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Home / Woodside Urban Park Renovation Project

Woodside Urban Park Renovation Project

playground woodside park

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 the 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 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 the concept design for the improvements to Woodside Urban Park and preparing to present an Amended Facility Plan to the Planning Board in the spring of 2024. Prior to the presentation to the Planning Board, parks staff will reach out to the community with more information.

Calendar and Meeting Notes

Facility Planning for Woodside Urban Park and The Department of Health & Human Services Building M-NCPPC

Project TimelineProject StageProject Resources
Fall-Winter 2009Facility Planning begins, Pre-design project preparation, survey, data collection, site reconnaissance, design researchN/A
May 2010Procurement of multi-disciplinary consultantN/A
May 17, 2010Community Meeting #1Community Meeting Minutes (pdf)
Summer 2010Schematic Design, develop a program of requirements and concept alternativesN/A
December 2010Community Meeting #2
Review and discuss concept alternatives
N/A
Winter 2010-Spring 2011Design Development, develop a preferred conceptN/A
Spring 2011Final Design, refine the preferred plan, obtain preliminary permits, develop a cost estimateN/A
July 25, 2011Community Meeting #3N/A
October 6, 2011Facility plan approved
Facility Plan
N/A
Spring 2015Detail design beganN/A
Winter 2016Construction documents completedN/A
April 9, 2016Community Meeting #4
To review the final design and status of the project
Meeting
Background
Design 75% complete
N/A
Fall 2018Construction on holdN/A
Winter/Spring 2021Facility Plan Amendment Begins Concept redesignN/A
June 8, 2021Community Meeting
Summer 2021 – Winter 2024Concept design and preliminary permittingN/A
Spring 2024 (anticipated)Facility plan amendment presentation to Montgomery County Planning Board for approvalN/A
Fall 2024 – Fall 2025 (anticipated)Detail design and permittingN/A
2025 (anticipated)Construction beginsN/A
Last Updated: December 15, 2023