From Green to Purple: The Changing Landscape of the Capital Crescent Trail

Before and After: Jones Mill Road Looking West

Almost a year ago I put together a short video - Trees Make a Difference  - with many before and after photos about the importance of urban tree canopy. 

In the video I only included the one photo of the Capital Crescent Trail  - the photo seen below. There was no "before and after" to show then. I contrasted the photo with a nearby streetscape with few trees. I did not know at the time that the intersection I showed - Pearl Street and East West Highway - would actually end up being included as part of the route of the "interim trail" during construction of the Purple Line. 

After word of the impending trail closure and clearcutting came late last summer, I took several videos along the trail with the notion that it can be too easy to forget lost urban green space once it is gone. Regardless of opinions about the Purple Line project itself, it is important to simply document and acknowledge the loss of urban green space to move toward any type of possible gain in the future. Between Wisconsin Ave and Connecticut Ave *alone* there will be 4.9 acres of forest lost and 3.3 acres of tree canopy that is not counted as forest lost. The area will go from having significant tree canopy to mostly catenary wire canopy.

Video: Green space of the trail with birdsong just outside the Wisconsin Ave tunnel. 

Video: The trail approaching Jones Mill Road. The clearcutting has just started near here now. 

This aerial view shows the distinct line of the canopied trail across the area "before." We will have to wait to see the "after" image....but for now - on the ground - it is just starting to become clear how this project will change the landscape.

The Limits of Disturbance maps show where forest and trees will be cleared - within the red dashed lines. The Xs represent specimen trees and the green dashed lines represent forest stands. Link: Limits of Disturbance Maps

Example of LOD Map - this section is between East West Hwy and Kentbury Drive

Example of LOD Map - this section is next to Chevy Chase Lake Drive

Example of LOD Map - this section is next to Jones Mill Road

Before and After (Fall 2017) Photos Along the Trail:

Before and After: Jones Mill Road Looking West (another view)

Before and After: Looking East Toward Connecticut Ave

Before and After: Connecticut Ave Looking West

Before and After: Behind homes on Edgevale Court

Before and After: Entrance at Kentbury Drive

Before and After: View of the trees over houses on Kentbury Drive

Before and After: Looking north east toward Columbia Country Club 

 Before and After: The trail behind homes on Kentbury Drive

Before and After: The trail behind homes on Kentbury Drive

Renderings of the completed Purple Line were released that show a canopied green oasis - but we know that will not be the reality in the end due to the presence of catenary wires, utilities, and limited re-planting of major and minor trees in many locations. When recently asked if there were any realistic renderings available for the trains and trail in Bethesda - the answer was no.  

Rendering: Chevy Chase - Looking toward East West Hwy

Rendering: Heavily landscaped trail and tracks

Rendering: Trail crossing near Jones Bridge Road

The actual landscape plans have not been publicly released yet but there are many restrictions that impact what, where, and how trees can be replanted in the area. The forest mitigation requirement is occurring at two "forest banks" that consist of private existing forest land a considerable distance away in Barnesville and Accokeek Maryland. Looking at other light rail projects gives a clearer image of what to expect. Thus, it will be very important to work towards improvements and increases in nearby tree canopy and green space to replace *locally* what is being lost. And also important to make sure the new trail provides a quality experience for all users. 

Existing: Charlotte Light Rail Trail

Existing: Hiawatha Light Rail Trail

Existing: Hiawatha Light Rail Trail

Schuylkill Rail Trail

More "before" photos - will update with "after" photos during and after construction...

Path to/from the trail at Kentbury Drive

Trail just east of the Wisconsin Ave tunnel

Trail east of Jones Mill Road

Trail east of Connecticut Ave

View of trail looking east from Connecticut Avenue

Trail east of Lyttonsville Place

*existing light rail photos from Google images. 

Woodmont Woods? When the Triangle Had Trees - and How There Can Be More Green Space

The image on the right is Downtown Bethesda in 1951. The one on the left is 2016. Trees and forest appear black on the images. The difference in Woodmont Triangle is remarkable - it went from having some of the most tree canopy to some of the least. 

Also - you can see the "black line" of forest along the Georgetown Branch Trail in both images - but that will be quickly disappearing with the Purple Line construction. 

For any other historical map lovers out there here is a good resource: 
Link: Montgomery County - Historical Images

Woodmont Triangle is growing rapidly. There will be THOUSANDS more residents, workers, and visitors to the area in just a few years. The green space and local parks will need to catch up and grow as well. Counting cut-throughs and small hardscape patches will not be enough.   

Official "green space" (Stonehall Building) -
the trend has been to use more hardscape. 

Cut-through between the Gallery Apartments.

A current County CIP document referred to "two major green spaces" in Woodmont Triangle. Battery Lane Urban Park is one --- but what is the other? It is not Veteran's Park as that is technically a DOT right-of-way and is more brick plaza than green space. The other "major green space" may be the public use space that is part of The Palisades Apartments. While it does not necessarily come across as a welcoming public green area; however it does provide a decent splash of welcome cool green in an area with otherwise lots of impervious surface and urban heat island effects. 

Battery Lane Urban Park

Palisades - Public Use Space

Palisades - Public Use Space 

Bushes in front give the impression that the space is private

Looking from the inside out - the space is relatively large and is a nice bit of green

Public Art outside the Palisades Apartment

We will not return to the days of the canopied 1951 aerial view, but the new Bethesda Downtown Plan calls for more green space and canopy corridors in Woodmont Triangle. But the questions are:

• Will Veteran's Park actually be expanded? 
• Will Battery Lane Urban Park actually be expanded?
• Will new projects along canopy corridors - including Battery Lane, Woodmont Ave, and Norfolk Ave follow the design guidelines and leave room for healthy trees to grow? 
• Will nearby surface parking lots actually be converted to parks? 
• Marriott has a beautiful park and outdoor daycare play area adjacent to its current headquarters location. The company will be moving to Woodmont Triangle and there will be a Park Impact Payment, but how will that be used? *We will look more closely at the Marriott move in a future post. 

Light Green - existing park/public open space;
Dark Green - proposed park/public green space;
Green Streets - canopy corridors

Veterans Park Expansion

Rendering of future expansion of Veterans Park; the exact location was left undetermined in the new Plan

Aerial view of Veteran's Park and surrounding properties

Battery Park Expansion
The park is currently 2 acres. It was recommended for a renovation in the 2006 Plan (which did not occur - though the tennis courts were resurfaced and old benches were just replaced; and the old playground should be replaced in the future). Expanding it would require acquiring single family homes (shown as dark green along the southern edge of the park) and/or redevelopment along Battery that enhanced the park connection to NIH.

Canopy Corridors
Canopy corridors were included in the design guidelines of the new plan. It remains to be seen if new developments along those streets will incorporate better and additional plantings. Or if they will leave space for healthy trees to grow.

Trend is to cantilever buildings to add more square footage.
Ginkgo tree by Element 28 with little upward and outward growing space.

New trend is to use more hardscape and leave less room for trees
as seen here along Battery Lane by the Stonehall building.

Older buildings on Battery Lane with green space and trees in front.