BeMoCo: Planning for a Better Bethesda and Montgomery County: Park Promises: Bethesda Elementary (aka - what is up with the Board of Ed property?)

The new Downtown Bethesda Plan calls for 13 *new* parks equaling 13 additional park acres.

Over several posts, we will have a closer look at several of those new park locations....

One of the possible new "Western Edge" parks includes two properties totaling one acre adjacent to the Bethesda Elementary playground and playing field (otherwise known as the default downtown Bethesda off-leash dog park). See the DARK GREEN square on the map below.

One of the properties is a private single home of significant value. What are the odds the County would purchase a tax revenue-generating clearly-improved home, demolish it, and turn the land into a park? These days - slim.

But they did purchase properties nearby between Moorland and Edgemoor Lane when more land was needed for Bethesda Elementary in 1998. That was back when property was not so pricey.

Gazette Article

It turns out the other property is another single family home ALREADY owned by the Montgomery County Board of Education - and it has been for a very long time. The inventory of historic properties indicates that the Board of Ed came into possession of the property in the 1970's. Though the property appears on this historic inventory, it does not appear to have an official historic preservation designation. It was used as a rental property in the past but is currently vacant and somewhat in disrepair. This means the Board of Ed has valuable land under its control --- land that could have possibly been used for additional school grounds (could still be?) - and now could be used for a recreational park as well.

Document Link: Maryland Historic Inventory - 5025 Edgemoor Lane

The status of the property is "Reserved." It is unfortunate that the Board of Ed owned property is not the one immediately adjacent to the current playing field - as that would be an easier and obvious way to expand the school grounds. There is still an opportunity for green or recreational space on the property with its new designation as a park in the Downtown Bethesda Plan - but that ultimately depends on what the Board of Ed and the County decide to do with this valuable property. Would the County Park Department have to purchase the land from the Board of Ed? - would the Board of Ed use the land to a expand the playground area? - or would there be some form of land swap between Board of Ed and County Parks for another site? Or will nothing happen?

June 2017 report of MCPS Real Estate -

Document Link: Montgomery County Schools Facilities

Now with Bethesda Elementary expected to continue to be over capacity despite the latest addition, it is even more important that this adjacent land is used in a thoughtful way.