Caroline Freeland Urban Park to reopen next month in Bethesda

Caroline Freeland Urban Park at 7200 Arlington Road in downtown Bethesda is now scheduled to reopen to the public next month. A reopening event will be held in the park on Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. There will be pumpkin decorating, refreshments, and a barre3 workout class. All are free, but to participate in the barre3 class, sign up online in advance. 

The park has been closed since July 2023 for an extensive renovation, which includes a new central lawn and a large seating terrace, more-acccessible pathways, a larger playground, bench swings, bicycle parking, improved lighting and a new entry plaza and streetscape along Arlington Road. Should weather or other unforeseen events disrupt plans for November 9, a rain date has been scheduled for November 10, again from 2:00 to 3:00 PM.

Caroline Freeland Park renovations update (Photos)

Caroline Freeland Park at 7200 Arlington Road in downtown Bethesda has been closed since July for a renovation project. The project planning dates back an entire decade, but only moved forward this summer. What we're looking at here is mainly the end of the park near the Connie Morella Library. The current work appears to still be in the "demolition" phase. Caroline Freeland Park is anticipated to reopen to the public in the fall of 2024.

Caroline Freeland Urban Park to close for last 6 months of 2023

The weather is getting to be just right for spending quality time outdoors in local parks...and that's exactly the time Montgomery Parks has picked to shut down Caroline Freeland Urban Park at 7200 Arlington Road in Bethesda for the rest of the year. It will close in early June, the parks department announced yesterday. A long-planned renovation will add a new central lawn and a large seating terrace, more-acccessible pathways, a larger playground, bench swings, bicycle parking, improved lighting and a new entry plaza and streetscape along Arlington Road. The Hampden Lane approach will be renovated into a more pedestrian-oriented plaza that will preserve emergency vehicle access through the park.

Bethesda's Caroline Freeland Park damaged by arson (Photos)

The playground at Caroline Freeland Urban Park at 7200 Arlington Road in Bethesda is temporarily closed after an arson incident. Wednesday night around 10:30 PM, firefighters extinguished a small fire at the playground. Lt. Tracy D. Lieberman, Public Information Officer for the Maryland-National Capital Park Police, said investigators believe a trash can was intentionally set on fire. 

The surface of the playground was damaged by the fire. Lieberman said the surface been repaired, but that the playground will have to remain closed while it cures. It is expected to reopen sometime next week. If you have any information about this arson incident, you are asked to call the Park Police at 301-949-8010.

Do trees make this downtown Bethesda park feel unsafe?

The Montgomery County Planning Board will take up the refurbishment plan for Caroline Freeland Park at its July 16 meeting. Named after a prominent figure in county planning history, the park lies on property where a neighborhood of single-family homes once stood.

It contains a number of mature evergreens, pines and cypress trees which the county's Department of Parks says are blocking sight lines. "This leads to a perception of an unsafe condition, and thus inhibits some from freely using the park, especially in the evening," their report to planners states. The report recommends removing or significantly pruning those trees.

It's an interesting issue, because one of the community complaints about the Bethesda Downtown sector plan has been the lack of significant park spaces that are not simply hardscaped plazas or pocket parks. One would think mature trees would be of value at this site. All of the trees currently also serve as a noise buffer and air quality contributor for the residential neighborhood directly behind the park. It's unclear what extensive use this park would have after dark under the current proposal, and its nighttime use is necessarily limited by its proximity to residential Edgemoor anyway. So it would seem like a crime and policing issue more than the fault of the trees.

Tree removal plan
with red Xs to show
those to be removed
(click to enlarge)

The Parks Department has presented its final proposal to upgrade the park from its current conditions in this report. You may recall I gave you an overview of the general concepts in January.

"The Rockery" will lead
from Arlington Road's
sidewalk into the park

The Rockery - a line of natural boulders - will be a central element in the department's final recommended plan, as well as the creation of a "neighborhood green" within the park. They envision a lawn that can be programmed with yoga or fitness classes, among other activities. The currently-closed segment of Hampden Lane would be further developed into a pedestrian promenade, and the playground would be expanded to 5876 SF. That new playground would also be designed with equipment to better serve a wider variety of age groups.

There is an error in the report's history of downtown Bethesda. The report claims the arrival of the railroad had spurred growth in downtown Bethesda by 1894. But the railroad actually didn't reach Bethesda for another 15 years after that.

Images via Montgomery County Planning Department

RENOVATION PROPOSAL FOR CAROLINE FREELAND PARK IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The Montgomery County Department of Parks has prepared a "Preferred Plan" for the renovation of Caroline Freeland Park at Arlington Road and Elm Street, in downtown Bethesda. Incorporating citizen feedback, the plan is the latest step in the process that will lead to a final proposal, and then a presentation to the Montgomery County Planning Board. The public will be able to comment at that Planning Board meeting, which will be held at a yet-to-be-determined date this spring.

Proposed main entrance

Planners are attempting to make the park more inviting with a new main entrance design, and "soft moonlighting" to improve safety after dark. Highlights of the proposed changes and upgrades also include:

An unobstructed green space

Protect existing shade trees in
this Elm Street grove, and keep paved
areas out of trees' root spans

Upgrade and expand the
popular playground area

Maintain an adequate buffer with
the residential neighborhood behind
the park

Relocate the park's landmark
sculpture further inside the park

You can view the full Preferred Plan, and the department's presentation to Edgemoor residents last week, online. If you want to reach out to the project's manager with feedback, or ask questions, you can email Lucas Bonney, or call 301-495-2572.

Images courtesy Montgomery County Department of Parks

CAROLINE FREELAND PARK OPTIONS, DEBATE REFLECT PARK'S BRIDGE BETWEEN CITY AND SUBURBS (PHOTOS)

The Montgomery County Department of Parks has released 3 potential concepts for the renovation of Caroline Freeland Park on Arlington Road at Elm Street. One would only be surprised if they did not generate community discussion and disagreement. Part of that is inherent in the park's location.

Caroline Freeland Park sits at the edge of what is arguably the most successful area of urban redevelopment in Bethesda, and possibly America: Federal Realty's Bethesda Row. But it also backs up to a quiet, residential neighborhood. Can a park serve the needs of both audiences? And, is it even that simple, given that children from both Edgemoor and the downtown both utilize the park?

The general reaction at the March 12 meeting reflected these seemingly disparate goals. Consideration that "this park is adjacent to people’s homes," led some to suggest that the playground portion of the design be moved further into the park, to provide a buffer. At the same time, with the urban population of downtown Bethesda growing rapidly in the coming years, will these designs be adequate for the sheer number of downtown children who may want to use it?

Click on photos to enlarge for detail:

OPTION A

Some felt Option A's strengths were its open nature and flexibility that would allow for creative use by a variety of age groups. Open space and seating received some positive feedback, with moveable seats thought to be better than picnic benches. One residential neighbor felt the playground in Option A was too large, and would generate more noise than a smaller one.

OPTION B

Water features, and various fountains in particular, are nearly ubiquitous in town center designs these days. But some are not so enamored of them. Concerns about misuse of the water feature in Option B, its proximity to busy Arlington Road, and even mosquitos, were expressed by some. The larger lawn area, path designs, and reduction of pavement were seen as strengths in Option B. It was suggested that the large green area may need more trees for shade.

Safety issues regarding the use of boulders, and the potential for children using the grass area close to Arlington Road to chase balls into the street, were among the downsides.

OPTION C

The location of the park seating in Option C was thought by some to be more ideal, and further from the noise and activity just beyond the park borders. Of course, the park is not that big to begin with, so it's an unlikely place for one to seek a national forest/Grand Canyon-type nature experience.