Exciting New Parks and Amenities Coming to Downtown Bethesda
Downtown Bethesda is thriving with new opportunities for development, and Montgomery Parks is actively working on new parks and amenities to enhance the community for residents, workers, and visitors.
Upcoming projects will generate vibrant park spaces near dining, shopping, and entertainment. These include the Capital Crescent Civic Green Future Park, Bethesda Market Park Future Park, and Elm Street Urban Park. Next to the Capital Crescent Trail, the Eastern Capital Crescent Greenway Future Park will offer space for active recreation, while the Capital Crescent Trail 2.0 project will enhance the trail with new amenities, connections, and trail upgrades. Additionally, the Bethesda Eastern Greenway Future Expanded Park will provide access to playgrounds, nature, and neighborhood walking trails.
Can’t wait? Check out the newly renovated Caroline Freeland Urban Park for a glimpse of what is to come!
Background
The 2017 Bethesda Downtown Plan envisions a vibrant, sustainable, and dynamic urban center. Parks and public spaces are essential to this vision, serving as hubs for social gathering, physical activity, and access to nature – aligning with the goals of the 2022 Park Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan.
For more details on the latest sector plan updates, visit the Bethesda Downtown Plan Minor Master Plan Amendment webpage. You can also track the progress of park recommendations through the Implementation Monitoring webpage.
The Purple Line Project – a new 16-mile light rail transit line – will connect Bethesda in Montgomery County to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County. Several parks in Bethesda will connect directly with this new transit route. More information on this project can be found under each specific park project webpage.
Recently Completed Park Project
- Caroline Freeland Urban Park – Recently renovated
Active Park Projects and Status
- Bethesda Market Park Future Park: Preliminary Design
- Capital Crescent Civic Green Future Park: Future Facility Planning
- Capital Crescent Trail 2.0 Facility Plan: Future Facility Planning
- Eastern Capital Crescent Urban Greenway Future Park: Acquisition and Interim Park Planning
- Bethesda Eastern Greenway Future Expanded Park: New parkland largely provided by Current Development Projects which will integrate with existing smaller urban parks at that location.
- Elm Street Urban Park Renovation: Detailed Design