Background and Vision
In late 2021 M-NCPPC purchased this property (formerly National Tire and Battery) situated on one acre in downtown Silver Spring with the intent of demolishing the building and constructing the first phase of an active, urban recreational park.
The park is in the South Silver Spring District – a large district with a great diversity of housing types, commercial and educational uses, and public spaces. The rail tracks separate this district from the rest of downtown making the South Silver Spring Urban Park a critical walk-to public space for the community in this district. The plan’s recommendations incorporated feedback from over 500 stakeholders who live, work or play in the Silver Spring downtown. It recommended the acquisition of this property for the creation of both a public park and a through-block connection between East-West Highway and Kennett Street.
The vision for this park is an active recreation space that will complement the historic and contemplative setting of Acorn Urban Park. Montgomery Parks developed an initial concept sketch/test fit for the park that was presented on the parks’ online Open Town Hall forum and at an in-person public event to receive feedback from the community. Following the public outreach in the fall of 2022, parks incorporated much of the public input to create the final concept plan for the park.
The proposed South Silver Spring Park will have multiple spaces for active recreation including a multipurpose court and exercise area; spaces for games (ping pong, corn hole, bocce), a playground with a nature play area, dog runs for large and small dogs, picnic areas and lawn space and a community plaza and terrace. The park also offers a direct connection to the future Green Loop – connecting major public spaces among the different districts within this area.
Calendar and Meeting Notes
Date/Time | Project Schedule |
---|---|
Winter 2021 | Property Acquired |
Spring / Summer 2022 | Park Concept Planning and Public Outreach |
July through October 2023 | Demolition |
2024 | Construction and Park Opening |
Frequently Asked Questions:
Situated on one acre in downtown Silver Spring the first phase of the proposed South Silver Spring Park will consist of multiple spaces for:
Active recreation such as multipurpose court (basketball, soccer, volleyball, other) and exercise area.
Play such as games (ping pong, corn hole, bocce), playground, and nature play area.
Social interaction such as a community plaza and terrace.
The Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan, which incorporated feedback from over 500 stakeholders who live, work, or play in the Silver Spring downtown, recommended this park to serve as both a park and a through-block connection between East-West Highway and Kennett Street.
The location of this park was a recommendation from the 2010 Silver Spring CBD Green Space Design Guidelines, the 2018 Energized Public Spaces Plan and the recently Council-approved 2022 Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan. One of the sites became available to purchase in late 2021 and serves as both a park and a through-block connection between East-West Highway and Kennett Street.
The park will add an active recreation space that will serve a neighborhood need and complement the historic and contemplative setting of Acorn Park. The park will also offer a direct connection to the proposed Green Loop – connecting major public spaces among the different districts within this area.
No parking will be available at the park but there is public parking on Kennett Street and nearby.
Yes, a web-based Open Town Hall survey was used to collect feedback from the community in September 2022. View results.
A dog run is one of the optional amenities included in the survey.