Bethesda Row fountain lights activated (Photos)

The lights have been activated on the new "interactive" water feature at Bethesda Row. Color-changing lights are located on each level of the fountain. It is the centerpiece of the reimagined plaza outside of Anthropologie & Co. at the corner of Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues. The gathering space also includes new lighting, seating and landscaping, and a canopy.

Fountain activated at Veterans Park in Bethesda

The number of water features in downtown Bethesda has been shrinking rapidly in recent years. One of the few still functioning was just activated for the summer season yesterday at Veterans Park at 7898 Woodmont Avenue. The fountain is a natural noise cancelling machine, providing a calming effect amid the sounds of traffic and activity downtown. This memorial is dedicated to Bethesda and Chevy Chase residents killed in the major military conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries. "Fondly do we hope - fervently do we pray - that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away.” - Abraham Lincoln.

New water feature activated at Bethesda Row (Photos)

The new "interactive" water feature on the revamped plaza outside Anthropologie & Co. at Bethesda Row was activated yesterday. It replaces the old fountain that was demolished. The new water feature is the centerpiece of the remodeled plaza, which also includes new lighting, seating and landscaping, and a canopy. Bethesda Row property owner Federal Realty recently completed a reimagining and expansion of the sidewalk on the Elm Street side of the development.

New fountain plaza revealed at Bethesda Row (Photos)

The construction walls around the new fountain plaza at Bethesda Row have come down, and we are getting our first close-up look at the new public gathering space. Landscaping has been installed, and you can see the accent lighting around the concrete bases. We're not likely to see the interactive fountain until next spring. Can this new plaza revive what used to be a crowded hang-out spot at the Federal Realty development? 

Bethesda Row plaza construction update (Photos)

Construction of the new plaza and fountain outside of Anthropologie at Bethesda Row continues, as the project is now a few weeks away from a second-but-unofficial completion date, October 31, 2023. The painstaking process of installing pavers in the surface of the plaza is now underway. More obvious to passersby is the canopy that will cover part of the plaza area. Finally, you can see some of the works inside the fountain itself have been installed. This has been described as an "interactive fountain" by property owner Federal Realty, so there is excitement in the air to find out what that entails when it is activated this fall or next spring.

Bethesda Row fountain plaza update (Photos)

Here's a look at the progress on the new plaza and fountain outside Anthropologie & Co. at Bethesda Row. The shade canopy is now taking shape above the plaza, which will also feature a new, interactive fountain and seating. We're getting a much better idea of what the canopy is going to look like, compared to the rendering posted at the construction site. It looks like the late July completion date may slip into August at this point, as there's still a significant amount of work to be done.

Bethesda Metro Center fountains activated for summer (Video + Photos)

The fountains on the plaza at the Bethesda Metro Center have been activated for the summer. They took some time off last year while WMATA replaced an escalator with a new staircase. Bethesda's water features remind us of the inspiration behind our town's name: the healing pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.

New Bethesda Row fountain to open late summer 2023

The new fountain being installed on the plaza outside of Anthropologie at Bethesda Row will open to the public in late July, according to a new timetable posted by property owner Federal Realty. Work on the project began at the end of March. The renovation of the plaza is expected to mesh with the new Woodmont Avenue "Streatery" configuration, and will include additional seating and a canopy for shade.

What is happening on the plaza at Bethesda Row? (Photos)

The existing fountain and plaza outside of Anthropologie at the corner of Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues have been completely obliterated. What is going to take their place? According to this rendering posted by Bethesda Row property owner Federal Realty, the new plaza will feature an interactive fountain, landscaping, additional seating, and a canopy for shade. What will replace the smaller fountain - if anything - at the corner of Bethesda and Arlington Road is not mentioned.

Fountain activated in Veterans Park in downtown Bethesda

The first signs of summer approaching include the activation of the few remaining fountains in downtown Bethesda. This morning, the fountain was activated at Veterans Park at the intersection of Norfolk and Woodmont Avenues in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle. The memorial at the fountain is dedicated to Bethesda and Chevy Chase residents killed in the major military conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Veterans Park fountain activated for summer (Video + Photos)

The fountain in Bethesda's Veterans Park has been activated for summer by the Bethesda Urban Partnership. Part of the memorial in the park to Bethesda-Chevy Chase residents who died in the major military conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries, it is activated every April. The park used to host a summer concert series, but that has been moved a few yards over to the Norfolk Avenue Streetery. Concerts will begin Friday, May 20, 2022 at 6:00 PM with singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd.

Water features are slowly disappearing from downtown Bethesda, so it's good to still have this one around. Fountains are an important urban amenity. Like trees, they can lower stress and blood pressure, and their negative ions are a natural mood booster. Fountains of a size large enough also produce a noise-canceling effect that can provide an escape from the traffic and construction noises downtown. Located at the corner of Norfolk and Woodmont Avenues, Veterans Park is a great place to take a coffee or lunch break in the Woodmont Triangle.

Bethesda fountains come alive for summer (Video+Photos)

The temperature and the fountains in downtown Bethesda often get ahead of Mother Nature in declaring the arrival of summer. Once again, the fountains in Veterans Park and on the Bethesda Metro Center plaza are providing David Letterman-esque dancing waters, cool breezes and negative ions that can boost the spirits of the weary commuter, tourist or Montgomery County taxpayer. 

The cascading waterfalls at the Bethesda Metro Center fountains can relax the mind. Bethesda's water features remind us of the inspiration behind our town's name: the healing pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.