
Green
EasternCapitalCrescentUrban
Greenway
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LegacyOpenSpaceDesignations

CapitalCrescentCivicGreen
Providekeycommunityopenspacefor
recreationandcasualusebythelarge
populationcenterinthiscommunity
Supporttrailusageandspecialeventstoserve
theentireCounty
EasternCapitalCrescentUrbanGreenway
Increaseaccessbetweenoneofthemost
importanttrailcorridorsintheCountyandthe
centerofBethesda
Providekeyadditionalrecreationalopenspace
toacommunitywithhighpopulationdensity
LegacyOpenSpacedesignationsupports
implementationthroughtheuseofLegacyOpen
Spacetoolsandfunding
DesignationinLOSFunctionalMasterPlanviaBDP
MasterPlan
ProposedadditionstoPlantextinstaffmemo
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Civic Gathering Spaces

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SupportCenterswithCivicGreens
TheCapitalCrescentCivicGreen

Vision:theCivicGreenfortheBethesdaRowDistrictand
thewesterngatewayoftheCapitalCrescentTrail

Purpose:communityevents,meetingspot,casualinformal
gatheringonthelawn.Amenitiessuchasfoodkiosksanda
waterplayareashouldbeincluded.

Size:0.5acres

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SupportCenterswithCivicGreens

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SupportCenterswithCivicGreens
VeteransParkCivicGreen

Vision:agreenextensionoftheexistingsuccessfulpublic
openspaceatVeteransPark

Purpose:formalcommunityprograms,informalrelaxing,
includingamenitiessuchasshadestructures,waterwalls,
etc.

Size:0.4acres

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SupportCenterswithCivicGreens

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SupportCenterswithCivicGreens
TheFarmWomensMarket
CivicGreen

Vision:agreenopenspaceinthehistoricheartof
Bethesda,nexttothelongstandingcommunity
institution

Purpose:destinationandgatheringspotformarket
customerstoeatandrelax.Amenitiessuchas
portabletents,seatingandtablesshouldbe
included.

Size:0.6acres(includeshistoricbuilding)

SupportCenterswithCivicGreens

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Linkages and Gateways

ProvideGatewaystoMajorTrailSystems
TheEasternCapitalCrescentTrail
UrbanGreenwayPark

Vision: anactivegatewayparkalongtheCapital
CrescentTrail
Purpose:recreationalfacilitiesaccessedbythetrail,
agreengatewaytothecentralBusinessDistrict.
Amenitiessuchasadultfitness,skateboardwalls
andadogparkshouldbeincluded.

Size: 1.3acres

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ProvideGatewaystoMajorTrailSystems
ArlingtonSouthUrbanGatewayPlaza

Vision:alinearparklinkingtheArlingtonSouthDistrictto
theCapitalCrescentTrail.

Purpose:ConnectionfromtheTrailtoamidblockcross
totheBradleyShoppingCenter.Amenitiessuchas
comfortableseatingandinnovativestormwater
managementshouldbeincluded.

Size:aminimumwidthof12feetbetweentheexisting
buildingsadjacenttotheCapitalCrescentTrailand20
feetintheareathatleadstoArlingtonBoulevard.

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ProvideGatewaystoMajorTrailSystems
TheGatewayintoNorwoodLocal
Park

Vision: awelcoming,greenandobviouslypublic
entranceintoNorwoodLocalPark

Purpose:improveconnectionstotheBethesdas
largestparkforcyclistsandpedestrians.Amenities
suchasawelcominggatewayandlandscaping
shouldbeincluded.

Size: Wideenoughpavementforcyclistsand
pedestriansbetweenChevyChaseDriveandpark
propertyline

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ProvideGatewaystoMajorTrailSystems
TheNorthBethesdaUrbanGreenway
Park

.9acres

Vision:agreenandactivelinearparkconnectingthe
NationalInstituteofHealthandtheWoodmontTriangle

Purpose:enhancedtrailforcyclistsandwalkers,.
Amenitiessuchasplayelementsandstream
improvementsshouldbeincluded.
Size:0.9acres
(alongthemajorbicycleandpedestrianroutebetween
BethesdaandWhiteFlint)

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Neighborhood Greens

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CreateGreenNeighborhoodParks
Bethesda ChevyChaseEast
NeighborhoodGreenUrbanPark

Vision:neighborhoodgreenurbanparkthatserves
newdevelopmentinthearea

Purpose:walktoamenitiesfortheresidents
immediatelysurroundingthispark,suchas
communityopenspace,seating,trees,artbased
playarea

Size:0.3acres
(betweenBethesda ChevyChaseHighSchoolandthe
PearlStreet/EastWestHighwayintersection)

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CreateGreenNeighborhoodParks
WellingtonDriveNeighborhood
GreenUrbanPark

Vision:aneighborhoodparkandgreenbuffer

Purpose:walktoamenitiesfortheresidents
immediatelysurroundingthispark,suchas
communityopenspace,trees,andnaturebasedplay
area

Size:0.5acres

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CreateGreenNeighborhoodParks
SouthBethesdaPublicPlaza

Vision:asmallpublicopenspaceatthecornerof
BradleyBoulevardandStrathmoreStreet

Purpose:shadedopenspaceforhigherdensity
development.Amenitiessuchasplayfulgatewayart
shouldbeincluded.

Size:0.15acre

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CreateGreenNeighborhoodParks
OldGeorgetownRoadNeighborhood
GreenUrbanPark

Vision:aheavilylandscaped,shady,greenlivingroomat
asignaturelocation

Purpose:greenrespite,lunchspot,visitordestination

Size:0.3acres.
(currentlyabankandadjacentsinglefamilyhomebuildingto
thesouthwestatWoodmontandOldGeorgetown)

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Green Edges and Buffers

EasternGreenwayDistricts
PublicRealm

EasternGreenwayDistricts
Tier1
GreenStreet

Tier2
Greenway

Tier3
NeighborhoodGreen

GreeningandBufferingtheEdges
TheEasternGreenway
NeighborhoodGreen
UrbanParks
NorthEnd:

Vision:pocketsofparkland
alongtheEasternGreenway
foradditionalrecreational
amenitiesandgreenbuffers

Purpose:accommodate
neededwalktofacilities.
Amenitiessuchasnaturalplay
areasandcommunityopen
spaceshouldbeincluded.

Size:0.5acreseach
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GreeningandBufferingtheEdges
TheEasternGreenway
NeighborhoodGreen
UrbanParks
SouthEnd

Vision:destinations,green

spaces,andbufferstothe
TownofChevyChase

Purpose:neighborhood

recreation,greenbuffer,
increasedtreecanopy.
Amenitiessuchasclimbing
walls,shouldbeincluded.

Size:3additionalacresof

greenspace(inadditionto
thegreenspaceattheFarm
WomensCooperative
Market)
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GreeningandBufferingtheEdges
WesternEdgeNeighborhoodParks

Vision:additionstothelargergreenspacesalongthe
westernedgeofthePlanarea

Purpose:neighborhoodrecreation,greenbuffers.
Trendingamenitiessuchasmusicalplaygrounds,disc
golfandropecoursesshouldbeaccommodated.

Size:CarolineFreelandUrbanPark 0.15acres
BethesdaElementarySchool 1.0acres

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GreeningandBufferingtheEdges
BatteryLaneUrbanParkExpansion

Vision:expandedBatteryLaneUrbanParkthat
providesabuffer,recreationalamenities,and
playableartforvisitorsandresidents

Purpose:allowforneededwalktofacilities,suchas
communityopenspace,dogparks,skateparksor
communitygardens

Size :existing2.0acres,additional1.75acres

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BatteryLaneDistrict
PublicRealm

PublicSpaceNetwork
PrimaryLinks:
MetroCenterto
Woodmont Triangle
andBethesdaRow
NorfolkAvenuelinking
VeteransParkCivic
GreenthroughBattery
LanePark
CapitalCrescent
CentralCivicGreento
theFarmWomens
CooperativeMarket

BatteryLaneDistrict

SharedStreetConcept

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Bethesda Metro Plaza

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BethesdaMetroPlaza

BethesdaMetroPlaza
Activateandincrease
visibilityofpublicuse
spaces
Allowfornewbuilding
todefinethecenter
Encourageanewcivic
gatheringspace
Improvethepedestrian
environmentwith
betteraccess

Work Session #8 Planning Board, February 25, 2016