Woodside Urban Park Renovation Project
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Project Description
Woodside Urban Park, located at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Spring Street, is an important gateway to the growing urban center of the Silver Spring Central Business District. The park serves a diverse community of park users and provides important opportunities for play, active recreation, social gathering, and contemplative experiences in a wooded setting.
A 2011 facility plan reimagined the park design and was approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board before moving into detailed design and construction documentation through 2018. The project was suspended during the FY19-24 Capital Improvements Program process, the budget was reduced, and the scope of the project was revised.
This new park refresher project seeks to improve aging amenities, respond to evolving needs of the community, and breathe new life into the landscape. Emphasis will be placed on updating park infrastructure to meet current codes and standards and increasing opportunities for recreation while preserving unique and desirable characteristics of the park such as the mature tree canopy.
Background
The 2.34-acre park was designed in the early 1970s and is one of the three major urban parks in the North and West Silver Spring master planning area. The adjacent Silver Spring Community Service Center (formerly Woodside Elementary School) was conveyed to the county from Montgomery County Public Schools with the approval of the Montgomery County Planning Board in 1984. The park was expanded to include the gym building, basketball court, and a playground. The existing park includes a decorative fountain, seating areas with trellis structures, playground areas, lighting, picnic areas, a skate spot, a basketball court, and a handball court.
Status/Project Update
Park staff is currently refining concept design for the improvements to Woodside Urban Park and preparing to present an Amended Facility Plan to the Planning Board in summer of 2023. The concept plans below were presented to the community in June of 2021. Subsequent public input collected through Open Town Hall showed a preference for Concept 2 (drawing on the right). Using this plan as a jumping-off point, park staff is working to develop the design further.
(Click image to enlarge)
Calendar and Meeting Notes
Links to review meeting notes and presentations will be attached to each applicable calendar event as it is scheduled and completed.
Facility Planning for Woodside Urban Park and The Department of Health & Human Services Building M-NCPPC
| Date/Time | Discussion and Meeting Notes | Location |
| Fall-Winter 2009 | Facility Planning begins, Pre-design (project preparation, survey, data collection, site reconnaissance, design research) | |
| May 2010 | Procurement of multi-disciplinary consultant | |
| May 17, 2010 | Community Meeting #1 Minutes |
M-NCPPC Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
| Spring-Summer 2010 | Schematic Design, develop a program of requirements and concept alternatives | |
| December 15, 2010 | Community Meeting #2 Review and discuss concept alternatives |
M-NCPPC Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
| Winter 2010-Spring 2011 | Design Development, develop a preferred concept | |
| Spring 2011 | Final Design, refine the preferred plan, obtain preliminary permits, develop a cost estimate | |
| July 25, 2011 | Community Meeting #3 | |
| October 6, 2011 | Planning Board Meeting Facility plan approved Facility Plan |
M-NCPPC Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
| Spring 2015 | Detail design began | |
| April 9, 2016 | Community Meeting #4 To review the final design and status of the project Meeting Background Design 75% complete |
Woodside Urban Park Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
| Winter 2016 | Construction documents completed | |
| Fall 2018 | Construction on hold | |
| Facility Plan Amendment | ||
| Winter/Spring 2021 | Facility Plan Amendment Begins
Concept redesign (project review, data review, site analysis, design research) |
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| June 8, 2021 | COMMUNITY MEETING
A live, online public meeting was held on June 8, 2021, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Parks staff presented preliminary concept plans and potential updates and amenities for Woodside Urban Park.
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View the meeting recording
View the meeting presentation slides Share you input on preliminary concept plans on our Open Town Hall forum. The survey closed July 20, 2021. View Open Town Hall Feedback on the preliminary concept plans |
| Summer 2023 | Facility Plan Amendment Presentation to Montgomery County Planning Board for approval | |
| Summer 2023-Summer 2024 | Detail Design and Permitting | |
| 2024 | Construction begins | |