The County Council yesterday approved $7.5 million in funding to purchase the property at 1110 East-West Highway where a new urban recreational park will be built.
“This acquisition will create the new South Silver Spring Urban Recreational Park that will provide recreational amenities to a diverse, underserved, and growing urban community,” Parks Director Mike Riley wrote in a letter to the council requesting the approval of the funds, included in the council’s staff report.
The property, about one acre, fronts on both East-West Highway, across from Denizens Brewing Co., and Kennett Street, across from public parking, providing both public access and the visibility needed for an urban park, Riley wrote.
National Tire and Battery now on the property has leased the building for the last 30 years. The Pentecostal Church borders it on one side and the former Caldor/Discovery building is on the other side.
According to a memo from Montgomery Parks–Park Development Division, “Urban recreational amenities that could be considered for this park may include:
- Multi-use courts
- Fitness trail to Acorn Park
- Open Lawn for flexible use
- Exercise Stations
- Picnic Area
- Play Area (multi-age)
- Dog Run
- Public Art (interactive)
- Hard surfaces, electricity, and water to support special events programming and regular use, and
- Community mural on adjacent Caldor/Discovery Channel building.”
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission has negotiated an agreement to acquire this property from Imperial Investment Company, though no timing to complete the purchase was given in the report.
Funding for the purchase will come from the county’s Advance Land Acquisition Funds.
Montgomery Parks graphic
Council approves the acquisition of property at 1110 East-West Highway in downtown Silver Spring using the Advance Land Acquisition Revolving Fund (ALARF) for an urban recreational park. pic.twitter.com/2BMUX2lrtG
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) November 9, 2021