County planners on Thursday showed designs of two potential new parks that could be part of the next downtown Bethesda master plan.
One of the concepts would provide a new green space directly across from existing Veterans Park along Woodmont Avenue — or create a pedestrian only street on Norfolk Avenue between Woodmont and Wisconsin Avenues.
The other concept — called the Eastern Greenway — would provide for green space as a buffer between any development on Montgomery County parking lots and the Town of Chevy Chase. The greenway would connect to Elm Street Park.
It’s a concept that many in the Town of Chevy Chase are interested in, though Montgomery County officials say they have no plans to offer up the county-owned parking lots there today.
Planners are responding to one of the chief complaints of Bethesda residents and other stakeholders who have taken part in the Bethesda Downtown Plan process. During the presentation to the Planning Board on Thursday, Montgomery Parks planner Brooke Farquhar said the planning team is looking at recommendations for the empty green space across the street from Barnes & Noble.
Planner John Marcolin told the Board programming in the expanded Veterans Park could occasionally close Fairmont Avenue between Woodmont and Wisconsin Avenues to traffic. That plan would require buy-in from the property owner, as there is an existing building on the spot.
The Norfolk Avenue alternative would put a pedestrian street next to Tastee Diner. Marcolin said a property owner in that block has discussed creating a black box theater on the ground floor that would open up to the space.
You can view the entire presentation made Thursday here: Bethesda Downtown Plan Planning Board Update
Images via Montgomery County Planning Department
